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Fruit fly control

    597 responses

Debbie starts with ...
Has anyone used fruit fly traps/lures with success? How well do they work? For example, if I buy a fig tree and put two fruit fly lures around the tree to trap the male fruit fly, will this protect my whole crop from being stung? Or do you think I will need to to use 2mm netting as well to stop fruit fly (as well as birds).
Just wondering how effectively these traps/lures work in controlling fruit fly!
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Debbie3
Ipswich
25th June 2007 2:29pm
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Grant says...
Debbie.
From my understanding the fruit fly traps are purely a means of detecting wether you have fly around or not. The bait is a sex attractant to the male fly.You monitor the fly numbers by the amount of dead male fly near the trap.It is up to you to do the controlling.
You may have to keep the little guys off your fruit by netting or spraying .
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Gympie
25th June 2007 9:45pm
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Kath says...
We have been trialling the organic fruit fly product eco-naturalure here at the nursery with great success. It is an attractant and insecticide all in one. There is no need to spray it onto the fruits themselves meaning that your fruits will not have any sprays on them and they will be free of grubs. We spray the underside of the leaves on certain trees around the orchard once a week throughout the year. We enjoyed a bumper crop of feijoas last year which we felt was a good indication that the spray is working.
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Kath
Cawongle
26th June 2007 9:51am
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ben silver says...
Feijoas may not be a good test. fruit fly love golden delicious apples and late peaches such as "Golden queen". Professor of fruit fly biology at sydney university is rather dismissive of these lately developed sprays . If you are in an isolated area my experience is thAt male lures are sufficient for figs but not for the highly attractive fruits mentioned . Place male lures in an encircling pattern at say 20metres from fig in order to intercept males entering from periphery.
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Bsilver
sydney
30th July 2007 10:05am
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Scott G says...
I have used 'Wild May' fruit fly bait to attract the males flies. The trap caught lots but my fruit was still infested. I had read that the male traps don't have much effect in an suburban area where fertilized female fruit flies can still find their way to your trees from neighboring properties.

I had a couple of attempts with vegemite & yeast etc. Those traps caught a few house flies but not much else.

The only thing that I have tried that was 100% successful was to cover the tree (approx' 2m tall by 2m wide) with a big mozzie net. Hand sown from the cheapest lace curtain fabric from a Spotlight store. I am not sure how many seasons the net will handle before deteriorating so much that it is unusable. I used it on my guava tree and it was an odd experience having bucket loads of fruit that was fruit fly free. It could even be accidentally left on the tree until it was overripe and nothing ate it.

Incidentally I have a small fig tree and it hasn't had a problem with fruit flies at all.
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Scott G
Gold Coast
30th July 2007 9:24pm
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ben silver says...
My experience precisely. A little wary that Wild May does not list its ingredients . Faint whiff of snake oil.
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Bsilver
sydney
31st July 2007 4:59pm
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Kath says...
I use wild may to monitor how active fruit flies are in my orchard. If I am catching 30 male flies in a week then I know that there are a lot of fruit flies in my orchard that will damage my precious fruits. Last year I protected my nectarines with exclusion bags from Green Harvest
www.greenharvest.com.au
These worked beautifully for me and I harvested my first crop of grub free nectarines as a result. Amazingly the birds did not eat any of the bagged fruits until they had eaten all the unbagged fruits first. I am not sure how good their memories are and whether or not they will realize that the best fruits are inside the bags this year.
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1
  
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Kath
Cawongla
1st August 2007 10:28am
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ben silver says...
The only qualitatively new male trap is smething called AMULET Cue lure. The makers claim that the insecticide fipronil has a delayed action so that females that mate with contaminated males get killed a lot of the time . It costs about $60 to find out if this is true. Incidently the substance Cue lure, if you can obtain it, is really cheap because only 1ml is used in a trap for the male fly Add 2ml of insecticide and total cost $1 tops . Plant a label on it and call it FlY RID and sell $13 a piece.
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Bsilver
sydney
9th August 2007 8:32am
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brian says...
I recently read and ancient gasrden magazine where an old fellarecons that by putting bganana skins in the ground under fruit trees it will stop fruit fly strike, if im correct ,females lay their eggs in the ground and hatch out to meet the males so aybe something in this old wives tale, any one else heard of this. brian
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brian3
newcastle
13th August 2007 7:54am
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Andy says...
I've done some work on Wild May, Naturalure, exclusion bags, other baits and traps. They all work but in different ways. Wild May, Amulet, cuelure in Dakpots, etc attract only the males. In low fruit fly population areas (e.g. inland with cold winters or in well-managed orchards) it is possible over the years to get rid of the females too. No males then no females. But this won't work in coastal regions with high fruit fly populations that move around a lot. Traps with vegemite, yeast etc are O.K. for a day or two and may trap females and males but the solution goes off and actually repels fruit flies and attracts blowflies. Adding preservative to the mixture tends to reduce the trap's efficacy. Exclusion bags and netting enclosures are great - time consuming, yes. As long as desperate birds (koels and rainbow lorikeets seem to be the worst) don't force there way in! Splash baits like Naturalure are good too. It's approved for organic control and is used all over the World now. However you must keep the applications up - like once a week and after rain - as it attracts flies into small orchards from a fair distance.
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Andy2
Gosford
17th August 2007 2:21pm
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Rev says...
im going to give some of these ideas a go - one more time

im using econature lure but with all the wild peaches out here its pushing the cart uphill

lebaycid works very well. but i dont like using it

ill try physical exclusion if that doesnt work all the trees will get the chop

qld fly is a menace compared to the medfly. if you get it in early it takes your chilli and tomato crop too
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RevNQ1
Tabulam
19th November 2007 12:59am
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natasha compton says...
i have an apricot tree that has fruit fly i have tried different traps the most succsesful one that i have found is the 2 litter bottle trap with womans urine in is the best in half a day i had 20 fruit fly in it by the next morning i have about 50 fly i know it sounds strange but it really works
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natasha compton
perth
24th November 2007 6:57am
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Julie says...
Scott, your 'mossie net' will last longer if you erect a frame made of 2" black polypipe, so the branches don't snag. Just take the net down when you have finished picking, and it should last quite a while. Two lengths in a sort of cross shape at the top (may have to tie with wire)should do the trick. Sorry I can't do a drawing - hope this is clear.
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Julie
Roleystone WA
25th November 2007 8:24pm
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natasha compton says...
you may think this sounds strange but i made a trap out of a 2 litter coke bottle and used urine as my bait and with out a word of a lie it is the best trap ever i change the urine every day and they also say that womans urine is better than mens try it you will be suprised
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natasha compton
perth
26th November 2007 1:06pm
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Anonymous says...
well there was that post i saw about the place regarding increased attarcation to ammonia
and stale urine will break down to give of ammonia

So youd be dealing with the meditteranean fruit fly over there in WA as they successfully eradicated the qld fly few years back

having dealt with both, (and none in SA - what a dream!), i find the qld fly more pernicious

so glad we dont have the melon/papaya fly of asia or we could kiss goodbye to all curcurbits too
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27th November 2007 9:53am
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Andy says...
I have a Qld fruit fly colony and some people are more attractive to fruit flies than others. I've put it down to the amount of ammonia they give off! Although some perfumes are attractive - particularly those that are based on raspberry ketone.
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Gosford
27th November 2007 10:41am
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ben silver says...
Andy, you don't have Q.fly colonies and they are not attracted to people.Suggest some urgent reading
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ben silver
Sydney
28th November 2007 9:18am
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Andy says...
Ben
The photo shows part of my Qld fruit fly colony. I use it to study new traps and trap additives.
Pictures - Click to enlarge

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Gosford
28th November 2007 10:26am
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Correy says...
Scott G. Can you give us a picture of your spotlight fruit fly enclosure? Andy I would enjoy if you would explain the picture of your fruit fly experiments and how you are using it. Some more pictures would be great as well if they are easily accessible.
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Correy
Woolloongabba
28th November 2007 11:14am
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Andy says...
Correy
The previous picture shows some aluminium and mesh cages that house about 20,000 Queensland fruit flies in each. In the picture I have pears sitting on top of the cages to be infested with female fruit fly eggs. I then take the newly infested fruit off the cages and then treat them. The results are used to develop new quarantine treatments for exports to other countries and States. We are working on cold and heat treatments at the moment. I'm also looking at fruit fly trapping methods. The pictures show a NZ Lynfield trap (looks like a bucket), a Bugs for Bugs lure and an Amulet CL pad (cardboard). But there are many, many more types around.
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Gosford
28th November 2007 12:26pm
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Andy says...
The photos............
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1

Picture: 2

Picture: 3
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Gosford
28th November 2007 12:27pm
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Correy says...
Very Cool it looks like you have a lot of fun with your 20,000 fruit fly friends.

If you wanted to share some of your more interesting results as you go I am sure many of us who aren't friends with our fruit flies would be interested.
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Correy
Woolloongabba, QLD
28th November 2007 1:34pm
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bsilver says...
oops, sorry andy , you obviously are growing f.fly in a big way. What results can you divulge?
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sydney
29th November 2007 12:08pm
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Scott G says...
Thanks Julie, that is a good idea about the simple frame. I had been told a frame would increase the lifespan of nets but hadn’t gotten serious about making one because of how serious a structure I had pictured in my head.

Both nets have just finished duty stopping fruitfly and parrots/bats on the Nectarine and Peach. They worked very well but they got a tear or 2 from the thicker branch ends that poked out to the extreme of the dripline as a result of pruning. These trees filled the nets so inserting a frame wouldn’t really have held the net away from the tree much. But I will be covering the Guava in a month and I have pruned it smaller so a frame should be an advantage there. I also pruned it anticipating the net so that the tree will have a chance to grow some smaller, soft new shoots at the end of the pruned branches by the time the net goes on. Thus (I am hoping) this will stop the hard branch ends rubbing on the net. Another thing to consider is during the time the trees are growing fruit they grow a considerable amount of new foliage and in the case of the Nectarine and Peach this was about 40cm in every direction. This extra growth had the advantage of holding the net off the fruit so it was less attractive to all the things that wanted a nibble.

I will strongly consider a polypipe frame.

One net (made from curtain lace) had been used last season on the guava and it is showing signs of weakening due to exposure.

The net on the Peach tree didn’t stop an infestation of Rutherglen bugs. The were small enough to get through it.

Below is a picture of one of the 2 nets my girlfriend made. This one is from heavily discounted curtain lace bought at Spotlight. The other is from mosquito netting. Both cost about $2 or $3 per metre and each net used 10m so $20-$30 per net. They are basically cut and sewn into a cube with the bottom missing. The dimensions were dictated by the width of the roll of the fabric (about 2m). The fabric was also chosen to let the maximum light through. The net shown has about 4 bricks on the ground holding it down. Completely sealing the net to the ground doesn’t appear too necessary as long as the gap isn’t too big (perhaps 50mm??) The other net on the peach was tied and pegged together around the trunk.
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Scott G
Gold Coast
29th November 2007 3:19pm
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Rod Browne says...
I have been using eco-naturalure since flower drop . I have been putting it on a piece of plastic coated board about one metre square , which I first hung on the 6 foot galvabond fence directly behind the tree , about 1 metre away from the tree , then hung it inside the tree. This was one method suggested somewhere in the instruction.Some fruit is beginning to drop from the tree and all are infected with fruit fly (I think) grubs.
The fruit on the tree seems to be Ok , I cut a couple and found no grubs. The fruit is hard and very red , and nice and perfumed ,but not ripe . I would like to ripen the fruit on the tree , but think I may pick the fruit and let it ripen inside , in case the fruit is being stung as it ripens

any comments please

Rod
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rat3het
Greystanes
3rd December 2007 1:55pm
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Julie says...
Rod,fruit fly sting when the fruit is still green. If it has been stung, bringing it inside won't make any difference - it will still develop.
I knew an orchardist who picked fruit before it was ripe, put in the coolroom for two weeks, then brought it out to ripen. I had no success with this - as soon as the fruit was warm again the maggots developed. I now use recycled mushroom bags on my peaches - it's a bit fiddly, but I get to eat ripe(organically-grown) fruit.
Plums I lose to birds (rubber snakes on a few branches, moved every few days helps) and apricots I make into delicious jam when they are under-ripe.I could avoid all this if I used Lebaycid, but don't fancy it.

My current strategy is to grow fruit in bonsai bags to keep them small.I then plan to mossie net the whole area (with a polypipe frame) which won't be too large. That's the plan, anyway!
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Julie
Roleystone WA
31st December 2007 8:29pm
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Patricia says...
Is it true f.fly live in the ground from one season to next. If so can we kill them at his stage. We have only one tree but we have harvested about six large chaff bags of apricots which have all gone to the dump, we have sprayed and used baits and have managed to enjoy about 20 apricots. Over the last 15 years we have tried every method and spray on (and off) the market. We only have two options left - the chain saw or a net.
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Patricia5
Mudgee
3rd January 2008 9:04am
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Rod Browne says...
The last two years have been a total loss

In 2004 we got a good crop of well flavoured fruit

As I said I used naturelure this year and had a very minor success , after fairly consistant application . not worth the cost

maybe too much contamination in my area

Will look at leybacid next year ,

or maybe give the mossie net ( I assume it is cotton and you get this from from spotlight )a try as we only have a small tree
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rat3het
Greystanes
3rd January 2008 9:15am
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Andy says...
Patricia, generally fruit flies over winter as adults in the orchards and nearby non-deciduous trees and shrubs. But some pupae survive in the ground if the chooks, other birds, earwigs, cultivation, etc don't destroy them. Also some of those pupae will be infested themselves with parasitic wasps. Early season approaches against fruit flies help reduce the initial spring population - traps, bait sprays like Naturalure are good - but must be applied from August / September onwards. Well before fruit set and ripening. Netting sounds good. Best lof luck!
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Gosford
3rd January 2008 10:41am
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Anonymous says...
we always drown our fruit ti kill the fly
didnt want to export the larvae to another site
and once its festy enough and well dead
we put the whole lot in the compost
to recycle nutrients
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3rd January 2008 11:06am
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Bsilver says...
Here is another anecdote: I put infested fruit in a sealed drum ,plastic , and leave in the sun . Surprising then when I open the drum in a year's time to find viable larvae (grubs) still plentiful.
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Bsilver
sydney
3rd January 2008 2:14pm
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Rod Browne says...
I have just got a publication recommending a new fruit fly control by Yates

It attracts the fly and then kills it

went to the yates site for more info

http://www.yates.com.au/Products/PestControl/InsectsConcentrates/NaturesWayFruitFlyControl.asp

maybe worth a try , works on same principal as Success , which works for me on other pests



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rat3het
Greystanes
6th January 2008 8:29am
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Julie says...
Rod, the Yates product contains the same chemical as Eco-naturalure - Spinosad. So be careful and compare the prices and amount to use.
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Julie
Roleystone WA
10th January 2008 9:06pm
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TJ says...
I started applying Eco-naturalure (same as Yates but cheaper) to 1m square area of milk/juice bottles with the side cut out on posts – 1 per fruit tree – on 2/10/07. Peaches that were ripe by early Dec had hardly any fruit fly – but peaches and tomatoes that are ripe now are full of fruit fly. All infected fruit has been placed in a sealed bin full to the top with water (seemed to drown them all last year).VERY DISAPPOINTED. Think the sun, wind and heat has dried the Eco-naturalure out too quick. Have been told would be better applied to a more porous surface and placed in the shade eg pieces of wood in the tree etc. Found sooty mould developed easy – so would be wary about spraying it in the same place on the actual tree repeatedly.

