black fly

[kaydl]

HELLO gardeners can you help......I have several young [about 2-3 foot] sun flowers that are plagued by black fly, the question is do I use a pesterside [if so details please] or let the ants and other natural predaters take care of them ????..thanks from KAYDL

[willow66]

Spray the plant with water and washing-up liquid mixed in a spray bottle. The soap blocks the tiny air holes all over the black fly's body, effectively suffocating them.
When you see ants running up and down the stem they are not eating the black fly, they are 'milking' them. As the black fly feed on the sun flower's sap they excrete a sugar rich secretion from their rear end.

[tamborine]

just run your fingers over the stalks & crush them; bit sticky but it's instant eradication.