Fruit Fly at it again!!!

col

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I decided sometime ago to concentrate on Dragon fruit after researching and reading on many forums, websites, govt information & agriculture sites.....about how the dreaded Fruit Fly do not choose Dragon Fruit or at least Dragon Fruit are not considered hosts to Fruit Fly.
I guess one should not believe all that one reads eh?

So far we've had a bumper crop of DF's, giving plenty away to friends out of the 86 we finally picked on Sunday 9th Feb. Not bad at all.

Whilst out starting to mow lawn in-between rainfall yesterday, wife comes out holding a large DF complaining of maggots in the fruit pulp. Went straight over to the vines and saw Qld Fruit Fly having a good ol' time at my expense.
Maybe its because of the unusually high humidity or the high amounts of daily rainfall were getting here in Hervey Bay at the moment, but the fly is in full bloom and attacking Dragon Fruit.

I have some David Grays Fruit Fly potion in the shed I may apply, but would rather purchase some individual anti-insect bags I can tie around each fruit.
Anyone know of an Aussie seller who has such bags in stock?
Don't really want to send money overseas and not receive what I paid for. (1) Fruit Fly on top Baby Bud 11th Feb 2020.jpg (2) Fruit Fly on Vine 11th Feb 2020.jpg (3) Fruit Fly Infected DF 11th Feb 2020.jpg (4) Fruit Fly infected area 11th Feb 2020.jpg
 

Wedgetail

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Hi Col the fruit look great bugger about the fruit fly. Our DF has 6 flower buds on so hope we might get some fruit. Dave
 

Ringo Perkov

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I got some of my bags overseas (Slow boat from China) just for minor security, but I understand not wanting to wait, or having a chance at being ripped off. I'm not sure if all sellers on amazon ship to Aussie, but try there. They have a lot of options for mesh bags.
Another option is if you know where to get it, or have some already, you can make bags out of fine nylon mesh/netting. They last pretty long as well. Just a square piece and a rubber band should do the trick.
Prices on Amazon are about 10USD for 50 bags, best of luck to you though :twothumbsup:
 

col

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Hi Col the fruit look great bugger about the fruit fly. Our DF has 6 flower buds on so hope we might get some fruit. Dave
Thanks Dave, they do look great and tasted great regardless, although unknowingly I did consume one or maybe two that had been infected by the fruit fly.
All up we picked exactly 100 but binned the last 15 due to being stung.

We have more growing as well but I was really surprised to actually witness the fruit fly on top of a baby bud where it looked like it was actually trying to sting the bud?
Gonna try making some small netting type bags this arvo to tie round the fruit that are developing, just to keep the fly at bay.
cheers, col.
 

col

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I got some of my bags overseas (Slow boat from China) just for minor security, but I understand not wanting to wait, or having a chance at being ripped off. I'm not sure if all sellers on amazon ship to Aussie, but try there. They have a lot of options for mesh bags.
Another option is if you know where to get it, or have some already, you can make bags out of fine nylon mesh/netting. They last pretty long as well. Just a square piece and a rubber band should do the trick.
Prices on Amazon are about 10USD for 50 bags, best of luck to you though :twothumbsup:
Hey Ringo, found some suppliers here in Oz that don't seem too bad in price but do charge a lot for express postage (they realise what time of year it is no doubt) but I am going to cut up some fruit fly netting I have and try make some bags to suit.
Just means i'll have to go buy a big bag of rubber bands ha!, never stops does it?
cheers, col.
 

ClissAT

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Hi Col, you should be able to get bags by mail order from Green Harvest at Maleny.
 

col

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Hi Col, you should be able to get bags by mail order from Green Harvest at Maleny.
Thanks ClissAT, did some research and found a few here in Oz, also seedcollection.com.au have them at a reasonable price but then charge high for express post. Will look into again just shortly.
I'm gonna cut up a fruit fly net I don't use so much now and try make some, will also cover the grating I have installed at the bottom of my banana bags just in case they wanna attack my Ladies.
cheers, col.
 

col

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Hi Col, you should be able to get bags by mail order from Green Harvest at Maleny.
Thanks ClissAT, rang Green Harvest and spoke with a lovely lady named Andrea, have purchased a bunch of bags and she'll post this Wednesday when stock arrives. Did mention you and 'self sufficient me', said she's gonna check the website out.
all good, thanks again...….. col.
 

ClissAT

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Col if you are within driving distance of Maleny, you should make the time to visit Green Harvest. Their shop building is rammed earth. They also have an extensive organic farm just far down the street and not far from the shop where they produce a fair amount of their own seed.
I don't know if they do farm tours but it would be an interesting visit.
 

Snowemu

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Would you do the same with Guava? New gardener here - we have a guava tree at our house which gets fruit fly every crop. Because of this we just don’t bother and have never had a successful crop. They seem to get in early before the fruit even forms.
 

ClissAT

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Guavas are native to Australia as are fruit fly so the two will always go together!
Yes the flies sting the ova at the base of a female flower so it's very difficult to deal with them.
Put out baits for both male and female flies from end of July onwards.
As soon as you see the first stone fruit flowers open, it's time to hang your baits.
Either a female attractant or male attractant in each tree.
They will need topping up every few weeks and more often in wet weather.
In tropical areas these days, you may benefit from keeping the baits going permanently.
Then once the fruit has been fertilized, put a fruit fly bag over them.
So with the two forms of control your fruit may survive!
 

Snowemu

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Guavas are native to Australia as are fruit fly so the two will always go together!
Yes the flies sting the ova at the base of a female flower so it's very difficult to deal with them.
Put out baits for both male and female flies from end of July onwards.
As soon as you see the first stone fruit flowers open, it's time to hang your baits.
Either a female attractant or male attractant in each tree.
They will need topping up every few weeks and more often in wet weather.
In tropical areas these days, you may benefit from keeping the baits going permanently.
Then once the fruit has been fertilized, put a fruit fly bag over them.
So with the two forms of control your fruit may survive!
Thanks for that! Will give it a go this year and see if we have success!
 
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