Recently given a recipe from an older fellow who lived near a commercial orchard. Apparently he didn’t have any fruit fly problems, but the orchard always did. Vegemite and malathion mixed into a thick paste and painted on boards in or near the fruit trees/garden. He also hung bottles with holes cut in the side of them containing about 2 inchs of the following mix: 1 tbl sp cloudy ammonia, 1 tbl sp vanialla ess, ½ cup brown sugar, 1 litre water. He spooned the dead fruit fly out and topped up the liquid regularly.

Have just covered the capsicum plants with frost guard white fabric (<$3m at Mitre 10) over a frame made from poly pipe. Am also going to try covering the tomato plants that have just started flowering with mozzie net, curtaining, tuille or whatever I can get cheap. Will probably put some Eco-Naturalure on something protected by sun and wind a bit - if I think of something as veg garden completely exposed.

Last year I tried a PestGuard bag from Green Harvest, but found it was ripped etc by the wind before the fruit was ripe. Another prob with these is because you can’t see through them you have to keep undoing to check if fruit is ripe.

Any thoughts?
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TJ
Dubbo NSW
13th January 2008 11:04am
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Anonymous says...
i used Eco naturelure from flower drop
on my 2007 necterine and peach tree
crop
it certainly is an attractant lost the
entire crop of both trees to fruit fly
have also lost the plums which split
with the heavy consistant recent rains
no luck here maybe the citrus trees
will come good later on. also tried
pest bags from green harvest in 2006
but they offer no protection against
strong winds or the parrots and bats
who know when the fruit is ready
before i do . however had my first
grapes from the vines planted 18mths
ago so all is not lost after all.


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12
bilambil hgts
17th January 2008 6:29pm
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Bsilver says...
Spinosid is an insecticide produced by bacteria. Why is it preferable to ,say ,Malation. Is nicotine safe because it is produced by a plant?
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Bsilver
sydney
2nd February 2008 5:25am
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Julie says...
Organic materials, made from plants or bacteria, are broken down fairly quickly. Being 'natural', the environment has a way of dealing with them - unlike synthetic chemicals, which are unknown in nature.
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Julie7
Roleystone WA
11th February 2008 6:05pm
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bsilver says...
Is the idea to break down the insecticide rapidly and render treatment ineffective?
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12th February 2008 9:14am
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mal says...
we have a neighbour, old lady with ten peach trees and she never does anything with them, so fruit fly is rampant here. swarms.

i grow lots of different chilli's, and all get stung, but the rocoto gets stung say 50 times on every single fruit? you can have a big fat tomato right beside the rocoto and it won't get stung at all. and the grubs never develop. best thing yet.

rocotillo a long second, then other chillis bout the same as tomato.

just like a vacuum cleaner for fruit fly.




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toowoomba
12th February 2008 11:07am
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Scott G says...
Mal, that is interesting. If only the egg/larvae filled chillies could be disposed of or used as part of a trap.

In my garden I see gourds attracting fruit flies a lot and a few come when I skin a Luffa.
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Scott G
The Gold Coast
12th February 2008 11:59am
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Andy says...
Trap crops or refuge crops (e.g. the old fashioned castor oil plant acts as a refuge for Melon fly in Hawaii and can be sprayed with baits to get rid of flies out of adjacent melon crops) have been looked at overseas with varying success. If the fly larvae escape from the chillies and pupate in the soil then there will be more flies coming out for future infestations. If the new come out after the tomato crop is finished - OK - but next season (or next crop) they'll be there if the winter doesn't kill them.
The gourds and luffas may be attracting another fruit fly species, the Cucumber fly, which has a yellow spot in the middle of its back (which the Qld fruit fly doesn't have).
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Andy2
Gosford
14th February 2008 2:56pm
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Bsilver says...
Limitations of bait sprays aka splash baits not widely canvassed viz useful when f. fly pressure not high and /or target fruit is in relative isolation ,say a bush block. One cannot expect to obtain control if neighbour has neglected trees loaded with fly .
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Bsilver
sydney
15th February 2008 5:15am
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Scott G says...
Andy: Thanks for telling me about the Cucumber Fly. I will try to determine what I have in my garden.

I got some info from QLD DPI about the Melon Fly (Cucumber Fly). They are concerned about it getting established in Australia and so want to be notified if it is seen.

They list the visible differences between Melon Fly and QLD Fruit Fly as follows.

The distinctive features of melon fly include:

- a yellow stripe in the middle of the thorax between the wings
- a black (often incomplete) T-shaped marking on the abdomen (the rear body section)
- additional dark patches towards the outer edge of the wings

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Scott G
The Gold Coast
18th February 2008 9:19am
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Julie says...
The idea of using organic insecticides is that they kill/repel the insect but have been broken down by the time you eat the fruit, so you are not eating poisons.
It's a bit of a drawback in some ways, because you have to keep reapplying them. Don't know of any systemic ones apart from Neem oil which is supposed to act systemically.
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Julie7
Roleystone WA
21st February 2008 12:19pm
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Scott G says...
It seems I got the Cucumber Fly mixed up With the Melon Fly (I suppose that's the problem with 'common' names)

Andy: I have identified the insect I saw today on a Luffa. It is a Cucumber fly (Dacus Cucumis). It is native to Australia. DPI Page: www2.dpi.qld.gov.au/horticulture/5368.html

I had no idea there was another insect so similar to QLD Fruit Fly around here. I wonder how many times I have misidentified them.
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Scott G
The Gold Coast
22nd February 2008 7:54pm
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Andy says...
Hi Everyone
I'm now with the UN in Vienna working on suppressing fruit flies in Member States so they have more fruit and vegetables for themselves and for exort.
Scott G - yes the cucumber fly is a pest of melons, zucchinis, etc from the far North Coast of NSW and into SE Qld. There's no traps like dak Pots, etc able to attract them so you often don't know they are around until you see the maggots in the fruit. Traps with vegemite (or other protein based stuff -like beer or ammoniated liquids like cloudy ammonia) will attract some (but also a lot of other insects so can get messy). Bait sprays applied early will help unless the fly population is too large.
Mal: sometimes fruit can withstand fly strike because the skin is too slippery for the flies to puncture. Maybe your flies preferred the softer skins of the chillies to the fat shiny tomato. Cherry tomatoes are generally resistant to fruit flies for this reason (but can get stung if they dry out and shrivell slightly or start to split or if they get damaged by bird pecks, etc).
Best of luck everyone.
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Andy5
Gosford
23rd July 2008 6:29am
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Anonymous says...
Andy, You sound as if you are au fait with the subject . What is in the pipeline that may turn up soon in the way of control? And what do you think about the Amulet system . ?
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Sydney
23rd July 2008 12:44pm
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John says...
amulet system?
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John20
Perth
29th July 2008 11:04am
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Anonymous says...
Yes, it involves fipronil as the insecticide and has the usual male lure. In theory the male lands on the lure and is not killed immediately but has time to mate with the evil female who in turn is contaminated and killed by the fipronil.
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31st July 2008 1:56pm
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Anonymous says...
Can anyone advise me as to where one can buy mozzie netting in a roll.

Tried baits last year but to no avail.



I have now 40 fruit trees to protect against the fruit fly. I have erected poly frames but cannot find where I can purchase netting on a roll.
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GVV
 
16th August 2008 6:26pm
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Scott G says...
I got mine from a Spotlight store.
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Scott G
The Gold Coast
17th August 2008 8:16pm
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TJ says...
Big W have an actually mozzie net ready to hang from a hook on ceiling above a bed. Just bought one for $10. Hoping will cover one tree. If not will cut up and use the netting of it. Think the quantity of netting in it would be cheaper than buying off the roll at Spotlight.

The curtain remnant basket at Spotlight is a good place to look to - often only about $1.50 a metre.

Has anyone had problems with fruit fly getting in a netted tree when picking ripe fruit etc. Wondering if better to net sections of a tree or individual branches/fruit???

Also has anyone heard of "solarising" - apparently some put black plastic on ground under fruit trees to kill last seasons fruit fly still in the ground??? Does anyone know anything about this??????
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TJ
Dubbo
16th September 2008 1:10pm
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Kath says...
Just a note on the solarising, doing this under your fruit tree will also risk killing the roots of your tree, it is much better to maintain high levels of hygiene in your orchard. Pick up and dispose of all fallen fruit, do not leave it under your trees. Make sure all netting it stretched tightly and if covering the whole tree it will need to be pegged down. Loose nets can catch and kill, birds, bats and lizards. Green harvest has a range of pest exclusion bags that you can have a look at and then design your own to suit your tree.
www.greenharvest.com.au
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Kath
Cawongla
16th September 2008 2:18pm
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Scott G says...
I have had no problems with fruitfly getting past my nets even when the nets weren't completely sealing the tree near the ground.

I havent had any thing get by the net while I was picking. I just get under the net with the tree and pick the fruit off into a big bowl. It's too tricky to get the nets on and off the trees.

I hold my nets down with a few bricks. On top of what Kath said they need to be held down well to stop them blowing away in strong wind.

That Mozzie net at BigW is the cheapest I have heard of them selling for. That would be cheaper than making them from 10m of spotight fabric.

Trying to kill fruitfly in the ground would only be of help if they were the only source of fruitfly in your area. Otherwise you would still get fruitfly from your neighbours' trees.
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Scott G
The Gold Coast
17th September 2008 3:00pm
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Anonymous says...
Better to employ chooks. They are reputed to dig up f/fly grubs.
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18th September 2008 1:49pm
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Scott G says...
I have chickens below many of my fruit trees. I have heard that the chooks can help reduce the fruit fly population by eating the emerging adults.
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Scott G
The Gold Coast
18th September 2008 2:15pm
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Kath says...
They sure do, as well as fertilizing and keeping the ground free from weeds.
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Kath
Cawongla
18th September 2008 3:59pm
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GVV says...
Finally I bought 150m roll of 4m wide blue mozzie netting from China and have installed it over the framing I made from 1/2" electrical conduit.

Recon I will have no problems this year. Trust I have beaten the little suckers
Got the netting thru Mystique Mozzie nets on the web

GVV
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GVV
Maryborough
30th September 2008 9:52pm
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Scott G says...
GVV: I googled 'Mystique Mozzie nets' and came up with nothing. Can you tell me the web address please?
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Scott G
The Gold Coast
1st October 2008 6:48am
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GVV says...
Scott

Can't remember the web address but her email address is angelina@mostique.com.au.

I have just ordered another roll 200m x 6m as some of my trees are quite large. On the first order I had it in 6 days as I needed to get the trees covered as some had fruit set.

When calculating out, including sea freight from China, it is cheaper than what I bought in Big W. Also buying in a 4 or 6 m wide roll it is less hassle on larger trees.

Quality is very good

Obviously if it is airfreighted the cost is higher.
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GVV
Maryborough
1st October 2008 1:10pm
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TJ says...
Thanks for info on solarising - confirmed my thoughts that might be damaging to the trees. Have been trying to pick up any fruit in previous seasons and drowning them. How long do they survive in the ground for as this is only our 3rd season here?

Was worried that any might come up from the ground under the tree and straight into the netted tree.

GVV - would love some pictures of your frames and netted trees.

Does colour of netting make any difference to fruit fly and bats? White netting seems to deter birds much better than black - currently trialing pink and purple.
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TJ
Dubbo
2nd October 2008 10:16am
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Shaz says...
Love this forum. Thank you so much. Talking about netting I am thinking about netting the fruit trees on the new property that we have just moved into and am quite interested in how the crop nets are used. we have just moved back from WA and in Carnarvon they use crop nets over most of their orchards, mainly for wind, but my thoughts are that it could also exclude fruit fly and birds from attacking the fruit. Do you think this would work? They usually use shade cloth so a nice light coloured shade cloth could work just as well as a mozzie net couldn't it?
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Shaz1
Atherton Nth Qld
4th October 2008 11:55pm
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GVV says...
TJ

I work in India and will not be back home on R&R until 28 Oct. Will talk soon after then and can show you my framing. It is quite easy to put them up. I use 1/2 inch electrical conduit each 4m in length. Each one has a female end so very easy to join. Also easy to cut with a hacksaw. Depending on the size of the tree governs how long one hoop is. I put two hoops to each tree and use an electrical tie to hold them fast at the top.I drive 4x1/2m lengths of reinforcing steel into the ground on a slight angle and the conduit goes down over the steel peg.

The cost of one length of conduit is expensive but I bought 100 lengths and it worked out at a 60% reduction.

I keep around the base of the trees clean and put all the cuttings from the grass around them. I am always careful not to let the green grass lay up against the tree trunk.

My netting is blue and I have just ordered a black roll.

