[hubballi]

I can't believe this but I have just found a carrot fly on the inside of my greenhouse roof which throws out the myth that they can't fly very high. It's was def carrot fly. Like a housefly but orange body and not as quick. I do have a container with Amsterdam carrots growing but I haven't touched the foliage to give off any scent. Anyway, the growth is very very slow and as happened last year, I didn't get any carrot, just foliage but that's another story.

[Jabberwock]

Are you sure Hubballi?
I was always under the impression that carrot fly has a black shiny body with a yellowish head, think they are are smaller than house flies too but could be mistaken of course.

[JayG]

I can't believe this but I have just found a carrot fly on the inside of my greenhouse roof which throws out the myth that they can't fly very high. It's was def carrot fly. Like a housefly but orange body and not as quick.

I can't believe it either - carrot flies don't have orange bodies, although they do have somewhat orange heads and legs. It doesn't really make that much difference - your carrots should be protected against them anyway.

[mumofstig]

Picture of a carrot fly about halfway down the page
http://www.carrotmuseum.co.uk/cultivation2.html

[solway cropper]

I don't think anyone actually believes that idea that carrot fly stay close to the ground. As JayG says, if you protect your crop with enviromesh or similar they can fly as high as they like!!

[bluealf]

Picture of a carrot fly about halfway down the page
http://www.carrotmuseum.co.uk/cultivation2.html

Blimey that's an ugly thing, I always presumed they were tiny little things, then that will be the reason I get no carrots every year  :blink:

Bought some mesh this year and made a taller raised bed for them but I didn't really believe a fly couldn't get more than 5" off the ground, wouldn't be much of a fly and more of a crawl really 

[shoozie]

 found what we assumed were overwintering grubs in a pot attacked by fly last summer at junior's  last weekend ..... they were alive and itching to go any time ..... Now squashed.  Oddly, I was inspired to net my carrot bed 

[JayG]

Bought some mesh this year and made a taller raised bed for them but I didn't really believe a fly couldn't get more than 5" off the ground, wouldn't be much of a fly and more of a crawl really 

Think they can do a bit more than 5", but they can indeed crawl under any gaps left under the netting.

In theory any overwintering larvae will have developed into flies and flown away by now, but it's still not a great idea growing in an area known to have suffered carrot fly attack last year, especially as the weather hasn't taken much notice of the calendar so far this year. 

[devonbarmygardener]

I always thought they were tiny little things too.
Don't think I've ever had carrot fly attack.

Mind you I've always netted carrots, and onions, leeks and all brassicas to boot

[Trillium]

Hubballi's fly probably got blown up onto the roof by the wind.

[hubballi]

Yes, I see what you mean now. I was mistaken. I think it could have been onion fly. Nevertheless, it was a housefly with an orange thorax.

[8doubles]

Yes, I see what you mean now. I was mistaken. I think it could have been onion fly. Nevertheless, it was a housefly with an orange thorax.

Possibly a hideous spray tan !

[hubballi]

Perhaps it flew over from Essex ? ;-)

[GrannieAnnie]

Hubballi's fly probably got blown up onto the roof by the wind.

Hubbs said it was on the inside of the roof Trill!   

[BabbyAnn]

is it possible you are mistaking the carrot fly for a hover fly - they come in all colours, shapes and sizes, but usually can identify them from the eyes which are a muddy reddish brown colour.  Harmless - most flies hover round flowers for nectar and depending on species, their larvae are saprophytic (eat decaying matter) or eat pests like aphids.