Mint flowers attract FLIES!

[secuono]

Last time I'll be letting the mint flower! Zillions of flies come off the flowers each time I walk by the stupid plant....What a gross pain in the butt!!!
Why did no one warn me??

 

[baymule]

Flies didn't like my mint.......

 

[Carol Dee]

Flies are just plain bad this year, but I have not noticed them on my mint. Strange.

 

[canesisters]

are ya sure there isn't something else there... like a dead frog or something..?

 

[Lavender2]

Mints usually attract beneficial bugs. Are they hoverflies?

 

[secuono]

No, they are all over the flowers, no where else on the plant. Solid black flies, medium house/biting black fly size.

 

[Ridgerunner]

That sounds strange. Is there a way to post a good photo of them? Maybe take a few to your extension agent for a positive identification. I get all kinds of small pollinators on my mint but not common black flies.

 

[TheSeedObsesser]

While I've never seen any flies on my mint, I wanted to say that the flies go absolutely crazy for the lovage flowers here (they grow wild).

Maybe flies will turn to nectar when normal fly food is scarce?

 

[secuono]

Never seen/heard of Lovage.

Sat and watched, there's a couple yellow/black ones and then a few tiny flies and then the bigger black flies.

 

[britesea]

Lovage is a perennial herb; the leaves taste a little like celery. I use them in stews and such if I don't have any real celery. They also are good medicinal plants- a dependable diuretic for the kidneys and gout, anti-spasmodic so good for menstrual cramps and gassy cramps,. A tea can be made by heating (don't boil) 2 teaspoons of chopped dried lovage in a cup of cold water. Strain and drink up to 2 cups a day
Lovage is also an excellent companion plant for everything in the garden except rhubarb (don't ask me how I know this)