Sunflower Fruit Fly and immature California Mantis on Cannabis

Subject: Sunflower Fruit Fly and immature California Mantis on Cannabis
Geographic location of the bug: Mount Washington, Los Angeles, California
Date: 07/15/2021
Time: 09:39 AM EDT
Your letter to the bugman: Dear Bugman,
As you know, we are having muggy weather in Los Angeles and the humidity seems to bring out more bugs. My “girls” of 2021 are starting to show their stigmas and they are beginning to attract new insects. I don’t have any identification requests for you today, but I wanted to submit a new photo of the pretty Fruit Fly you identified as Paracantha cultaris in 2019. It is on a first generation plant (a genie) from a seed that I found on the Kernal Kush I grew last year. The flies really like my Cannabis, and you assured me they will not harm my plants, and that they actually are associated with sunflowers which are always growing near the Cannabis. I think it is sad that this pretty fly doesn’t have a common name and I would like to suggest Sunflower Fruit Fly.
I also eagerly await the appearance of immature California Mantids on my plants and I’m including an image of an inch long individual on my favorite strain Woodhead, and this is the fifth year I have grown plants descended from the original Woodhead I grew in 2017. Once again, it is so nice to see you posting again.
How you want your letter signed: Constant Gardener

Sunflower Fruit Fly

Dear Constant Gardener,
Thanks for your kind words. It is curious that this distinctive fly does not have a common name and Sunflower Fruit Fly does seem very appropriate in light of BugGuide’s comment: “breeds in Helianthus annuus” which is identified on CalScape as simply Sunflower. Also, thanks for being so conscious of native insects in your horticultural endeavors.