Council Dispose of fruit contaminated with cherry vinegar fly properly

For some years, the cherry vinegar fly (not to be confused with the cherry fruit fly!) Increases. It infects different types of fruit (such as sweet and sour cherries, plums, late strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries and elderberries) throughout the fruit season and can cause serious damage. It is important to properly dispose of infested fruit.

The cherry vinegar fly lays its eggs in intact, ripening and ripe fruits. The fruits usually develop several larvae that pupate in or on the fruit. Outwardly the fly is very similar to the native fruit or vinegar flies, which attack only overripe and already injured fruits. Under optimal conditions, the cherry vinegar fly can go through several generations in summer in a short time. Each new generation then infects the currently ripening fruit. It prefers a warm and humid climate. In case of prolonged drought and temperatures above 30 ° C, it can no longer multiply.

Image: Mitch Shark - fotolia

Outwardly infected fruits look normal at first. The larva eats under the fruit skin on the flesh, which forms dents. Later, the fruits fall further and juice comes out of the puncture site. The puncture site provides a gateway for mold and vinegar bacteria. The fermenting fruit juice attracts other pests (e.g., vinegar flies, wasps). The intensity of the infestation can vary greatly between fruits and varieties. Both wild and cultivated forms are infested. Generally early ripening varieties are less endangered. Uniform ripening fruit can be quickly harvested completely and is therefore endangered even for a shorter period of time.

In the house and allotment no pesticides are approved against the cherry vinegar fly. Preventive and accompanying measures are therefore particularly important.

1. Spindle education of tree fruit and Johannis / gooseberries ensures loosely structured, airy, quickly drying structures.

2. Exposing dense treetops and shrubs promotes the ventilation of the trees.

3. Narrow-mesh insect nets (0.8 mm mesh size) can limit the oviposition of the cherry vinegar fly. Note: timely edition (3 to 4 weeks before picking); tight closing; just open for harvest. Fruit less endangered ripening period strawberry until mid-June cherry until mid-June summer-berry raspberry varieties until mid-June currant, gooseberry until end of June plum, plum, apricot, peach, mirabelle, renneklode until end of July blackberry, autumn raspberry, elderberry, blue table grape, kiwi berry, goji, Aronia.

4. Fruit quickly, at short intervals and harvest completely. Do not leave damaged or dried fruit on and under the trees and shrubs.

5. Correct disposal of infested fruits helps to keep the cherry vinegar population low. Composting is discouraged, as well as the disposal in residual waste or bio bin, as the cherry vinegar fly can develop there undisturbed. In order to kill eggs and maggots, infested fruits should first be exposed to the sun for several days in an airtight closed container or plastic bag, left in abundant water with a small amount of detergent for several hours, or boiled with boiling water. After that, the fruits can be disposed of. Burying (at least 50 cm deep!) Of the fruits is another suitable method.

6. Store the crop in the refrigerator until consumed.