THE Whitby area has been subject to one of the largest invasions of greenfly in years.
Millions of the insects have been out in full force and have been particularly bad in Whitby town centre and in Robin Hood's Bay.
Over the past few days, the tiny flies have filled the air around parks and grassland and caused havoc with plants and
crops.
Coupled with the additional swarms of thunderbugs, summer fun in the garden is being plagued with pests.
Experts have said recent warm weather is to blame for the large numbers of greenfly seen this summer.
Over recent years, insects have suffered from wet weather in June.
However this year, the cold winter killed off larger insects that eat greenfly while a long spell of warmer weather in the spring has meant a successful breeding season.
Experts predict the invasion will be short-lived as the greenfly will soon attract natural predators.
Gardeners will be pleased to see the back of the greenfly as it is known to spread diseases from plant to plant, restricting growth and deforming leaves and stems.
Greenfly feast on a variety of vegetation in large colonies, infesting the softest parts of the plant, usually the tips of shoots and the undersides of young leaves, and sucking the sap.