Will speak again to you at the end of the month

Cheers

PS I know I will have a good crop this year

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GVV
Maryborough
5th October 2008 6:19pm
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anonymous says...
Si
It looks as if there is no alternative to netting my 125 fig trees.
The F.Fly was bad last year despite using naturalure.
What is the verdict on colour?
I just priced the stiff netting from spotlight - $1.99/m but only 1.35m wide. would have to sew together.
Plan to put in 4 star pickets topped with 2 lengths of corner to corner poly pipe.
Has anyone tried that?
great forum.
cheers
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penny
 
10th October 2008 9:54pm
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GVV says...
Si

Star pickets can work out quite expensive as I have used them. I now use 1/2" conduit see my email above.
I will be home at the end of Oct and I will post a photo on the forum so you can see how I beat them.
You are right. The only sure way to stop them is netting.
GVV
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GVV
Maryborough
15th October 2008 1:58pm
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GVV says...
Si

By the way with netting the price for netting you pay $1.99/m for a 1.35m wide is very expensive.
Look above at the contact I placed on the forum on 1 Oct and contact her. I purchase now in 6m wide rolls and no need for sewing narrow pieces together
GVV
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GVV
Maryborough
15th October 2008 2:02pm
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linnie says...
Hello Kath... I bought a stack of the exclusion bags from green harvest a few years ago, and placed them over our mangoes. What we found at the end of the ripening period was untold exclusion bags full of mango pulp (they had been masticated, through the bag, by some rude rhodent, possum, wallaby or unknown flying creature. Do you have any suggestions re this, as our nectarines and peaches are fruiting up for the first time ever... Thanks for reminder about eco-naturalure... Hmmm... now, where did I put it??? Thank you Kath, all things good, Linnie :)
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linnie
Cawongla too
27th October 2008 8:37pm
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Julie says...
Check out my comments on November last year. I recommend using two sections of polypipe crossed at the top, to support a net.
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Julie
Roleystone
28th October 2008 8:08pm
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John says...
Joolz

what part of roley are youse in?
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John20
Perth
30th October 2008 9:49am
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Anonymous says...
Attached is a photo which shows how I win the war with the fruit fly.

My continued attack on the fruit fly has paid dividends and we have the most beautiful (and grub free) peaches in the area. This should be the same with all our other fruits.

Note the tree in the picture is four years old however we cut them back every year and they are more easy to work with when netting.
The smaller trees give quality fruit but not quite as many as a larger tree.

GVV
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3rd November 2008 9:47am
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John says...
Any specs on what size pipe you use?
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John20
Perth
3rd November 2008 10:52am
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GVV says...
John

The frame I use is 1/2" electrical conduit which is good in the sun.
I bought some 6 meter lengths of reinforcing steel 12mm diameter and cut it into 450mm lengths and drive them into the ground leaving half out of the ground and place the conduit over it.
I use an electrical tie to hold them firm at the top where they cross

GVV
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Maryborough
3rd November 2008 10:03pm
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Bazza says...
Fruit Fly Lovers!!,
Two ideas i am trying out right now are both cheap compared to all those listed in this topic. The First is a can of BERRI brand 405 ml of APRICOT nectar (Woolworths) @ $1.35 with the same can of water. I use small bottles (see Photos) with holes punched in together with bands of Yellow and Black tape to attract insect about half an inch of liquid. Although i have a bottle with just a yellow label and it is arttracting insects just as well!!. The second is the TOM WYATT mixture which works just as good but you have to leave to ferment for six days. I am picking my first HAWAIIN GUAVA and no maggots.The next test is to see the results from my FEJOA GUAVA as they are going from Flower to Fruit.

All The Best Bazza
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BazzaBundaberg1
Bundaberg Qld Aus
4th November 2008 1:05pm
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Scott G says...
Bazza:
I think I read that blue is the most attractive colour to QLD fruit fly. Perhaps you could try blue tape or paint?
Do you have a lot of fruit fly in your area normally?
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Scott G
The Gold Coast
4th November 2008 1:40pm
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Bazza says...
Scott,
Yes Scott we have a lot of Fruit Fly in this area. Why try Blue when the Yellow is attracting them this is a Fruit Fly discussion group we are tuned in to Scott. Of course Yellow paint would work it is what ever you have access to at your disposal.

All The Best Bazza
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BazzaBundaberg1
Bundaberg Qld Aus
5th November 2008 3:32pm
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anon says...
Sadly much of the inventive and intuitive fruit fly traps fail for a simple reason .... female flies ,the ones that do the damage, will not enter through holes . Sex mad males , naturally , will pass through holes and a lot else to get "satisfaction" Essentially you 're barking up the wrong f/fly trap.
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sydney
7th November 2008 9:14am
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Anonymous says...
he is right, we put a trap in an organic orchard and it was full and I mean full, with no air spacw withina week.
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9th November 2008 9:27am
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Anonymous says...
I am convinced there is only one way to beat the fruit fly and that is with netting. We produced a beautiful harvest of peaches this year after using netting. Other years using all these noted ideas with traps never worked successfully - always watching and finding blown fruit. This year not one piece of fruit blown.
Yes it may cost a little more but it is well worth netting. Our other fruits now set will also be fruit fly free
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GVV
Maryborough Qld
11th November 2008 12:47pm
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John says...
awesome, send photo of net.
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John20
Perth
12th November 2008 9:41am
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Baz 2 says...
Hi all,

I'm new here and this looks like a good place to get some tested advice.

I planted last year Nectarines (May Grand & WC Fripp) Plum (Narabeen & Santa Rosa) Apricot (Divinity & Bulinda) Mulberry (Black English) Orange (Washington) Passionfruit (cant remember).

I was just about to buy some bird netting when I noticed your posts GVV. Glad I did as this seems to me the way to go. I would like to grow my trees a bit bigger than what you have let them in your photo, but I understand your reasoning. Cost of the netting I think will force me to do a similar size...

I'm off to contact your contact for the netting... :)

Baz 2
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Baz 2
Bunbury, Western Australia
14th November 2008 9:01pm
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Anonymous says...
John

Look back to 3 Nov and I have sent in a photo of a netted tree.

GVV
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GVV
Maryborough Qld
15th November 2008 1:14pm
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Anonymous says...
Baz 2

If you keep your trees small you may not get as many fruits but they are much easier to handle, easier to pick fruit. Also smaller tree's fruit is much bigger and tastier. My manderines are now in their third year, the trees are small and they are heavily laden with fruit. But to obtain a good juicycrop one must fertilize and water regularly. This applies to all fruit trees. Have attached a photo of a 4 year old mango tree. See how small I keep them and look at the fruit blossoms on them.
GVV
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GVV
Maryborough Qld
15th November 2008 1:24pm
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Baz 2 says...
Wow! Ok they look great. I only want to provide fruit for my family and maybe parents if there is enough. I'm not sure what size crop I'll get but looking at yours it looks plenty. Thanks for the photo's.

I'll have to search the forum for pruning tips next.

Baz 2
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Baz 2
Bunbury, Western Australia
15th November 2008 8:27pm
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paula says...
Very interested in how you prune your mango trees annon. I'd love to be able to keep them to that size while still producing.
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SE Queensland
16th November 2008 3:45pm
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Anonymous says...
Paula

I have only been in the fruit growing act for 4 years now and am no expert but as you can see I seem to be doing things right. As I have said earlier to get the best from fruit trees one must be prepared to invest in them with water, fertilizer and netting where necessary.
I have read a number of books on fruit trees and how to prune and you should try to find one which gives details on how to grow tropical fruits.
basically I started pruning my mangoes from the second year and I did not let them set fruit for two years so as all the good went into the tree and not fruit. With pruning always remove any branch that grows up vertically as these are useless. One needs to form the tree in the shape of a vase with no branches in the center. If you look closely you will see that is how my trees are. Lastly keep plently of mulsh around the bases (I use grass clippings) but keep them three inches away from the trunk. I use osmocote 4 times a year along with a tiny bit of blood and bone sprinkled on the drip line twice a year. Also I use a general fertilizer I buy in bulk from the Rural Suppliers in town. I now have around 110 trees and vines and there is a lot of work to obtain a good crop.

GVV
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GVV
Maryborough Qld
18th November 2008 6:11pm
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Baz 2 says...
GVV

I have tried to source some mosquito netting from 'Mystique Mozzie nets' and tried her email address angelina@mostique.com.au. but can't find it on the web and have had no reply from email.

Can anybody recommend somewhere else? I am ideally after a 4M or 6M wide roll 150M long.




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Baz 2
Bunbury, Western Australia
19th November 2008 9:45am
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paula says...
Thanks for your great advice GVV. I have 2 trees about the same size as yours, and another that I have just planted.
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se queensland
19th November 2008 2:41pm
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Anonymous says...
Baz

I am back in India working and wont be back home til 20 Dec. I have her phone number at homeand usually call her.

She sent me an email advising that because of the drastic drop in the AUD exchange rate she is not buying in China and is waiting until after Christmas. Next time I call home I will get her number for you
GVV
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GVV
Maryborough Qld
19th November 2008 3:24pm
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TJ says...
I have just emailed the contact listed above and found her website at http://www.mostique.com.au - it details phone numbers etc.

Must say I absolutely love this forum. This is my first season with netted trees (amateur attempt I might add) and picked our first peaches a couple of days ago - with no fly! Our neighbour has been spraying his trees but still has plenty of fruit with fly in them at the moment - so the netting (or my amateur netting technique) will be a real test.

Has anyone made frames etc to net tomatoes etc. Need to net these now too to keep the nasty little flies out of them. Wind is a pain here.

Thanks everyone for the great information sharing.

TJ
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TJ
Dubbo
20th November 2008 12:49pm
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TJ says...
PS www.flemings.com.au have a good pdf re pruning you can download.
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TJ
Dubbo
20th November 2008 12:51pm
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angelina says...
Yes I have recently helped out GW with getting his fruit trees protected
from fruit flies, he visited my website www.mostique.com.au which sells luxury mosquito nets and called me on off the of chance to see if I could help. So I got in contact with a manufacturer in china and asked them to do a one off order cut and sewn to size. Now they did only have blue netting in stock for this type of order and it was made in a few days. The airmail postage cost more than the order so I plan to import stock again next year (once the American dollar settles) if I bring in orders this way (by sea) I can make it even cheaper and also by the roll too.
So as I have had a few enquiries thanks to GW I am now sourcing more durable outdoor netting and hope to add a weighted edge and then make them to order and size. So I do hope to get this organized ASAP I may miss out on this season so if you think this may interest you for next years crops then please let me know, and if you are interested remember to take this years measurements of your full fruited crops. So thanks GW I could end up selling more crop netting than bedroom nets next year lol
Kind regards
angelina
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angelina
NSW
20th November 2008 7:52pm
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Julie says...
I pruned the centre out of my loquat tree when it was quite young. It has never been pruned since, and has stayed at around 2m. They are usually so tall you can't possibly reach most of the crop.

I bag up each bunch in recycled mushroom bags, closed with a clothes peg.This takes about half an hour. They keeps out birds and fruit flies, and I get more fruit than I can use, even giving it away!
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Julie
Roleystone
20th November 2008 8:16pm
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Baz 2 says...
Just to let people know...

I tried to make the Net Framework out of 1" thick wall poly pipe (retic). Was about $1 metre, but it was no good. The shop said most people use 2" poly as it will slip over a star picket.

I thought I would bite the bullet and buy the conduit. I got a bundle (15 lengths) to try, of 20mm 4 metre lengths of PVC at $2.40 a length. Sourced from an Electrical Wholesaler.

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Baz 2
Bunbury, Western Australia
22nd November 2008 8:42am
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Anonymous says...
Baz 2

Large conduit is no good if one wants to bend it over like I have done - look at the pictures on 3.11.08 above.

I use the grey electrical conduit as it has the properties to protect it against the Qld sun although it is a little more expensive.

My nets will be up for around 4 months or so depending on the ripening period then I will remove them and store for next year and I hope that they will last for quite a number of years to come. As for the netting, what I purchased from Angie seems to be holding up - some trees have been netted for several months now and I will commence removing some of the nets soon. The first one will be my peach trees as their crop will be finished next month
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GVV
Maryborough Qld
22nd November 2008 6:50pm
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Baz 2 says...
No GVV, Mine bent over just fine. Its not reticulation PVC which is rigid. I used 2 lengths (4M) together to form one hoop (They slip together). A little bit bigger than your 6M hoops. Got the grey stuff too. I made 2 frames yesterday and they are fine, although I was thinking of going to a larger size conduit next time. Make it a bit more rigid.
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Baz 2
Bunbury, Western Australia
22nd November 2008 8:27pm
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TJ says...
Baz2 - Can I ask what went wrong when trying to use the 1" poly (was it the metric poly with the blue stripe on it?). Was it too flexible?

Note: Conduit will bend if heated - our electrician had to do this recently in our reno.
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TJ
Dubbo
23rd November 2008 1:10pm
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Baz 2 says...
No TJ it had no blue strip. 1" ID (I Think...). Its the Reticulation black poly pipe that people use for gardens and pop up sprinklers. Yes it was way too flexible.

There is no way this conduit will lose its shape from being in the sun. Electricians use heat and then force to bend it to desired shape. ;)
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Baz 2
Bunbury, Western Australia
23rd November 2008 4:15pm
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Anonymous says...
TJ
From what you say above, the 1" pipe you used with the blue stripe on it is for underground water and no good for leaving out in the sun. Sounds like the pipe I use for underground water lines.

I use the grey electrical conduit and it is fine. I purchased 100 lengths which made it considerably cheaper.
Attached is a photo of one of our cherry trees before we placed the netting. This conduit is quite rigid and fits the bill perfectly.

GVV
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1
  
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GVV
Maryborough Qld
24th November 2008 1:25pm
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Anonymous says...
Baz

You are right. When our trees get larger we will purchase slightly larger conduit so as the frame remains rigid.
However we will try and keep my trees small as then they are much easier to handle. If we want more fruit, we just plant another tree. Easy when one has plenty of room to extend our orchard.

GVV
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GVV
Maryborough Qld
24th November 2008 1:31pm
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Julie says...
John, somehow missed your question before. I live in Urch Road. Where are you?
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Julie
Roleystone
27th November 2008 8:08pm
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John says...
Kelmscott
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John20
Perth
1st December 2008 12:03pm
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TJ says...
Baz2 and GVV
With regard to heating and bending the conduit - I was thinking more along the line of heating it yourself and then bending it to shape if you wanted to make a more rigid frame. I wasn't suggesting it would bend in the heat of the sun.

As for the metric poly (with the blue stripe) - we have some here that has been in the sun and heat for a number of years and is fine. I have just used some to make a frame to cover my tomatoes. I used 25mm, which seemed to give the perfect ratio of flexibility to stability for a small structure. (Conduit would have been too rigid) But, the poly wouldn't be rigid enough to use in say 8m lengths over a fruit tree, especially in a windy area.

I had covered my fruit trees without using a frame as a trial. Covering is certainly more effective and easier than repeat spraying, baiting etc. I am now going to get some conduit or similar to make frames for my trees, and lots of netting.

TJ
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TJ
Dubbo
2nd December 2008 1:43pm
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Baz 2 says...
Ahh TJ, I got it wrong. Yep it would make it more rigid, but the hoop design GVV uses seems to work and is the most cost effective I can think of. Bloody easy to put together too.

I bought half the conduit (20mm) I require and I will go up in size next time. My trees are reasonable sheltered from the wind, but I noticed they do move around a little bit. 25mm should be fine for joining 2 4M lengths together to form 1 hoop.

