Fruitflies are driving me nuts, but not for long!

[Johan]

Yes, they are driving me nuts.
I am losing all cucurbits.


This Tanja cucumber is stung on top and at the bottom. I am saving this one for seed now.


My pumpkins are also all killed.


My sweet little dumpling squash, the first year that I successfully manage to keep the female flowers (due to raised bed method and calcium adding), I am lodsing all due to this little fly.

BUT HOPEFULLY NOT FOR LONG!


Now I cover them in little nets to keep the fly away.I cover from early and pollinate by hand. I have also spattered poisoned bait on the leaves. No more Mr. Nice guy. Now I play dirty. I have even managed to get a hormone to bait these buggers.

[Johan]

SUCCESS!

A few days later and the first ones are swelling. The fruit flies cannot reach them any more. The Pumpkin also started to grow.

[WilliamD]

Well done Johan. Glad it's working.

[Johan]

It is working so well that I bought better materieal and a new sewing machine (due anyway) to make more. These blossom bags work!

[eospete]

Have you tried a garlic spray?
Make garlic tea then let it go cold.
Sorted out my compost flies and aphids in one application.

Lesson learned however. Don't do this on indoor plants. It sticks the house out. I know!
P

[Two_Sheds]

Fruit flies don't kill cucumbers.

The rotten courgette is probably caused by either cold and/or non-pollination: it's a common problem in early spring but happens less as warmth, day length & insects increases.


Fruit flies feed & breed on, as the name suggests, rotting fruit.

Fungus gnats breed in soggy compost, and are a common pest indoors & under glass, if the compost is too wet

[rustylady]

Fruit flies don't kill cucumbers.

The rotten courgette is probably caused by either cold and/or non-pollination: it's a common problem in early spring but happens less as warmth, day length & insects increases.


Fruit flies feed & breed on, as the name suggests, rotting fruit.

Fungus gnats breed in soggy compost, and are a common pest indoors & under glass, if the compost is too wet

The fruit flies Johan is talking about are not the same as our UK ones. He is in South Africa

[Two_Sheds]

Oh, South African ones. They eat people

[Johan]

The Fruitfly I am referring to is also called pumpkin fly. The do not eat rotten fuit. They are almost the size of a house fly and sting the fruit or blossom and lay several eggs, that hatch to form several small worms, eating the fruit from the inside.