Just hovering!

We learnt another amazing nature study lesson today. It was inspired by the fact that as soon as we walk out our back door, we're immediately surrounded by flies.

They're everywhere! They're especially hovering around the roses and pine trees. Well, hubby had tried to figure it out last week by looking for dead rodents that cat may have left under the pergola.

Well, dear Duffy was found NOT GUILTY.


Nothing suspicious under the pergola at all.

Then we thought about Midgy. Maybe he'd left a deposit somewhere. Cleaning up his mess may help.
Well, he was also found to be NOT GUILTY!

I found the culprit this morning. LOOK!

.. or rather, LOOK!

Actually, I think it's my fault. I'd neglected my roses and they're full of aphids, and the aphids are attracting HOVER FLIES!

Trying be quick enough to catch a photo was a bit of fun. :)

Well, that will teach me for not paying enough attention, but at least I know that we're still getting rid of a garden pest by natural means. Hover flies lay their eggs in aphid colonies so that their lavae can feast there. Meanwhile, they're great pollinators.

So, I'm no longer going to complain about the current number of flies hanging around my back door. They're doing a great job!!

Update: I'm going to make up a batch of homemade white oil. I found a recipe here.