Insect
Cherry Fruit Fly
A small banded-wing fly whose larvae tunnel inside cherry fruits, causing premature drop; infested cherries often look sound until cut or squeezed.
Symptoms to Look For
- Early fruit drop with maggots visible inside fallen cherries
- Softening and browning around the stone
- White larvae up to 6 mm long inside ripe or ripening fruit
Affected Plants
Cherry
Organic Solutions
Yellow sticky traps
Hang yellow sticky traps in cherry trees from late May to monitor adult emergence and time any treatments accurately.
Fine mesh netting
Cover smaller trees or individual branches with fine fruit fly exclusion netting before adults emerge to physically prevent egg-laying.
Prevention
- Collect and destroy all fallen fruit immediately - do not compost as larvae will continue development in the pile
- Cultivate the soil beneath trees in autumn and winter to expose overwintering pupae to birds and frost
Garden, by Willowbottom recommends only organic, wildlife-friendly solutions. No synthetic pesticides, no harmful chemicals - ever.