June 2003

It's Insect vs. Insect

You can release thousands of tiny wasps on your property and, in appreciation, they'll work to reduce your fly population.

The parasitic wasp on the fly pupae.

You've likely seen the ads for fly parasites, those tiny wasps that you release near your manure pile so they 'eat the flies.' The idea is that these wasps are a natural fly enemy and reduce populations.

Some companies call these little wasps fly 'predators,' which sounds more daunting. However, it's not strictly correct, since the wasps don't eat flies, said Dr. John Campbell, a University of Nebraska entomologist. …