This is sooo sticky! |
I tried an experiment. The old-fashioned sticky tape vs. a wasp trap. I popped them in the window.
The problem with the sticky tape is it is REALLY sticky! Afterwards, I had to put baby powder on my fingers as the thing broke, I was forced to handle it and uncurl it manually.
I thought that if the wasp trap worked for the fruit flies, I wouldn't have to feel guilty killing the wee things. It wasn't their fault that I forgot to clean out the composter!
The hole is big, but maybe their wee brains won't let them figure out all they have to do is fly down.
A few pieces of apple inside & I had captured dozens! |
I have had to empty the wasp trap numerous times, so far. It was far superior to the sticky tape. The only thing was, when I took the jar down down, they managed to figure out how to get out!
I walked quickly and took the trap to outside, and set them free! The nocturnal gray tree frog was sitting behind the BBQ, but wasn't any help at all! Zzzzzzzz
Now, of course, the next big thing is to get close-ups of them. Easier said than done. They have abdomens with bee-like stripes. Who knew?!
Extreme close-up! |
There isn't much valuable information on-line. I don't trust e-how or Yahoo answers. Who knows who these people are or their credentials?
One pest control company writes of the life cycle: egg, larvae (maggot), pupae, adult. They
look similar to house fly maggots, but smaller. I found a New South Wales PDF fact file, if you want to see the photos! These fruit flies harmlessly lay eggs in soft, ripened fruit. An irritation, especially in the house, it's not such a big deal.
This one was on the bathroom mirror |
The abdomen is striped! |
Spotted wing drosophila (SWD) is an invasive vinegar fly from Asia that can cause extensive damage to soft-skinned fruits before harvest. First detected in North America in 2008, this pest has spread quickly. SWD has been found in Ontario, British Columbia and Nova Scotia, as well as many American states and in Europe (e.g. Spain, Italy and France). SWD is different from other vinegar flies because it lays eggs in healthy ripening fruit, rather than overripe or damaged fruit.
SWD - from gov't PDF file |
More Information on SWD:
- Identification | Damage | Biology |
- Poster: Spotted Wing Drosophila (PDF 938 kB - fabulous photos!)
7 comments:
There you go with the research again! You are a wealth of information... who knew that fruit flies were so problematic for farmers! I know they are a major pain in the kitchen...seeming to appear from nowhere!
Fruit flies are such a pain in the kitchen.
Thanks for dropping by and visiting.
Once again we've messed with species and have damaged stuff we hadn't thought about. Our fruit flies are bad enough.
Fruit flies have really become a plague in Hawaii and destroyed a lot of our fruit crops. I don't know what the answer could be.
Wow creative solution with the trap. I think I would park one of those electronic UV bug zappers over the composter - I don't think their little bug bodies will add too much protein to turn into your pile. HA! W.C.C.
Creative solution to your fruit fly problem!
Wow! All I know about fruit flies is that this time of year they like to drown themselves in my evening glass of white wine. I don't know where they come from.
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