It’s that time of year again, Stone Fruit Season! And as we know there is nothing worse than patiently waiting, loving nurturing and excitedly picking when the time is right, only to find out that some annoying little fruit flies have beaten you to it. Stone fruit is the most attractive to fruit flies but they don’t mind a nibble on them all.
Facts:
- The mother fruit fly can lay 200-300 eggs at a time
- She will most likely lay them in rotting fruit
- Her babies will start reproducing around 24 hours later……..
Things to remember:
- Hygiene is key: Clean up the dead fruit off the ground immediately before it rots and add to the compost or dig deep into the soil under the tree (to add nutrients back in)
- Keep your traps on the outskirts of the tree or on the perimeter of the area, not in the middle of the tree or they will just go for the fruit ( fruit flies are lazy!)
- Netting is the only sure-fire way to eradicate the issue, but please mind your wildlife as birds can get caught in the nets too. I prefer to leave some tall branches for the birds to be able to access, but I love it when they come to visit!
- Letting chooks forage underneath can help reduce numbers
- Exclusion Netting or Bagging is a great option as well, but keep your bag/net off the fruit or the female will just pierce it anyway.
Fruit Fly Trap Recipe:
There are so many out there but this is the one I have found to be successful in reducing numbers. You will need:
1 Empty Plastic Drink Bottle 375ml
String
1 Tablespoon Vegemite
1 Tablespoon Honey
1 Tablespoon Yeast
1 Litre water
1 Cup of cloudy ammonia (used as a way less gross alternative to men’s pee. You’re welcome 🤣)
Add into a bottle with a hole in the lid, add 2 holes to the side about halfway up. Fill with liquid mixture about 1 inch deep per bottle and place around the outskirts of your trees with string. You will need about 4 traps for a fully mature tree.
Goodluck!