FYI, With the 8M hoops, I have placed the corner posts exactly 3M apart (square) which also gives me a 3M height at the top of the hoop.

Should be able to grow a nice tree under that, but the cost of the netting will be a draw back for the size of the frame :(

Baz2
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Baz 2
Bunbury, Western Australia
2nd December 2008 2:15pm
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Anonymous says...
TJ

I do not heat my frames as when I beend them over the tree and slip them over the reinforcing steel I have in the ground, the 'spring' in the conduit keeps it firmly down over the conduit.
My frames are up to 2m high using the small conduit bent over and tied securely at the top and I have had no problems with them.
By Feb/Mar next year I will remove all my fraames and nets and only put them out in Sept when fruit begin to set.
We have really had hugh success with our trees this year and I recon it is worth the cost and effort. And as you say it beats all that spraying which when added up also costs money.

GVV
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GVV
Maryborough Qld
4th December 2008 2:50pm
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TJ says...
The big question - has anyone found any other sources for netting at a reasonable cost?

Nofliesnets.com can supply a 1.8m wide x50m roll for $5 per m. Spotlight have 213cm wide for $3.50(if I remember correctly). Just purchased some lace type curtain fabric 213cm for $3/m to cover tomatoes.

Also how much are you paying for the different conduit sizes?
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TJ
Dubbo
4th December 2008 9:01pm
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peter says...
i bought some lightweight bird netting
at my local mitre 10 store.
i stretches out to nearly 4 meters
wide and cost $1.80 per metre.
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peter30001
adelaide
4th December 2008 9:09pm
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Baz 2 says...
Those are the prices I got as well TJ. I'm waiting to hear back from Angelina from Mostiques for her pricing...

Anyone else...

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Baz 2
Bunbury, Western Australia
5th December 2008 8:35pm
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Anonymous says...
TJ

Just go down to your local electrical wholesaler and ask him the cost per length. You are in Dubbo and I am in Maryborough Qld so I am sure there would be a difference in prices between here and Dubbo $ per meter for a 1.8 meter roll is expensive. I bought 4m wide mozzie netting for less than $3 per roll in Sept tis year. As I said some months ago I bought 100 lengths of electrical conduit and got massive discount and I keep it on the shelf in my shed - enough for years to come.
I found I was wasting my time at spotlight and other stores as joining nets is a waste of time and is never really secure when finished against wind etc. This is why I opted for the 4m wide and am moving to the 6m wide rolls.
By the way guys, bird netting will not keep out the fruit fly no matter how much you try or do.

GVV
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GVV
Maryborough Qld
7th December 2008 3:28am
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penny says...
GVW
Just for a trial I bought black mozzie nets from spotlight on special for $7 each. They just cover a poly frame made with two lengths stuck onto four star pickets. the net is held down with rocks to the ground.
Don't know how long the net will last as its pretty flimsy so will probably have to get onto some by the metre.
GVW, where did you get your 4m wide netting?
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penny
Allynbrook, Hunter Valley, 45 mins east of Singleton, North of Maitland
8th December 2008 2:18pm
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John says...
I have seen koppers logs used as weights on the bottom, just wrap the excess net around them.
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John20
Perth
9th December 2008 9:54am
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Anonymous says...
Penny

Go back up to 20 November and see the note from Angelina - she is the one who I purchased my netting from.
Cheers

GVV
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GVV
Maryborough Qld
9th December 2008 12:29pm
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David says...
What a terrific find this forum is. I am a new fruit tree gardener and have been struggling with working out ways to net my trees. Trouble I had this years was that I took the net off my nectarines too early and lost them to the local birds.

One question though to GW, do you have to do any sewing to fit your netting to the frame? Your photos on 3 November look as though the netting very neatly fits your frame.

David
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David16
Wyreema (Near Toowoomba)
10th December 2008 3:06pm
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Anonymous says...
David

The netting is squqare (the last roll I bought was 4 meters X 150 meters) and the frames are round hence there is a little overlap depending on how one places the net. Where we have overlap we use pegs to hold the net in place.

We currently use 12 bricks per tree to hold the net on the ground. Then it is easy to remove a few bricks to go under the net to pick fruit and or mow the grass or place fertilizer

GVV
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GVV
Maryborough Qld
14th December 2008 7:51pm
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John says...
bunnings is now selling fruit protection cloth for this purpose.
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John20
Perth
22nd December 2008 9:24am
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Baz 2 says...
Got a price John and some dimensions for that cloth? It is for Mossies and not birds I presume.
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Baz 2
Bunbury, Western Australia
22nd December 2008 6:15pm
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John says...
Its about 900 wide and folds out to not sure how wide and 20m long.

Will check the folded out width soon.
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23rd December 2008 8:41am
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Anonymous says...
Will mozzie netting keep out coddling moth on apples too? And do the trees get enough light through the fabric?
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23rd December 2008 4:58pm
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TJ says...
Bunnings sell Umbrella and Gazebo Nets for keeping mozzies out. Are designed to pop over 2.1m to 2.7m diameter umbrella or 3m x 3m gazebo, so have a hole in the top which you need to cover. I bought an extra umbrella one, cut it up and stictched to the top of others to cover the holes.

They come complete with a zipper in the side for easy access, reinforced bottom edges with metal eyelets and 8 pegs to peg down to the ground. Black in colour. Suppose to be fire retardant high quality mesh.

I put mine over a frame, similar to the conduit ones discussed above, but made with 4 x 8foot star posts and some 25mm metric poly pipe. Standing up to the wind well, perfect for umbrella ones, gazebo ones will try heavier pipe or conduit with the star posts as the 25mm metric poly is sagging in the middle over the slightly longer distance.

Umbrella Nets about $18 (approx 10m x 2.5m of netting), Gazebo Nets $25 (approx 12m x 2.5m of netting).
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TJ
Dubbo
9th January 2009 7:52pm
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Baz 2 says...
Thanks TJ. I will check it out.
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Baz 2
Bunbury, Western Australia
11th January 2009 8:05pm
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TJ says...
Picture of nets described above for your info.
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1
  
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TJ
Dubbo
20th January 2009 1:04pm
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SlickMick says...
TJ, how tall are your trees in the photo?
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Slicko
 
20th January 2009 2:19pm
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Baz 2 says...
Thanks for the photo TJ. Looks great. I think you would like the conduit frame extra ridgidity but with slightly more height you might run out of net???

I am curious as to your height and length/width spacing of the frame posts. If you could supply this info I can set up and prune my trees accordingly. Cheers!
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Baz 2
Bunbury, Western Australia
20th January 2009 8:11pm
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louise says...
we have been using naturalure for 4 years now. we live in a big fruit growing aria in the hills of perth with many un treated orchards dropping fruit. the frist year was the same fruit fly in everything even tomato, and yes it was the med fly it was tested. so we put 2 times strength on wood every week all year in the wood shed at the bottom of the orchard. and vola ten stings only in the apricot tree and none on the gwava. this worked for two years then this year even with all year treatment and hanging some in upturned flower pots in the trees with natura lure.(to help cover the time when it rains and washes off and yes they sting with in hours of rain). we have fly again in everything (not tomatos yet cross fingers) even the cherrys and plums, after ringing the company the said fruit fly can become amune to the bate great!!!. on fruit fly in the ground we use natral eg wool carpet scraps and found that good. also picking up all fruit and freezing over night in bag then composting it we have a old box freezer out back for that. on covering we have in the past got bags from green havest but proved expensive and lots had roten mush in the bottom. we found geting flexable fly screen and sewing into tubes big and small great just slip over whole branch and tie at both ends also little bags out of cutain net for things like avo worked well. i have a friend who built a big cage over his whole orchard with telagraph poles and fly screened it and even put a door in it looks great and works well oh it has a row of bricks round the bottom so he can wipa snip....any way because nutura lure is not working this year i was looking for sugestions????? sorry about spelling i have been baby sitting and am 3 days sleep deprived happy gardening.. :)
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blossom
perth
23rd January 2009 1:15am
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SlickMick says...
Hi Louise,

I hope that you are catching up on your sleep again.

I reckon that the FF and the fruit bat rank equally in their ability to destroy a crop overnight.

You friend must have spent a small fortune on putting flyscreen all over his orchard but in many ways I think that may be the best way to overcome the problem ultimately as long as the ground within the barrier is free of larva.

You seem to be approaching the problem appropriately by isolating your fruit from the fly although it is time consuming to make the bags and then have to tie them on. Last season I built a canopy over my nectarine and covered it with birdnet intending to spray for the fly which I did with limited success. This year I have determined to make the flyscreen tubes and to slip them over the branches much as you suggest.

I am using the bags over my tomatoes and capsicum and I am getting FF free fruit for the first time in years. The bags are expensive especially if you have large quantities of fruit to cover but they do work and making alternatives is time consuming so it is a bit of a difficult question.

Anyhow I think that what you are doing is the best that can be done under the circumstances. Ultimately you will reduce the incidence of fly coming from your orchard. Not much you can do about the FF coming in from untreated orchards unfortunately.
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Slicko
 
23rd January 2009 9:57am
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TJ says...
The trees would be approximately 2.4-2.5m or so tall. Basically I pruned them off at about 2.2m (as far as I can reach), so add spring summer growth to that. The trees are basically touching the sides of the nets in places. I will prune harder this year as was a bit tentative last year as am only a beginner. Still probably a bit overloaded with fruit.

The Gazebo net has posts in a square with sides of just under 3m (net 12m so allowed a little so wouldn't be too tight). The other 2 Umbrella nets have posts in a square with sides just under 2.5m (net about 10m around the bottom). The Umbrella net seems to be shaped a bit more, so we pushed the posts in a little at the top. There is still a little more height in the net left at the top - they are shaped and a bit peaky at the top if that makes sense. So conduit/pipe arch is much more suitable than a square top frame. Star posts are approx 6ft out of the ground, and I have no hope of touching centre of net when standing on the ground. As the Gazebo one is sagging hubby just can touch it and he is 6ft2inch tall. He can't touch the 2 umbrella ones.

Our tomato crop covered with a tunnel of curtain fabric has been fantastic - NO FLY. So we are going to use Gazebo nets on them next year to make it much easier to pick, weed, mulch etc. See picture
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1
  
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TJ
Dubbo
26th January 2009 9:11am
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MR says...
TJ, had a look at Gazebo an umbrella nets today at Bunnings. They were packaged up of course, but seem to have an opaque top as far as I could tell. I can't tell with your photos if that is so, or if the top is still mosquito mesh.

The fruit trees would need sun, a "tent" type top would block too much sun wouldn't it?

Maybe I could ask Bunnings to open one up for me.
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MR
 
10th February 2009 9:48pm
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Julie says...
MR,don't forget that most of the fruit trees we grow are from much cooler climates (not counting tropicals), and don't necessarily need the amount of harsh sunlight we get in Oz.

So I doubt that mossie net would block out too much sun. I live in a fruit growing area, and some of the orchardists have started using Surround, a clay-based product which protects the trees from sunburn.

My whole vege garden is under 50% shadecloth, and everything does well. Protecting plants from excess sun also means a saving in water!

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Julie
Roleystone
12th February 2009 8:33pm
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MR says...
Thanks Julie. It wasn't so much the mosquito met, but the top of the canopy that seemed to be 100% blocked. In Queensland the sum is more overhead, but would get early morning and late afternoon sun I guess. We'll give it a try on the peach tree and a weeping mulberry this coming season anyway. They are the only two fuiting as yet.
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MR
 
13th February 2009 12:12pm
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TJ says...
Assuming you are looking at the same nets as I bought - The nets are actually open topped, with a draw string in them. They are designed to pop over an existing gazebo or umbrella. You could potentially pull the draw string up tight. (Bunnings also had advertised complete Gazebos with a 100% blocked top and the mozzie netting around the sides - think they were around the $40-$50 mark - These are not what I've got)

I bought 5 nets, cut one up into 4 and stitched it over the holes in the top of the other 4 nets (could also glue with silastic instead of stich). ie bought 5 nets ended up with 4 tree covers. Working a treat. Had to tie the nets down to bottom of the star posts though, as the tent pegs keep coming out of the ground.

Hope this helps and makes sense. Can scan in labels off the ones I bought to show you if that helps.
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TJ1
Dubbo
14th February 2009 11:42am
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Baz 2 says...
Can scan in labels off the ones I bought to show you if that helps

That would be great TJ, as the Bunnings down here doesn't stock them. I was going to do a run to Perth but if I can order by a code, that would be great.
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Baz 2
Bunbury, Western Australia
14th February 2009 7:34pm
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MR says...
The ones we saw were around $18 and $24, shelf price, but maybe the one we actually looked at was a dearer one, it certaily appe3ared to have a blocked in black top. Now that I know that yours didn't, we will ask next time we are in.

Yes, your instructions make sense. If you can scan your labels might help if they don't seem to have what we are asking for.
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MR
 
18th February 2009 12:51pm
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TJ says...
Here is the label off one net...
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TJ1
Dubbo
19th February 2009 9:39am
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TJ says...
... and the other one.

There were around the $18 and $24 price ranges.

I have heard of people using similar things camping etc, so not sure if you can source something similar from other hardware, sports, camping, fishing type shops.

They are working a treat - getting loads of peaches off our freestone peach tree now - 1st time in the four seasons we have been here due to fruit fly - and so far no fly at all!!!
Pictures - Click to enlarge

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TJ1
Dubbo
19th February 2009 9:43am
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Julie says...
MR, looking at the pictures, I see what you mean now about the opaque top. Sorry I misunderstood.
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Julie
Roleystone
20th February 2009 9:09pm
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Wayne says...
YJ, I saw those nets similar to the one in your photo at Bunnings today at about $20 each, 7ft x 9ft.
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Wayne
Mackay
25th February 2009 4:54pm
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Julie says...
TJ, what are you using for support? I am guessing you don't have a table in the middle? :)
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Julie
Roleystone
27th February 2009 7:41pm
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TJ says...
Julie, see my earlier entries on 9, 20, 26 January re frame/support. Essentially star posts and poly pipe.

Hope that helps.
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TJ
Dubbo
2nd March 2009 9:16am
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PK says...
Great forum. Thanks for all the input. I too have had no fruit from my tomatoes since coming to Queensland from SA in 2004. But I keep on. One question with the netting is how to get pollination with the whole plant covered. Tomatoes are constantly flowering throughout the growing season and need to be pollinated.
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Peter18
Loganlea
18th March 2009 6:20pm
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Julie says...
PK, it is not essential for tomatoes to be pollinated by bees. I have grown several types of tomato in the past, saving the seeds, and they stayed true to type.

