Blackfly.

[Brambles]

Has anyone else got a bad infestation? At the allotments they are wreaking havoc. A lot of people have lost their maincrop Broad beans and I haven't seen a single plot with healthy runner beans, including me. I had to take drastic action to save my Winter Squash and took off the worst infested leaves, It seems to have worked, giving them a few days without such a burden has prompted them all into growth and they should be able to cope now.
The old boy next door looks to have lost his Pumpkin plants.

I have learned a couple of lessons. Autumn sown Broad Beans were fine, they had finished by the time the Blackfly arrived. Don't plant out Squashes and Pumpkins until they are a good size and removing heavily infested leaves gives plants a chance.
Washing up liquid doesn't work.

[jansman]

It has been a bad year, or a good one if you are a black fly! my farmer friend down the road says it is the worst he has ever known.

[Brambles]

Another thing I noticed, I've hardly seen a Ladybird.

[jansman]

Not many butterflies either. Especially cabbage whites.

[Decaff]

We normally have ladybirds in our kitchen wall vent, first year ever we've not had lots of them, seen very few cabbage whites but plenty of the pretty ones about here.