fruit fly control?

[kani-lehua]

anybody got a natural/organic way to control fruit flies? they are stinging the mangoes. neighbor suggested corn syrup on pieces of wood? someone else suggested putting paper bags around the fruit? auwe! there's too many to do that.

[Amati]

anybody got a natural/organic way to control fruit flies? they are stinging the mangoes. neighbor suggested corn syrup on pieces of wood? someone else suggested putting paper bags around the fruit? auwe! there's too many to do that.
Get a first hand recommendation from someone who has had success with that method before you try it. We did it one year and every single mango fell off. Maybe something else went wrong (too much watering?), but I thought it was the paper bags.
Maybe the paper bag method for mangos is the same as the "glass jars filled with water around the boarders of your yard to keep out dogs" ... people do it but the results are questionable.

[kani-lehua]

Get a first hand recommendation from someone who has had success with that method before you try it. We did it one year and every single mango fell off. Maybe something else went wrong (too much watering?), but I thought it was the paper bags.
Maybe the paper bag method for mangos is the same as the "glass jars filled with water around the boarders of your yard to keep out dogs" ... people do it but the results are questionable.


for sure we won't be doing the paper bag theory/method--too many and we wouldn't be able to get to the top ones.

[Amati]

Google for the UH Extension Service, I think they have a bait that can be used to capture the fruit flies. Also, keeping dropped fruit cleaned up is really important, including keeping dropped papaya cleaned up. Our papayas were being attacked by fruit flies that were breeding in the neighbors rotting papaya. We helped them clean up their mess, and that helped our crop.

[1stwahine]

There are so many results if google "Fruit Fly Bait Trap."

They also sell the sticky thingys in garden supply stores.

Auntie Lynn

[kani-lehua]

There are so many results if google "Fruit Fly Bait Trap."

They also sell the sticky thingys in garden supply stores.

Auntie Lynn


"fruit fly bait trap": did google that auntie: many results like you said.

just was wondering what methods natural/organic methods others were using and that worked. we do pick up falling fruit so that's not a problem. probably will have to go with the "sticky thingys".;)

[1stwahine]

Da way I feel today, I would go in your yard with my Pest Control Inspector (PK) and Whack Whack him and all the flying insects combined.:p

Foa FREE.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Time for MY medication.:D

Auntie Lynn

[kani-lehua]

Da way I feel today, I would go in your yard with my Pest Control Inspector (PK) and Whack Whack him and all the flying insects combined.

Foa FREE.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Time for MY medication.:D

Auntie Lynn


i dunno auntie, he might just drop you off?!:eek:

glad to see that you still have a great sense of humor;) even though you're not feeling well. looks like PK might need some tylenol, too once you stop WHACK WHACKING him.

[1stwahine]

i dunno auntie, he might just drop you off?!:eek:

glad to see that you still have a great sense of humor;) even though you're not feeling well. looks like PK might need some tylenol, too once you stop WHACK WHACKING him.

No matter how sick I am, I always laugh and smile and will to my grave. Life has been wonderful to me. Pupule I am....I get away with a lot of things.;)

Love and ALOHA!

Auntie Lynn

[kani-lehua]

well, no organic stuff to use. so, purchased something (forgot name) from ace. you have to get a gallon container, cut a hole in it and soak a piece of cloth with the chemical. the fruit flies fly in and can't get out. it works!

[turtlegirl]

In CA the state is very concerned with fruit flies. If you have fruit trees on your property, they come out and set traps, then if they find even one fruit fly, the state comes with a bunch of sterile male fruit flies to release in your area. The idea is that the sterile males will prevent the flies from reproducing. I don't really understand it all, but that's how they do it there, and I don' know if it works, but maybe the state of Hawaii has a similar governmental department. you should contact the agriculture department and see if they have any advice for you.

[kani-lehua]

well, the stuff we got from ace is working. lots of flies won't be stinging the fruit anymore. however, the ones that the have already been stung, even just one itsy bitsy bite, are TERRIBLE when cut open. i don't eat them, but mom loves em. and, the neighbors keep asking.

p.s. i think this thread belongs in the workshop forum?! sorry.

[MrBobHarrisSan]

Sounds like you're on top of things, but in case you haven't already found it, here's a link with all kinds of Hawaii fruit fly info:

http://www.extento.hawaii.edu/fruitfly/

The "grower education" link at the bottom takes you to all kinds of publications, videos, and the like.

I don't know if the traps would be considered strictly "organic" but at least you're not spraying anything directly onto your fruit. Good luck!

[Da Rolling Eye]

well, the stuff we got from ace is working. lots of flies won't be stinging the fruit anymore. however, the ones that the have already been stung, even just one itsy bitsy bite, are TERRIBLE when cut open. i don't eat them, but mom loves em. and, the neighbors keep asking.

p.s. i think this thread belongs in the workshop forum?! sorry.
I'll have to look for that next time I get to Ace. Gonna be good when tangerine season comes 'round in the fall. We also have poha, lilikoi and papaya so that trap should help a lot. Maybe I'll buy several. ;)

[kani-lehua]

mrbob: mahalo for the link.

d r e: it's actually a bottle of something and you have to make your own traps using a gallon plastic container. you then dip a piece of cloth into the stuff and it hangs above a water/soap solution. it definitely works. wish i could tell you what it's called, but i don't have anymore of it. they sting tangerines, too? didn't know that.

[Da Rolling Eye]

mrbob: mahalo for the link.

d r e: it's actually a bottle of something and you have to make your own traps using a gallon plastic container. you then dip a piece of cloth into the stuff and it hangs above a water/soap solution. it definitely works. wish i could tell you what it's called, but i don't have anymore of it. they sting tangerines, too? didn't know that.
Oh yeah they sting tangerines. So sad cause our tangerines grow huge, juicy and sweet. Gotta eat'em quick or the flies get to them and all it takes is one sting to ruin a good part of the fruit. Papayas are the worst.

[kani-lehua]

Oh yeah they sting tangerines. So sad cause our tangerines grow huge, juicy and sweet. Gotta eat'em quick or the flies get to them and all it takes is one sting to ruin a good part of the fruit. Papayas are the worst.

guess they just want the best of everything (like us) :p?!

[Amati]

Also, it needs to be determined what is actually damaging the fruit. Fruit flies don't just sting a part of the fruit and ruin that section. They lay eggs that hatch into larva, which grow inside of the fruit. When you cut the fruit open it is full of larva (about the size of uncooked rice). Unless the larva are still young and small, then you better have on your eyeglasses or you might not notice what you are eating.:eek:

[kani-lehua]

agreed. been there. the wigglers were in some of the fruit. ick.