But the vibration of the bees wings has an effect on pollination - you can duplicate this by holding an electric toothbrush and 'buzzing' the stem. Or just vibrate by hand. If you don't have time for this, you should still get fruit, maybe not quite as much.

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Julie
Roleystone
19th March 2009 8:36pm
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Julie says...
I meant to say: I have grown several varieties at the same time. Meaning, they didn't cross-pollinate.
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Julie
Roleystone
19th March 2009 8:39pm
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TJ says...
Tomatoes and capsicums etc are self pollinating and don't need bees etc. A bit of breeze or wind is enough to ensure pollination when grown under the nets. Given the absolutely massive amount of tomatoes we've got - I wouldn't worry about it if you are outdoors.

My m-i-l had a bush growing in an enclosed sun room, but found it wasn't pollinating very well, so just gives it a jiggle each time she goes past to help with the pollination.

Hope that helps.
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TJ
Dubbo
20th March 2009 1:24pm
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PK says...
Sure does. Next job - order some netting and get a sewing person. Thanks. PK
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22nd March 2009 6:49pm
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MR says...
We bought one each of these nets, umbrella and gazebo, the "tops" shown in the picture on the packs are not actually part of the net, so there is no opaque top.
We haven't used them yet of course, not fruit time. But will try one on our peach tree next spring. There will be pupae in the ground under the peach tree, which is several years old, but we plan to lay weed mat under the tree when we erect the top net. That should take care of them

Don't know if we need to net our paw paws or not. Only planted them a few months ago, and they are fruiting. Perhaps will net the one with the most fruit in case..! and maybe just try covering the individual fruit on the other three.

I plan to install a cylindrical covered frame over garden for brocolli, cauli, and cabbages very shortly, as soon as the garden is prepared now that the corn is out. No more dusting for cabbage moth.

MR
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MR
 
31st March 2009 3:08pm
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lulu bell says...
we just made a covering for our 5 trees with white plumbers pipe and curtain scraps - good if you can sew and that seems to solve all our ff problems for now.. you could try putting a bee hive under your tomato net my uncle dose that to his cucumber green house.
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perth
15th April 2009 12:14am
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Tiggerbow says...
Hi All,
I have never had any problems with fruit fly but...
I purchased a trailer load of organic soil for my garden bed. Ever since then I have had a swarm of tiny flies hovering around.
Nothing is fruiting at the moment so nothing has been destroyed but I am getting ready to plant apple trees so I am getting a little worried.
Is it possible for fruit flies to hang around even when there is no fruit to be had?
All help appreciated.
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Tiggerbow
Perth, WA
28th April 2009 4:53pm
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Julie says...
Doesn't sound like fruit fly to me. They may be ferment/compost flies. You don't usually see fruit fly in swarms.
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Roleystone WA
28th April 2009 6:56pm
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Jimmy says...
could be hover fly, you will never see a fruit fly, just the maggots..:(.
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28th April 2009 7:00pm
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Tiggerbow says...
That is a relief!
Thanks so much Julie and Jimmy for your help : o )
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Tiggerbow
Perth, WA
28th April 2009 8:08pm
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wayne says...
hi would like to know when is best time to put net over peach trees
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wayne6
brisbane
17th May 2009 8:55pm
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TJ says...
Hi,

Cover your peach tree after it has finished flowering and the fruit has started to form, whilst they are little hard and green. Seems to work here - then don't have to worry about polinating etc as bees have easy access. Also nets last longer the less time they are on the tree.
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TJ
Dubbo
1st June 2009 11:48am
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Jack says...
Dear All,
I have newly developed an organic way to get rid of fruit flies, both male and female. Easy to install, cheap, non toxic, use in fruit farm, garden or in house and can last for 1 month at least without repacement. This is a new technique and I intend to share this as business opportunities to all. Contact me for detail. jack@act-my.com
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1
  
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Jack3
Malaysia
14th June 2009 4:11pm
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virginny says...
Sigh, the female will not enter a trap. If they did it would be a lot easier.But they don't. Please contact me to get in on the ground floor for an anti-gravity machine. It is cheap ,easy and guaranteed.
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sydney
17th June 2009 2:35pm
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Jack says...
Well, our organic powder do attract both female, male and youngs one. Guarantee effective. Being used in our organic farm widely. Our web site is: http://www.act-my.com/index.php
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Jack3
Malaysia
18th June 2009 10:53pm
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clint says...
Beware of products that promise to do "everything"
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perth
9th July 2009 10:40am
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Simon says...
Since moving to SE QLD, I have only managed to grow 1 pumpkin to maturity.
I have tried netting the fruit, yeast traps and Eco-naturalure, all without results. I presume that the culprit is Cucumber Fly, as the pumpkin rots and falls off even when netted, so the pest must be stinging the stem. Any suggestions for plants that may deter the cucumber fly? or any other suggestions?
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Simon7
SE QLD
9th July 2009 4:01pm
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amanda says...
Hi Simon - how big are the pumpkins when they rot n fall off? if they are small - do u have lots of bees working the flowers, is it too cold for these guys in your area at present? (cold weather can = poor pollination)

I hope I'm not asking obvious questions 4 u?! Maybe try a good smearing of vaseline around the stem (when it's dry) bugs that land just get stuck - stopping them and also trapping them so you can have a look. I don't know much about cucumber fly tho'..
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amanda19
geraldton.WA
9th July 2009 6:23pm
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Grafton VV says...
Last year I bought mozzie netting in a roll 250m long x 4m wide and it served the purpose of keeping the FF from our fruit.
Angelina has now declined to supply the netting so I will be importing some rolls500m long x 6m wide.
This netting is not made of fabric but of a type of plastic and is UV treated so should last for a number of years.
I have 120 fruit trees and must net to have a successful FF free crop.
I am waiting on all the facts and figures to come thru now and all going well,I will be placing an order in the next two weeks and if anybody is interested drop me a line on gvanveelen@iprimus.com.au and I can give you more details
Cheers
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GVV
Maryborough
30th July 2009 5:36pm
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Correy says...
Grafton VV:

I may be keen to get a small quanitity. What price are you selling it for.

P.S You should share the fruit trees you are growing at My Edibles:

http://www.daleysfruit.com.au/my/
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Correy
Woolloongabba, QLD
30th July 2009 6:52pm
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Grafton VV says...
Correy

We (my wife and I)are still negotiating the deal with the netting an am waiting for a sample from the agent. At this stage we are not sure what the price will be but once we know I will put it on the forum.

There are70 fruit trees from 6 months old to my oldest 4 years in our garden.

We have mango, avacardo, lychees, mulberry, banana, wampi, pawpaw, passionfruit, loquat, macadamia nut, manderin, orange, lemon, lime, Barbados cherry, apple,plum, peach, guava, cherry guava, kumquat,feijoa, pecan nut,
tangerine, tangelo.

We have several trees of each variety and because we love manderines, we have 6 manderines. This year we will be planting another two mangos (we love them)and another two avos.

cheers
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GVV
Maryborough
1st August 2009 12:56pm
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Simon says...
Hi Amanda,

Thank you for your reply.

The pumpkin are about the size of squash ball/tomato when they fall off the plant.

Yes, plenty of bees doing their business.

No problem with cold, it's quite warm in South East Qeensland.

The vaseline would probably work, although I don't think that I would have either the time or the patience to coat all the stems.

Presumably Grafton VV has a bee hive inside the netting for the purpose of pollination?
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Simon7
SE QLD
2nd August 2009 5:55pm
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amanda says...
Hi Simon - that sounds more like a sterile flower - the pumpkin will only develop to a certain stage and then drop off. Try nipping the terminal end out once the vine about 2m long - this should produce more side shoots that carry the female flowers.

Pollination can b tricky business - eg: pollen too dry, male n female not in sync etc. Try hand pollination if all else fails. Get a male flower and strip back the petals - then go and touch it to a few females (ones with the bulbous base) that are barely open.

Pumpkins are a warm season veg - I don't plant mine out until Sept (and we are about 9ºC o/night 20ºC day) Good luck!
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amanda19
Geraldton. WA
2nd August 2009 7:24pm
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Brendan says...
Hi Simon, try putting some Dolomite around the pumpkin vine where it's coming out the ground. Even a bit of wood ash too. That will fix the 'dropping off' problem.
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Brendan
Mackay, Q
3rd August 2009 6:16am
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Question about Fruitfly in the home says...
Hi There,
Could anyone please tell me how to control fruitflies in the home. I have these pests driving me mad! - What can I use to get rid of them for good?
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Question about Fruitfly in the home
South Africa
20th August 2009 11:33pm
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Julie says...
Could you send a photo of these, so we know we are talking about the same thing. Whereabouts in the home are they found? A lot of people call the little ferment/compost flies 'fruit flies' - that's what they're called in the US.

In my experience, true fruit flies rarely go inside, though I have seen them sometimes - not enough to be a pest though.
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Roleystone WA
21st August 2009 2:38pm
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David says...
Going back to the Bunnings Umbrella netting, I have just used one on the frames described by GW earlier on a nectarine. They are certainly cheap enough and easy to put up. The open part at the top I covered with a 1 metre square of flyscreen.
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David16
 
28th August 2009 1:29pm
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John Mc says...
There's nothing mentioned here about using Pineapple juice and water 40% and 60% respectively. It's sprayed onto the fruit and the idea is that the FF don't like the sticky surface and quickly leave. It's mentioned quite a bit on the local garden talkback radio show. A lot of the listeners swear by it. I haven't tried it myself, but I think It's well worth mentioning. Looks like there's a lot of desperate orchardists here.
They do say you must use Golden Circle brand because of some property it has over other brands. You would have to spray the fruit on a regular interval, but, after seeing the trouble some people are going to, It might be well worth a trial run. I'd be interested in any feedback if anyone has indeed tried this method.
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JohnMc1
Warnervale NSW
1st September 2009 11:24pm
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Charles says...
http://www.veggiepatch.com.au/products.html

This mesh looks interesting and more designed for exclusion and outdoor use than mosinet. I will give this a go on my capsicuims this year. Most my fruit trees are still getting established so I am picking the fruit off anyway.

Hi I'm Charles, in Perth W.A. by the way, new to this forum and keen to hear from any folks in Perth and possible share plant stocks especially rarer edible/benificial species.

Cheers.
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Charlesstillcantspell1
Innaloo
2nd September 2009 1:41am
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TJ says...
Hi Charles,

The net on the website you referred to looks interesting, but also a bit on the pricey side.

Hi David,

With the Bunnings Umbrella net - did you keep the top gathered a little with the cord to fit a 1m square of fly screen, or did you take the cord out???

Also how did you fix the flyscreen to it eg sew, glue etc???

How much did the fly screen cost, and what type etc did you use?

Regards
TJ


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TJ
Dubbo
6th September 2009 8:30pm
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GVV says...
Thanks to those few persons who enquired about the UV rated netting I wrote about on the forum a couple of months ago.

The two 500m rolls left China last week and should be in Aust in around 30 days.

Unfortunately I am unable to give a price for it until after it has cleared customs and all clearing charges and VAT are added.

Will keep you posted when it arrives.

By the way the colour is black.

regards

GVV
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Maryborough
6th September 2009 9:28pm
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GVV says...
Reply to Simon 2 Aug

You cannot know a lot about the use of nets over fruit trees

The trees are netted only after the fruit is set

GVV
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Maryborough
6th September 2009 9:32pm
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penny says...
I am interested in purchasing some netting. I have 120 fig trees but i would only net say 20 to start with to see how it goes.I have pruned them back quite hard.
Could you let me know when it is available?
Many thanks P
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penny
Allynbrook, Hunter Valley, 45 mins east of Singleton, North of Maitland
8th September 2009 6:29pm
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amanda says...
Hi All..I am a total ignoramous when it comes to fruit fly control - as I haven't had them around as yet.

I am isolated from any source of fly and being in WA - only get the Med' fly. The stone fruits in orchard are producing their first "regular" crop at 2.5yrs. I saw a few flies hanging around my mandarins a few months back and picked them so there has been no carry-over crop for them.

I have read a bit of info above and from what I can work out - at this stage I just need to put out traps to monitor the situation?

I thought I'd give the wee a go and another with vegemite and beer?

Is any number of fly in the trap a sign of taking further action?

Is spinosad residual? Are there any non-residual chemica controls? (if so I will give netting a go)

Thanks for any advice! I am about to start another new learning curve! :-/
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amanda19
Geraldton. WA
9th September 2009 10:00am
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Wayne says...
I would suggest you deal directly with your local DPI Amanda, if you want I could send you over as many fruit fly as you wish [just kidding]
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Wayne
Mackay QLD
9th September 2009 5:52pm
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Mikey Mike says...
Just curious as to what do the commercial orchids use/do to control fruit fly.
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MikeyMike1
Perth NOR
13th September 2009 8:02pm
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Julie says...
They spray several times with pesticides, about every two weeks. Used to be Lebaycid, but not sure if they are allowed to use that now. Also Malathion and bait in traps.

Some time ago I mentioned a product called Surround, which the local orchardists are using to reduce sunburn. This has also been used for fruit fly, but don't know how successful it is.
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Roleystone WA
14th September 2009 2:55pm
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kert says...
It is still Lebaycid . "Surround" is kaolin ie a clay constituent > It may be worth a try to spray with plain old clay and see if this is effective.
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15th September 2009 10:49am
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Julie says...
I'm interested in trying Surround, but what sort of equipment would you need to spray it? I'm sure it would clog up my small backyard sprayer.
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Roleystone WA
15th September 2009 8:28pm
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kert says...
Yes, it would . Aproper Regal sprayer would cope, I think.
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sydney
16th September 2009 10:31am
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Julie says...
kert, I Googled this, but nothing came up. Can you tell me more? Are they expensive, ie, a commercial-type sprayer?
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Roleystone WA
16th September 2009 4:53pm
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Jimmy says...
A regal is an old fashonied kind of sprayer, it works like a trobone pumping action and sucks out of a bucket.

Not seen one for sale for 20 years, Rega made a very similar sprayer.
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Jimmy
 
17th September 2009 6:08pm
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Jimmy says...
http://www.oztion.com.au/buy/auction.aspx?itemid=7451047
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Jimmy
 
17th September 2009 6:10pm
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Leigh says...
I can't work out why my elderly minionette lettuce attract fruit flies.
Within 2 metres I have a trap that is slowly collecting dead flies but the lettuce always has them flying in and crawling around on the leaves. Nearby I have silverbeet and cauliflower growing but the flies show no interest in them whatsoever.
Is it the scent of the lettuce leaves or the leaf texture or something else?
Any ideas?
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Leigh
Ipswich
18th September 2009 2:02pm
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Wayne says...
No idea Leigh, I've been down making garden beds and thought it strange that they are crawling over my young cos lettuce
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Wayne
Mackay QLD
18th September 2009 2:21pm
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Julie says...
I guess you Queenslanders should know, but are you sure that is a fruit fly? From pictures I've seen (we only have the Medfly in WA) it looks a little different to me.

