Insect acquaintances return       

By John Fulton

[JULY 24, 2006]  Each year several insects make their appearances, but some more dramatically than others. This year is no exception. The syrphid fly, the green June bug and the cicada killer wasp are some that are out and about at this time.

Seraphim fly is a generic name given to an entire group of flies. There are some differences in appearance and color, but the yellow and black color is the major one in our area. The other names for syrphid flies are hover flies or flower flies. They tend to hover around your arms and face when you have been perspiring and land to lap up the sweat. They are also commonly found on flowers, hence the flower fly name, and do a good job of pollinating.

Syrphid flies are actually beneficial insects. They help pollinate, larvae feed on dead organic matter, and the larvae are predators of aphids. Syrphid flies cannot sting, but their mouthparts can usually be felt when lapping up sweat from sensitive areas. You may feel a slight pinch. No controls are going to be very effective. On the other hand, there really isn't much need for control. They are really a nuisance pest. They are very agile and will probably be able to avoid that aerosol spray. Inside the home, a swatter and a vacuum cleaner are probably the best tools.

An insect similar in appearance to the Japanese beetle has made its annual appearance. That insect is the green June bug. These beetles are much larger than either June bugs or Japanese beetles. Most people are concerned that they have bumble bees because of the buzzing sound the beetles make when flying, or they have the "supersized" Japanese beetle.

Green June bugs are also called fig eaters. This is because they can eat soft-fleshed fruits such as grapes, plums, peaches and apricots. In their larval stage they are a grub, but they don't do a lot of turf damage like the normal June bug. They tend to be in places high in organic matter, such as flower beds, gardens, compost piles and under shrubs.

As for control, there is probably none necessary unless you need to protect those soft-fleshed fruits. Then you should follow the recommended spray program so you don't cause problems with the fruit later on. The green June bug doesn't sting or bite, so you can put them in the nuisance pest category. The main damage they can do is fly into you.

The cicada killer wasps have returned! They are actually considered beneficial insects because they control cicadas. This wasp gets its common name due to the fact that it hunts and supplies its nest chambers with a cicada, which becomes a food source for the young cicada killer. Cicada killers are a nuisance pest, especially when nesting in large numbers in a play area or near the house. People get concerned because the cicada killers resemble giant-sized yellow jackets.

Cicada killers are about 2 inches long and black to red, with yellow-banded markings on the abdomen. The head and transparent wings are reddish brown. They are not dangerous, but they are intimidating. Cicada killers are solitary wasps, with the female digging a 6- to 10-inch burrow (1/2 inch in diameter) in the ground. A pile of soil typically surrounds the entrance.

Cicada killers are unlikely to sting a person. Wasp and bee stingers are modified egg-laying devices (ovipositors), so males are not able to sting. Females may sting if crushed, either by being stepped on with bare feet or grabbed with bare hands.

Applying permethrin or Sevin (some suggest the Sevin dust gives better control) to the burrowed area should kill females in high-traffic areas. In home yards, sandboxes can be covered with a tarp when not in use, as this deters the wasps (and also keep cats out). Sand below swings, jungle gyms or other playground equipment is a popular site for the cicada killer. Raking the sand may discourage the wasps, or you could use mulch instead of the sand.

[John Fulton, unit leader, University of Illinois Extension, Logan County Unit]