Rhubarb

Morning all. I've found my rhubarb infested with black fly and it looks like a caterpillar is eating its leaves.  I've always had a black fly problem elsewhere but never anything eating rhubarb leaves. There's always something sent to try us.

Any photos of caterpillars? Be interesting to know who’s mad enough to eat them. I have no idea how to deal with black fly.

Any photos of caterpillars? Be interesting to know who’s mad enough to eat them. I have no idea how to deal with black fly.

No caterpillars seen but only frass I will look harder. Pity the bird who eats the caterpillar.  You don't deal with black fly, you squish or tolerate it. Not much of a problem on rhubarb as you wash it off.

Don’t have black fly. Or very few. It’s a different range of pests and problems up here.

Any photos of caterpillars? Be interesting to know who’s mad enough to eat them. I have no idea how to deal with black fly.

I will go on a caterpillar hunt and try to get a photo, agreed it would be interesting.  Will I need a shotgun,  or hazmat suit, do you think?

Any photos of caterpillars? Be interesting to know who’s mad enough to eat them. I have no idea how to deal with black fly.

I will go on a caterpillar hunt and try to get a photo, agreed it would be interesting.  Will I need a shotgun,  or hazmat suit, do you think?

I couldn't see any caterpillars,  maybe it was birds pecking the leaves for the black fly. I will keep an eye out.

Black fly have been awful this year. They ruined my garlic in the greenhouse, absolutely infested with them. They've been on the onions and spring onions outside, too.

Black fly have been awful this year. They ruined my garlic in the greenhouse, absolutely infested with them. They've been on the onions and spring onions outside, too.

I agree.  I found some even on a tomato. I haven't seen many ladybirds or their larvae, maybe that's why the black fly are thriving.