Jimmy - thanks, but the auction finished in July. I did find an ancient dust sprayer on ebay.
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Roleystone WA
18th September 2009 6:44pm
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amanda says...
Hi Leigh - that looks like a type of wasp to me? Maybe they are after the moisture (or any other bugs on your Veg?) Fruit flies don't have an elongated narrow waist like that.
We get native bees that are that small too.
Here is a link with a picture of Qld fruit fly:
http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/DPI/nrenfa.nsf/LinkView/3E0F7753C00E2610CA256CF600066A88EF462D226D34F0C3CA256EDE0000B39A

And this one of Medfly:
http://agspsrv34.agric.wa.gov.au/Ento/medfly.htm
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amanda19
Geraldton. WA
18th September 2009 9:16pm
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Original Post was last edited: 18th September 2009 10:13pm
Leigh says...
I think you're right Wayne. This is the first time I've grown lettuce and I now think they are cos lettuce.
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Leigh
Ipswich
20th September 2009 7:30am
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Leigh says...
Hi Julie and Amanda,
I emptied 23 male fruit flies from my trap and conclude that both you ladies are correct. The insects attracted to my lettuce are not fruit flies but most likely are a wasp.
The flies from my trap have differently shaped wings and although they vary in size they are smaller than the bugs on the lettuce.
Many thanks, although I still have a fruit fly problem if the trap is any guide.
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Leigh
Ipswich
20th September 2009 7:52am
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amanda says...
Hi Leigh - the wasps are the good guys (they also have long antennae and f'fly have short stumpy ones) If the "flies" are really small - they may be Drosophilia (a ferment fly) - which is often confused with a fruit fly.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drosophila
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amanda19
Geraldton. WA
20th September 2009 11:37am
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Original Post was last edited: 20th September 2009 11:42am
sarah says...
I have used the recipe with cloudy ammonia etc and it works great!! I recommend it
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sarah9
 
5th October 2009 8:23am
#UserID: 2870
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russell says...
Hi,
I have had good success with fly netting from east coast netting. 6 star pickets with 50mm polypipe hoops over the trees and slid over the star pickets. The poly makes it easier to slide the netting over the tree. Make sure the net is long enough to have some on the ground for holding down. Spray the fruit and ground with rogar prior to putting the net on.
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rustynutz
qld
6th October 2009 1:33am
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Grafton VV says...
To those who enquired about the netting we have imported from China we thank you for your interest in possibly purchasing some.
Unfortunately due to high costs in Australia - freight handling, freight forwarding, transport, GST, these costs have made the importing of small quantities such as we have bought (2 rolls, one 2 meters wide and one 4 meters wide) prohibitive.

Due to these costs, the cost per square meter has more than doubled since they left China so I will not be importing any more.

Under the circumstances we will be keeping the rolls we have already imported for my own use on our trees.

We will post a couple of pics on the forum in the near future so you can see our netted trees.

Again thank you to those who showed interest

GVV
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GVV
Maryborough
10th October 2009 2:15pm
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Mikey Mike says...
Hi I just wondered why are the male fruit fly targeted when it is the female one that lays the eggs?
Are the females not attracted to bait?
Does any one know when the females hatch what do they eat to survive ?
Mike
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10th October 2009 3:52pm
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Julie says...
The female can't lay eggs unless she is fertilised by a male. That's why there is a sterile male f.f.release programme, mainly in SA I'm told.

Nothing wrong with trying to deal with both. Female flies are attracted to proteins and sugars, and people have come up with all sorts of combinations of these. Cloudy ammonia is a form of protein.

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Roleystone WA
10th October 2009 7:18pm
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Renato says...
re. fruit trees netting. I purchased bulk netting from =coastguardnetting.com.au =Ballina NSW ph.02 6686 7321 ,at very a reasonable cost,much cheaper than Bunnings or Spotlight.My fruit trees are up to 6 metres high. Renato
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Renato
Gold Coast
10th October 2009 7:29pm
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Mikey Mike says...
Thanks Julie
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11th October 2009 11:08pm
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Julie says...
Mike, I forgot to say - if you put out traps to catch males and females, put them in separate trees, so the 'boys and girls' have less chance of getting together!
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Roleystone WA
14th October 2009 1:42am
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TokyoJ says...
Hi all - regarding waxed paper exclusion bags - could any supermarket variety waxed paper bag do the trick? Thanks
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TokyoJ
Perth
19th October 2009 7:50pm
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Julie says...
I just used to buy ordinary white lunch bags. Nowadays I use recycled mushroom bags, as I seem to accumulate a lot of these. Clip them on with a clothes peg.

I put them on my peaches fairly late in the season, so no problem with ripening. It didn't work for apples though, as the birds got into them early on, and the bags stopped them colouring up. I will use a net this season.
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Roleystone WA
19th October 2009 7:59pm
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MR says...
Last year I found the possums or parrots tore the paper bags open, and also the "non woven" bags. This year we have netted our peach tree with the pergola net from bunnings, and the nectarine tree, which is on a trellis, partly with shade cloth (on the west) and partly with the remains of a bunnings umbrella net. We are yet to find out if the possums tear that.
The fruit fly had beaten me to the peach tree, but I picked anything that was 'stung' after we netted it. So far so good.

I don't know if Bunnings still have those nets, I couldn't find any the last couple of times I looked.
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MR
 
24th October 2009 9:16pm
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Julie says...
Oh no! I was hoping to get one or two. Maybe a bit later in the season?
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Roleystone WA
25th October 2009 7:09pm
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julie says...
re fruit fly if you can keep your trees to around 3 metres use mosquitoo net works. Julie
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julie16
newcastle
12th November 2009 1:30pm
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M Nash says...
Just a quick Question.
Is there a ready available Chemical spray out there that will control fruit fly and be done with it?
Just something that works, Not the nastiest Chem you can think of.
This tread is telling, That street trees are a Skyway for nasty bugs.
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MNash1
Terranora
30th November 2009 8:47pm
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StopFruitFly says...
there are Fruit Protection Bags available on the net, they seem pretty effective. anybody has tried?

peashoots
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StopFruitFly
Melbourne
1st December 2009 7:19am
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Julie says...
M Nash, if there was something that controlled fruit fly once and for all, I'm sure orchardists would be using it.

As it is, they use traps to gauge the numbers, and spray with Malathion and Lebaycid every couple of weeks.

They do this year after year, and it still comes back.

South Australia is lucky - it gets all the sterile male flies that are bred in WA!
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Roleystone WA
1st December 2009 6:06pm
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Diana says...
Hi Stopfruitfly,

I have used green harvest bags (cloth, linen and paper versions) on tomatoes and capsicums, they all work very well (if you put them on when the fruit are green and small).

They look sort of intrusive in the garden if you like looking at green leaves rather than plants covered in white bags. I have heard of people using dark-coloured, transparent gauze bags from gift shops. I am going to give those a go.

You seem to live in Melbourne though-so no problem with Qld fruit fly?

Diana.
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Diana
Brisbane
1st December 2009 10:16pm
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StopFruitFly says...
hi Diana,

thanks for your reply. in Melbourne, we do not have this fruit fly problem.

gauze bags, are they UV treated? i mean, how long will they last under the sun?

Stopfruitfly
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StopFruitFly
Melbourne
2nd December 2009 5:47am
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MR says...
Hi, StopFruitFly, If you live in Melbourne why are you bothered about using exclusion bags? We are in Queensland, so they are a real problem.

In my 'reply' on 24th Oct I mentioned our problem using exclusion bags. You also can't see when the fruit is ripe, it is time consuming to undo the bags and look in and the possums probably go by smell.

I mentioned (24th Oct)that we netted this year. The nectarines ripened beautifully, with no fruit fly stings. Did have a few ant nibbles, or something, but nothing to worry about, just surface stuff. AND there was no evidence of birds or possums trying to get in.
The peaches are not yet ripe. But is so easy just to unzip the Bunnings net and go in to check what is happening.

I will be keeping an eye out at Bunnings to see if they get more of those nets.

MR
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MR
 
5th December 2009 5:51pm
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TJ says...
Bunnings nets - I asked last time I was there and they said they might get some in Nov/Dec.

The only downside so far with the Bunnings nets is that the band of plastic type stuff at the bottom seems to breakdown after the 1st season, but the net and zipper is fine. Mine are on their second season now. With long star posts and lengths of conduit they are working a treat. Birds don't seem interested at all.

BUT - ANTS - now a problem, eating heaps. Any suggestions?????????
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TJ
Dubbo
5th December 2009 10:31pm
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StopFruitFly says...
hi MR,

thank you for your reply.

yes, i live in Melbourne and not affected by fruit fly. i am in the process of developing some products for fruit fly affected areas.

we currently have Plant Protection Mesh and Exclusion Bags (made from the mesh) and we are keen to see if our products are as effective or better. also, i am interested in other alternative materials that are suitable for fruit fly control. Our products are currently available on eBay.

we have had a few people in QLD/NSW who have got our products and their feedback is positive. we wish to have wider range of area to test our products.

thank you for your reply.
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StopFruitFly
Melbourne
7th December 2009 6:36am
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Original Post was last edited: 7th December 2009 6:39am
Mikey Mike says...
If I was to spray or cover my nectarines when should I start? I wondered at what size or stage of the fruit do fruit fly start to lay their eggs in the fruit?
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8th December 2009 2:31pm
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Julie says...
Mikey, I only have info about Medfly, as I am from WA. My little AG Dep pamphlet says " start spraying when the fruit is one half to two thirds of its full size, or if sustained numbers of Medfly are caught in traps".

The fly stings while the fruit is still green, but you can't tell till the fruit is ripe. I don't like using these sprays, but until I get a net cover, I spray once with Lebaycid, then bag the fruit. It is a time-consuming process.
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Roleystone WA
8th December 2009 3:14pm
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Julie says...
StopFruitFly, I can't find your products on eBay. I looked for 'Plant protection mesh', but came up with 0 results. Help!
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Roleystone WA
8th December 2009 9:25pm
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StopFruitFly says...
hi Julie,

sorry, i miss spelled. you can search 'Plant Protection Net' or 'Fruit Protection Bag' or 'Exclusion Bag'.

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StopFruitFly
Melbourne
9th December 2009 7:04pm
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Charles says...
Stop Fruit Fly,

If you are after some feedback, 2 meters is not nearly wide enough. (4-5 is viable) Unless you have a cheap product for joining the net, I think it would be worthwhile looking for wider nets especially if you a selling them as fruit fly nets rather than the garden/vege pest exclusion cloth that it is.

Cheers,
Charles Otway
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Charlesstillcantspell1
Innaloo
15th December 2009 11:24pm
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StopFruitFly says...
hi Charles,

thanks for your valuable suggestion.

these nets can be joined cheaply and easily.

sure wider nets have their place. we may import some later on.
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StopFruitFly
Melbourne
5th January 2010 9:20pm
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LL says...
G'day all.

Just to report that we used the Eco Naturlure product this year and have had 0 fly vs. last 2 years of disasters. Could be partly the season but we think the Eco Naturlure has done a good job. Our friends who put us onto the product in the first place did get some fly this year, though I'm not sure how often they kept the sprays up. Also, they sprayed the foliage and fruit (which may have actually attracted some fly to the fruit??), whereas we only sprayed the trunks of the trees, and some other non fruit trees nearby.

If the Econaturlure doesn't do the job next season, no doubt we'll be going down the path of getting nets on (we used some bird nets from Bunnings this year with good results to keep the birds and fruit bats away!).

Cheers

LL

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LL
Narromine
1st February 2010 9:29am
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Graeme says...
The product "Wild May" is totally ineffective based upon my experiences with peach trees on the New England Tableland. Big $$$ for a product that is "smoke and mirrors".
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Harvest
Clarence Town NSW
10th February 2010 12:40pm
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GVV says...
Guys
Spraying fruit trees is not the easy way to keep FF from your fruit.
Netting is the only way. I have watched many of you trying many other methods and end up frustrated and lose the fruit.
I believe the only way is net. I would not consider spraying every month or so because of the time and what about the taste of the fruit.
Our fruit is absolutely beautiful and we get 100% of our crop.
Last year and this year we had beautiful mangoes with many 900-1kg each. With the mangoes we place a brown paper bag over them with a peg and one can test by feeling the mangoe thru the bag if it is ripe. We lost only 7 mangose to the birds this year and are pleased at the low number.
Cheers
GVV
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Maryborough
12th February 2010 10:41pm
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Wayne says...
Last season I picked about 350 mangoes from one tree with most accessible only by a picker so paper bags are out for me. What do you do if it rains GVV, all your good work would be undone.

This is the reason why I pick mine mature and just before the fruit fly and flying foxes start to attack.

Do the paper bags stop flying foxes GVV, it would be good if they did.

