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Azalea Bushes and Flies

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From: Mary Duvall City: Silver Spring, MD
We seem to have a number of what appears to be house flies flying all around our azaleas in front of our home. What causes them and how can we get rid of them? It's getting really hard to get in our front door with them flying all around.
	Extension Message From: Greg Stack Extension Horticulturist Extension Web Development gstack@illinois.edu
Hi, Without seeing the insect in question it is hard to determine what they might be and what type of action needs to be taken. I might suggest takeing a sample of the insect to your local extension office and having themID it and offer a suggestion for control. I am not familiar with flies associated with azaleas.
From: Tricia B City: Baltimore, MD
We have this too - this is the second year. Big black/green flies in alarming swarms on the bushes. My husband says it is tied to the trimming of the bushes - he thinks last year's swarm showed up after pruning as well
From: Richard Pastore City: Elizabeth, PA
you can eliminate flies on your as Azalia bush by simply wetting the bush and sprinkling 20 Mule Team borax on the leaves. We have use this product for fleas in the carpet and other insect problems
From: Richard Pastore City: Elizabeth, PA
by the way this absolutely worked on our azalea bush
From: Deneen O'Shea City: Levittown, PA
hey are you sure the borax doesn't hurt the Azelia's... ??? ....We have had Azelias for close to 45-50 years and NEVER saw flys like this.[2015] there must be hundreds!!! I have tried washing the plants with water/soap solution in case there was something on them, didn't work.
	Extension Message From: Richard Hentschel Extension Educator, Horticulture DuPage/Kane/Kendall Unit hentsche@illinois.edu
The best way to determine if your flies are harmful or beneficial to the environment or the bushes you are finding them on is to have them identified. there are many synthetic and organic based compounds that have been tested and labeled for use by EPA for the control of insects that could be considered.
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