| 释义 |
black fly
[black a. 6.]
1. Any of various dark-coloured flying insects.
1608[see fly n.1 1 a]. 1716J. Lowthorp Phil. Trans. Abridged II. 338 In the Cross-Bath the Guides have observed a certain Black Fly with Sealed Wings, in the form of a Lody-Cow, but somewhat bigger. 1789B. Lincoln in Mass. Hist. Soc. Coll. (1795) IV. 148 Objections have been made to these counties, on account of the black flies, and other insects. 1876Fur, Fin & Feather Sept. 139 At Calais, Maine, last fall rugged grouse were as thick as black flies in August. 1889[see fly n.1 2]. 1959Times 30 Oct. 15/1 Blackfly or buffalo gnat, but coming to be known in West Africa by the ominous name of ‘eye flies’.
2. A name given to various insects infesting plants, esp. to an insect of the species Frankliniella robusta (formerly Thrips pisivora) and Aphis rumicis: used collect. in sing. for thripses or aphides when infesting certain plants and giving a blackish appearance to the part affected.
1743Ellis Mod. Husb. July iv. 31 But when the Black Bug, or Fly..takes the Ear..they do a great deal of harm. 1850Working Man's Friend 13 July 55/1 To Remove the Aphides, or black fly. 1884Sutton's Cult. Veget. & Flowers 269 The Blue and the Black Fly are common plagues of the Peach-house and the orchard. 1919Board Agric. & Fisheries Leaflet No. 104. 2 The Bean Aphis, known variously as Black Fly, Collier, and Black Dolphin. 1951New Biol. XI. 50 Many a garden crop of beans..has been saved from the devastating ‘black-fly’ by early pinching-out of the growing tips. |