I think spraying for fruit fly only needs to be done a couple of times as the fruit nears maturity. I have never sprayed for fly but keep a close eye on the anthracnose. Buy spraying last season I increased the crop ten fold on the year before.
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Wayne
Mackay QLD
13th February 2010 7:31am
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kert says...
There's a new product called "Surround" All it is is Kaolin ,a clay. It may be useful and one can make one's own clay slurry.
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sydney
15th February 2010 4:47am
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amanda says...
I thought Surround was for sunburn? Does it work for fruit fly too?
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amanda19
Geraldton. WA
15th February 2010 10:46am
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Julie says...
I haven't tried it, but I first read about Surround as a possible fruit fly deterrent. Would love to talk to anyone who has used it successfully for this.
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Roleystone WA
15th February 2010 7:45pm
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kert says...
The original research was done in Israel and is available on the net . Another idea, from the Palestinians, was to strap miniature explosives on male flies that would ,in turn, explode during mating. Unfortunately the flies had difficulty taking off.
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sydney
17th February 2010 12:31pm
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Falafal-Al-Hakeem says...
Hello Sir, At the National Ministry of Agriculutre we have great success against the infidel fruit fly.
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Hebron
23rd February 2010 12:05am
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amanda says...
I might try this for mice!? trapped 30+ in three nights. Great pic ;-)
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amanda19
Geraldton. WA
23rd February 2010 1:07am
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Kert says...
Minister Fallafel, Praise be to Allah that the Zionist conspiracy to wipe out the world's fruit trees has been exposed . I, personally ,am willing to go on Jihad to turn this situation around.The blood of our martyrs will flow until the last ,blasted fruit fly is sent to Paradise.
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23rd February 2010 8:56am
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Michael says...
All my chillies are being stung by fruit flies. It's so very annoying . Of all things how on earth can the little maggots survive in the chilli with all that heat ?
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Michael
Wakeley
24th February 2010 1:01pm
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peter says...
michael,
try getting a yellow or red bucket
put 50mm water in the bottom and a
good dollop of vegimite, some sugar
and mix up. they should be attracted to it and drown.
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adelaide
24th February 2010 2:15pm
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Kert says...
Some things never die ,even when a stake is driven through its heart. Sob, you cannot catch female F.fly because they will not enter cofined spaces ,regardless how invented the bait viz eye of newt ,sweat from a hanged man ,dew drops gathered on a full moon etc. What you will catch is any number of other insects .
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25th February 2010 3:57pm
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Peter says...
If you want to be sure of getting rid of fruit fly spray with Lebaycid from Bayer available from Elders rural supplies. Everything else except total enclosure is fraught with frustration.
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Peter18
Qld
25th February 2010 4:23pm
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kert says...
Yummo, love the taste of Lebaycid ;keeps the flies off you ,too.
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sydney
26th February 2010 4:56am
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Ju says...
Howdie there. I have two young guava (guayaba) trees and I wondered when one should net them because they seem to be flowering and fruiting continuosly so if netted the flowering ones won't get pollinated by the bees. I've very curious to know what to do. My sister just picks them fruit and all and cooks them up making fruit cheese, she says it's just a bit of protein Ju! smile. I'm in Kingaroy Qld.
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Ju
 
5th March 2010 5:09pm
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Werner says...
Hi,
I work with fruitflies and a cheap way to trap fruit flies is the following:
1) Take a medium size container (e.g. 330ml coke bottle)
2) get some alive bakers yeast (you can also buy dried and need to reconstitute it with a bit of water) - make a non-runny paste with it and put it into the container. The more and thinner you smear it on the inside walls, the smellier (more attracting) it is for fruit flies.
3) make a funnel with a sheet of paper (opening 1mm wide) and stick it into the bottle - tape the opening of the bottle where it touches the funnel.
4) voila - finished. This sort of trap works very well - for any hungry fruit fly, male or female.

--> for indoors traps around your fruit bowl use some apple juice or better wine with 2 drops of washing liquid in a shallow container. change after 5days or so. works well, too.

Good luck! :D
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Werner
London
8th July 2010 12:41am
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kert says...
Some closet censor wiped my observation that you cannot get female fruit flies into confined spaces . All cleverness on lures will be futile . To the small minded misery who will not allow diverse views , show yourself and let us hear why you skulk in the background.
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sydney
11th July 2010 2:00pm
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Clay says...
Hi

Im going to net some stone fruit that is being espaliered. just wondering when i have to start netting. the fruit is currently very small, maybe pea size. do fruit fly attack small fruit?
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Clay
Perth
18th August 2010 6:31pm
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Julie says...
The Ag Dep recommendation is to start spraying when fruit is about half size. They do attack green fruit.

But I can't see any advantage to waiting to net - they have already been pollinated, so they don't need bees. Why not do it now?

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Julie
Roleystone WA
18th August 2010 7:49pm
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Original Post was last edited: 18th August 2010 7:52pm
Charles cant spell says...
I am trialing a light fine net/mesh from Greenharvest, VEGE NET, scroll down a bit, http://greenharvest.com.au/pestcontrol/exclusion_prod.html.

Will let people know how it goes.
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Charlesstillcantspell1
Perth Innaloo
19th August 2010 12:42am
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mary perkins says...
You need to catch the female fruit fly as well. Keep makle fruit fly traps up all year. Try Econaturelure. Put out as soon as warm weather starts.
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Perky
mt tamborine
20th August 2010 4:31pm
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Julie says...
Charles, that mesh looks far too open to exclude fruit fly - or is it just a really close-up picture?

Are you using it for fruit?
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Julie
Roleystone WA
31st August 2010 8:16pm
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home orchard says...
hello - would welcome opportunity to trial your fruit fly prevention products in this area of WA. Please let me know if you would like me to help out. If not I will go ahead with Eco NaturaLure
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home orchard
Bridgetown
3rd September 2010 2:08pm
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GVV says...
Julie

Don't spray your trees as the fruit is never as nice as ones not sprayed.
It is twelve months since I posted anything on this forum but once again I advise that the only 100% guaranteed way to keep fruit fly off ones fruit is netting. All other ways one will only get partial success and some fruit will be spoiled.
My peach plum and fruit are beautiful and I can eat every fruit from that and all my other trees. I have around 100 various fruit treess and am very happy by defeating the fruit fly.
The unfortunate thing about it is I have to set up the frames and nets every year but when we eat the fruits , it is all well worth it.
When you look at all the other methods they are time comsuming and tedious and need regular attention, once the nets are in place nothing needs to be done except eat beautiful fruit when they are ripe.
I net only once the fruit has set as they no longer need the bees to do any work.
Cheers
GVV
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GVV
Maaryborough Q\'ld
8th September 2010 6:01pm
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allybanana says...
Kert did someone delete your reply 11th July can't imagine why, was it as abarsive as your 25th of Febuary response.

My concern here is that if someone does find a novel way of catching female fruit fly they will be discoaraged before they can identify them and comunicate it to others. I feel it would be more effective to informe people to look for the tell tale little brown spike poking out of the female fruitflys butt that she uses for injecting eggs into the fruit, see http://www2.dpi.qld.gov.au/horticulture/5368.html the male has no spike/ovipositor. I dought an open bucket is much of a confined space perhaps it would work with the right bait. I would be interested to know the number of males and females people are catching if one is realy keen there are identification keys but you will need some magnification and a lot of patience http://www1.dpi.nsw.gov.au/keys/fruitfly/ffly0.htm

I have already caught two male qld fruitfly in my naturlure trap this year next to the loquat tree, first was at the end of August i had no idea they started so early. we had frost a few weeks ago.

By the way kert for the record it wasnt me who did the delete.
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Eden S-East NSW
8th September 2010 10:12pm
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Charles cant spell says...
Julie here is a pick of the mesh and a ruler I think its fine.
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Charlesstillcantspell1
Perth Innaloo
8th September 2010 10:28pm
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Julie says...
Thanks Charles - it looked a lot more open on the first pic. Happy eating!
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Julie
Roleystone WA
9th September 2010 7:14pm
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russell says...
Hi,
I don't bother with traps lures etc. I think the company is called eastcoast netting. They sell fruit fly proof netting that last approx 10 years if left on the tree or I would imagine 20 plus years if taken out of the sun at the end of ever season. Just put some steels posts into the ground and bend some 2 inch poly pipe in hoops over the tree and down onto the pickets. A bit like a tent frame , then slide the netting over the top and weigh down on the ground with rocks or bricks. No sprays no worries and fantastic tasting fruit
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rustynutz
eidsvold.Q.
3rd October 2010 4:22pm
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BJ says...
Did anyone see Landline today? They had a segment about using proteins from beer waste to lure and kill fruit fly. It has worked very well in Vietnam, and Australians have introduced it over there...
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Theposterformerlyknownas
Brisbane
3rd October 2010 5:19pm
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Julie says...
BJ, that has been around for ages. Can't remember the name of the product. I still find traps pretty ineffective - they only catch a few of the critturs!
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3rd October 2010 6:42pm
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Wayne says...
Hey BJ, how about starting a new thread on this, I came in to watch it but crashed out for my 40 winks and missed it. It will be on again tomorrow late morning or we can watch it on the internet.

Somewhere in my old hard drive I have information on this and it all started in the Philippines or somewhere like that so I will try and dig it up.


I have been using the yeast waste from my home brew scotch for awhile now and it has collected a vast range of flies, I hang a plastic bottle with holes in it as a trap.

Each year I loose most of my lemons in one foul swoop but I have not tried this trap yet but will do this year.

All the stalwarts are adamant that we will never trap the female fruit fly, perhaps so, but my trap has trapped male fruit fly and my reasoning is that without a male why would the female attend.

I could be totally wrong of course.

Cheers



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Wayne
Mackay QLD
3rd October 2010 6:55pm
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Original Post was last edited: 3rd October 2010 6:57pm
BJ says...
It wasnt used in traps. Applied directly to non fruiting parts of trees with some sort of insecticide mixed in, Like controls here. It was just interesting, as it shows controls can be made quite cheap and effective in countries where beer costs 40c/L.
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Theposterformerlyknownas
Brisbane
4th October 2010 8:28am
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Wayne says...
I realised that BJ, but I use traps without the poison, once in they can't get out. I make them with old softdrink bottles. I do get a lot of immature fruit fly but whether they are the baby female I do not know. This year I will be able to give it a good test.

Here's the link that I was talking about, as you can see, the protein bait method is not new.

http://www.spc.int/Pacifly/Control/Bait_spraying_1.htm

You will have to start making your own beer BJ so that you can get the waste. I use what's left after I boil the alcohol off but I have never made beer.
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Wayne
Mackay QLD
4th October 2010 9:42am
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Original Post was last edited: 4th October 2010 2:26pm
Julie says...
Flavex is (was?) the name of the product I mentioned above.
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Roleystone WA
4th October 2010 8:37pm
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kert says...
What is needed is an artificial fruit surface laced with a delayed poison that the female finds attactive ,puts in her ovipositor and gets poisoned in return.
Alas, none exists. As for killing the males it is useless as one male can inseminate lots of females . Sound familiar?
So give grannies sure fire fruit fly traps a miss . Granny tech. aint gonna work.
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hungary
6th October 2010 1:12am
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Peter\\\'s fruitfly strategy says...
Pelargonium odoratissimum This is an apple scented geranium. I hang a few pots in my garden, half shade, 1.5 meter over the soil surface. When fruit flies are around they visit this geranium for the first feed. Some time the geranium is covered with hundreds of fruit flies, I spray mortein and all are gone. For long times nothing is around but suddenly they are here and executed. Hang the pots half shade and on a place you pass by frequently. So, no fruit fly problem in my garden. If you can not find the geranium I might be able to help you.
peterstaheli@bigpond.com
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Peters fruitfly strategy
Gold Coast QLD
23rd October 2010 1:29pm
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Original Post was last edited: 23rd October 2010 1:32pm
Julie says...
Peter, can you take a pic of the flies? They don't usually swarm, and it is unusual to see hundreds in one place.
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Julie
Roleystone WA
24th October 2010 9:03pm
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Peters fruitfly strategy says...
I have no picture and to provide one is hard this year, no fruit flies till now, I guess they have all be drown through heavy rain. The only thing I can tell you that frequently hundreds sit on said geranium for their first feed. This has nothing to do with swarming. Sometime there are as many fruit flies on the leafs that no green color from the leafs is visible anymore. The fruit flies behave like crazy and if you squash a leaf between two fingers several fruit flies land on the fingers. Believe it or not, there is no fruit fly problem in my orchard and veggie garden.
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Peters fruitfly strategy
Gold Coast QLD
25th October 2010 1:30pm
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Original Post was last edited: 25th October 2010 1:37pm
torastus says...
Hi Everyone
I have been reading this forum for years now & trying hard to get fruit & veges to grow without the dreaded Qld fruit fly. Without much success I must admit. This year I have found the vegenet mentioned by Charles, it is also available on Ebay & at Netpro in Stanhope Qld. I haven't found any fruit flies in my traps yet (I use both Wild May & Eco Naturalure Fruit fly traps) so I am only just about to spray & put up the netting which I hope will give us great fruit & tomatoes etc this year. Here in the Central West Slopes of NSW you don't actually see many fruit flies just the maggots in the fruits when you pick them. I hope Peter is right and they all drowned.
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Fay1
NSW
25th October 2010 5:29pm
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Kisp says...
Where is the cheapest place to get good garden netting for fruit fly?

How do you all join it or keep it on your frames?
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T J
CW NSW
29th October 2010 9:57pm
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Julie says...
Spotlight has mosquito netting for $4.49 a metre, 2400mm wide.

Camping World, in my area, has a queen size bed net for $25.50. 2.20m drop, 12.70m circumference. The 'hoop at the top is 51cm. That's a fair size.

If you are making your own, you will have to sew it.
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Julie
Roleystone WA
30th October 2010 9:01pm
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Diana says...
Hi Kisp,

Mosquito netting for beds will break down and get holes quickly outside (I have tried that). I really like my Green Harvest uv-stable, durable mesh sleeves and tomato bags. They are a bit more expensive than spotlight, but they last for years without breaking down in the sun, and don't tear (sounds like an ad I know, but I don't work for them or anything!). The tomato bags I have (the ones called 'pestguard' http://www.greenharvest.com.au/pestcontrol/exclusion_prod.html ) have been re-used for four seasons and they cost $1 each.

Another point to watch- careful not to exclude pollinators too early (I have done that too).

Diana.
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Diana
Brisbane
2nd November 2010 12:10pm
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MR says...
Hi, Kisp. I am very pleased with the zip up Gazebo and umbrella nets from Bunnings if you can still get any. Buy an extra umbrella net to cut into quarters to make tops for four gazebo nets. All Bunnings stores don't seem to have them at present. I don't know where you are from, but I purchased 8 recently from Bunnings at Rocklea, and they had a shelf full left. They work out comparatively cheap, and are resistant to outside influences, sun etc. And parrots, possums and bats, so far.
Refer back to 20th Jan 2009 to TJ's message, and photos of the nets over trees.

MR
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MR
 
6th November 2010 8:25pm
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paula-f says...
Unfortunately Bunnings are deleting these umbrella nets from their stores. I went in a couple of weeks ago and there was only 1 left on the shelf, so I asked a staff member if they had anymore.....and she told me they would not be renewing them. Luckily I knew there were about 6 more at one of the other branches so raced over and got them.
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paulaf1
SE Queensland
6th November 2010 9:35pm
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torastus says...
The Vege Net I bought from Netpro is looking good. We just had very heavy hail storm this arvo(hail up to 3cms) & my fruit trees that have been netted are great. Still no sign of fruit fly yet but I have sprayed once with Naturalure, have to do it again now.
My Granny Smith has not yet been covered but the fruit looks OK so far.
This net from Netpro is only $12 for 5m x 2.87m. This product is only sold to throw over veges against insects & frost, but today I was happy it was there as it took the hail very well.
They also sell it on Ebay & the postage is about $11.15 for 1, but they will only charge actual postage if you buy more.
My son attached it by staples to the espalier posts & I also bought some of their pins to pin it to the ground.
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Fay1
NSW
8th November 2010 7:09pm
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Michael says...
Is 18 QLD fruit flys caught in three days in two Wild May traps considered a fruit fly problem ?
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Michael
Wakeley
10th November 2010 9:15pm
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kert says...
Yes.
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sydney
11th November 2010 12:45pm
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Norma says...
Hi, just stumbled on this forum while looking for f/fly control and am I glad I did.

We lost all our fruit to f/fly this year. sprayed with Eco-Naturalure at petal drop, had Wild may baits (caught about 30 in it, useless) and f/fly wicks to check which direction they were coming from.
Unfortunately we have a market garden 3 blocks over and they get rid of unsaleable tomatoes by piling them up for a few weeks and then either burying them or burning them.

Am interested in netting our tomatoes now, spraying costs too much, especially when it has been raining nearly every day for 2 months.

Torastus, is there a web site for Netpro?

If we net the trees, how do we stop the emerging f/fly from any fruit we didn't pick up? We must have missed some even though we picked up every day, sometimes twice a day.

Has anyone used Neem cake around the base of fruit trees to slow down the emerging f/fly??

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Norma
Greenbank, SEQld
11th November 2010 2:26pm
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Jimmy says...
You should bait with the eco lure at weekly intervals, not just at petal fall ! Thats when you start to reduce the local population.
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Jimmy
Perth
11th November 2010 4:22pm
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Norma says...
Sorry, what I meant was we started spraying/baiting with Econaturalure at petal fall and kept spraying weekly and straight after rain. We were almost religious in our spraying, that's why we are so disappointed in the results.
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Norma
Greenbank, SEQld
12th November 2010 7:43pm
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Jo says...
fantasic forum! I have 2 plum, 1 peach, 1 mango and 1 small fig. been having trouble with fruit fly since the trees started fruiting and they're now 6-7 years. I've got bags from green harvest, a mixture of the stiff black mesh, white soft cotton and the paper bags. The peaches don't like the stiff mesh and all fruitlets have dropped off into bottom of bag whereas the soft and paper bags seem to do better. I've been using Econaturalure for 2 years and I got a bad fruit fly infestation last year but I put it down to being a bit slack with the weekly application of blobs on non-absorbant surfaces around the garden. This year I bagged as much fruit as possible at petal drop and have been very strict with my bait regime. In the bad year I saw lots of flies, twitching their goddamn wings! but this year I've seen one. A few peaches got stung (I think) because I could see the fruit juice oozing from the hole. Am I correct in thinking that this is the sign of a sting on a peach? I've seen it on the plums previously. I was thinking of just netting the tree (mozzie net, great idea!) but don't you need to be careful in the choice of net because photosynthesis won't been able to occur properly, has anyone had this problem? If you do net the tree and the flies emerge from the ground, wouldn't it be best to tie the net tight near the bottom of the trunk? I also assume that its the med fruit fly here in WA, yes I've seen them and can't decide from the photos which one I saw! Don't want to see another just to confirm identification though... ;-)

I hate fruit fly!
Jo
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Jo20
Palmyra WA
13th November 2010 6:44pm
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Kisp says...
Paula F
I recently bought the last net at our Bunnings store - but a team member there said they should be getting more in. They were relying on reps to come around and order more.

I hope Bunnings keep selling them. Otherwise I'll have to contact Netpro, Green Harvest, Coast Guard or Planet_Lotus (ebay) for nets - and pay postage costs as well. :(

Does anyone know if the VegeNet through GreenHarvest is the same as the VegeNet from NetPro???
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T J
CW NSW
14th November 2010 4:49pm
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mary perkins says...
Peter, which state are you in?
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Perky
mt tamborine
14th November 2010 7:16pm
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mary perkins says...
Debbie

You have to use two kinds of lure. One for the male fruit fly and one for the female. The male one should be up all winter and then when it gets warmer you put up the female one. Have used the female ecolure for the first time and was successful though the preaches got brown rot which is another problem.
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Perky
mt tamborine
14th November 2010 7:20pm
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MR says...
Hi Norma,
The Wild May bait attracts the male, hang it somewhere away from the Eco naturlure female bait. Also, put the female eco naturlure protein bait under the net to get any emerging fly that were missed. The fly needs to eat protein for a week before mating I believe, so you should get any before they are ready to lay eggs then. Oh, probably put the mail bait (Wild May) under as well just to be on the safe side.
MR

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MR
 
14th November 2010 9:55pm
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Charles cant spell says...
I can confirm that the Green Harvest net ( Netpro Vege Net as mentioned above) I talked about previously has kept the fruit fly out of the nectarines.
I left the apricot uncovered as an experiment (was going to stripe the fruit as its still young) every apricot have 5-10 stings)
But with a very dodgy effort, I used tie wire and threaded that though two sheets of net to join them, and gathered the bottem of the net, with string nad tied it around the base and a support pole, this has kept the little buggers out, interestingly enough even where the fruit was touching the net the fly did lot land and sting from the outside, I have no idea why they didnt as they certainly would be physically able to. Will throw up soome great pics of the fly stingin the apricots.
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Charlesstillcantspell1
Perth Innaloo
14th November 2010 11:15pm
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Original Post was last edited: 14th November 2010 11:17pm
Charles cant spell says...
I have seen so many crap photos ofa blurry thing, given this fly was such a show pony I thought I would give you all a decent pick of Fruit Fly in Perth WA.
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Charlesstillcantspell1
Perth Innaloo
14th November 2010 11:36pm
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Original Post was last edited: 14th November 2010 11:38pm
kert says...
Picture is of Med.Fly not the Queensland Fruit Fly which is our native pest in the Eastern States.
Also EcoNatralure kills male and female flies.
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sydney
15th November 2010 10:00am
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hawkypork says...
I have a fruit bearing nectarine and a fig but no sign of fruit fly by 18/11. Am I living in a fools paradise?
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Fremant;e
18th November 2010 4:53pm
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amanda says...
Hi hawkypork - depends on what is in your neighbourhood? I don't have them - but I keep my eye out for them. Probably just a matter of time b4 they find me (I have a huge acreage buffer zone!)
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amanda19
Geraldton Mid West WA
18th November 2010 5:47pm
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Hayden says...
There the same as the ones that stay around my fruit bowl so are they not fruit
Fly? Any natural methods of getting rid of them?
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Hayden1
Central coast nsw
18th November 2010 5:53pm
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Original Post was last edited: 18th November 2010 6:30pm
Wayne says...
Hayden
Are they "THE" fruit fly or those little black flies that sort of swarm and hang in the air forever?
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Wayne
Mackay QLD
18th November 2010 6:01pm
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Hayden says...
I thought fruit fly as they are the same as the ones that foy around my fruit bowl. My compost is layered fruit soil news paper and grass clippings. Are there any natural ways to get rid of them with out harming any good bugs I'n the conpost.
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Hayden1
Central coast nsw
18th November 2010 6:51pm
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Phil@Tyalgum says...
Usually the ones hanging around over rotten fruit in the kitchen are vinegar flies and quite a bit smaller than real fruit flies which tend to walk around with their wings in motion the whole time. You'll often see vinegar flies coming out of the compost as well. They tend to only be attracted to fruit which is already decomposing.
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TyalgumPhil
Murwillumbah
18th November 2010 7:25pm
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Hayden says...
Ah ok. Should I be getting rid of them or are they ok to have around.
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Hayden1
Central coast nsw
18th November 2010 7:42pm
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Charles cant spell says...
Vinegar fly are totally fine. Unless you have old food scraps in your kitchen and they can be annoying but that is all. Nothing to worry about, if they are in you house just be more diligent in removing fermenting fruit n veg and juice etc.
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Charlesstillcantspell1
Perth Innaloo
18th November 2010 10:55pm
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Wayne says...
Sorry, I couldn't think of their name, I'm led to believe that these flys coming from compost could mean it may be a little to moist and needs some dry material.

Bunnings have a spray called Black Flag that puts out an exellent mist to control these critters
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Wayne
Mackay QLD
19th November 2010 7:01am
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Original Post was last edited: 19th November 2010 7:26am
Jo says...
Phil@Tyalgum... The photo you submitted on 18th, the brown fly, I have these, lots of them! Hanging around on most leaves of most of my trees, fruit or otherwise. There's no rotting fruit only decomposing chook and sheep poop!

The photo submitted by 'Charles cant spell', yes thats the flippin one! Only seen 2 this year so far....

I've concluded with the eco-natralure that it literally 'expires' on day 7. If you're not out there on day 6 re-newing it, they'll be back on day 8.

Should I definitely see the post-sting-ooze or have I fallen into a false sense of security with my non-bagged fruit?????

Cheers for your help!
Jo
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Jo20
Palmyra WA
20th November 2010 7:35pm
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Charles cant spell says...
I think its a bit fruit dependent on the ooze, so yes I wouldn't count your chickens yet, The next door nectarines just have dots on the skin, it might be fruit fly or just something else, but no it isn't oozing yet either.
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Charlesstillcantspell1
Perth Innaloo
20th November 2010 10:44pm
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Brad says...
I posted this in another forum but I guess it really belongs here. http://preventfruitfly.com.au/ is for the home gardner
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Brad2
G hill,Perth
21st November 2010 11:06am
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torastus says...
Hey Norma
Sorry I haven't been reading here lately. Yes Netpro have a web site http://www.netprocanopies.com/). You've probably found it by now.
I have found them great to deal with.
About these flies, this morning as I was sitting finishing off breakfast, there was something climbing up my tee shirt & when I picked it off it was a fruit fly (Qld). I haven't even been outside yet!! But the guy who helps in the garden had been in, have to check him over!!
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Fay1
NSW
24th November 2010 8:36am
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Norma says...
Hi torastus,
Thanks, I did finally get hold of Netpro, they said they sell it by the metre now, works out about $1.09 per metre for 2.2mts wide. Just need to work out how we're going to cover our trees and the tomatoes and then no more of those rotten little monsters destroying everything.
Love your lizard by the way. Found a water dragon stuck in our chook pen's wire the other day, luckily he was OK. I was admiring him when my husband pointed out he was probably the reason my cherry tomatoes were disappearing.I'd rather he got them than the fruit fly anyway.
Thanks for the info.
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Norma
Greenbank, SEQld
26th November 2010 3:46pm
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Lyn says...
I am interested in buying netting for fruit fly, 4-6mrs wide x 150mtrs.

Are you the person to order and if so how much would this cost, I live in Highfirlds just outside Toowoomba Qld
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Lyn11
Toowoomba Qld
29th November 2010 12:35pm
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Norma says...
Netpro's details are:
www.netprocanopies.com

sales@netprocanopies.com

Ph: (07) 4681 6613

Glenn McRae from Netpro answered my email. They sell 2.2mt wide by whatever length up to 500mts.

When you order they will let you know how much postage will be.

Hope this is of help.
Norma
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Norma
Greenbank, SEQld
29th November 2010 4:59pm
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Kisp says...
Have been speaking to Bunnings - the Gazebo nets have been deleted from their range.

Glenn McRae from Netpro is very helpful. I've just ordered 60m of the 2.2m wide VegeNet. Works out to be about $0.73 per square metre once you add postage.

Ooze - does anything else cause ooze on Nectarines?

Also have little spots on some peaches that seems to be some kind of mould - any ideas/suggestions?
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T J
CW NSW
29th November 2010 10:26pm
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amanda says...
Sadly the honeymoon is over for me and I can now join in on this thread :( The little sods have finally found us.

I am guessing the aim for me now would be to try and break the cycle when I can?
I don't have any fruit/hosts over summer and the ground is so dry that I can't imagine the larvae being able to survive in the soil?
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amanda19
Geraldton Mid West WA
1st December 2010 5:09pm
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Julie says...
Bad luck amanda! You say 'the ground is so dry', but what about the ground under your fruit trees? You will water them over summer I assume, so not sure what you mean.
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Julie
Roleystone WA
1st December 2010 10:00pm
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amanda says...
Hi Julie - I was thinking of relying on the sub-surface retic, only, for a few weeks - it's 60-80cm deep - but I have no idea how deep larvae may go..?
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amanda19
Geraldton Mid West WA
1st December 2010 11:14pm
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Jimmy says...
they ahve been found 600mm deep, they burrow down looking for moist soil in which to pupate.

this is why chickens etc are not a cure, theycan eat a small portion near the top but not the rest.
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Jimmy
Perth
2nd December 2010 12:53pm
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amanda says...
Thanks Jimmy! that's amazing! I might use a nicotene or pyrethrum drench then? Worth a shot. They have only just started becoming maggots so I am thinking there wouldn't be too many in the soil yet?

If I can get on top of the cycle straight away then I might be ok..(fingers crossed) only two trees affected at present.
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amanda19
Geraldton Mid West WA
2nd December 2010 7:21pm
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Julie says...
Neem is systemic and can be used as a drench - but a bit pricey!
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Julie
Roleystone WA
2nd December 2010 8:36pm
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Brad says...
does anyone else find this thread sometimes hangs and refuses to load??? happened to me twice now. odd.

to be slightly more useful, here's a WA ag site on control of Mediterranean fruit fly in home gardens
http://agspsrv34.agric.wa.gov.au/Ento/medfly.htm
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Brad2
G hill,Perth
4th December 2010 12:33am
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Norma says...
Hi all,
Got another email from Netpro about Vegenet, this time from Mark Minifie, Sales Manager. They now have Vegenet in 6mts wide by whatever length up to 500mts.

He said it is still same price per square metre as the 2.2mts stuff which works out around .50cents per square metre. His contact details are below. He was very informative and interested in helping out small customers. They also have a specific net for fruit fly which is heavier and would probably work better over large trees but I didn't get a price off him.

mark_minifie@netprocanopies.com

(07) 4681 6624
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Norma
Greenbank, SEQld
5th December 2010 3:25pm
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Norma says...
Hi Julie,
Have you used Neem as a drench? Any success?
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Norma
Greenbank, SEQld
5th December 2010 3:28pm
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Julie says...
Norma, no I haven't, because of the price! I guess it would work out cheaper if you were only doing small trees in pots/bags. You wouldn't need as much.
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Julie
Roleystone WA
5th December 2010 8:51pm
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hawkypork says...
Hey Amanda,

Turns out I was living in a fools paradise. Every single nectarine had ooze coming out of at least one hole. I have binned the lot and heavily pruned my tree so that I can net the whole thing as soon as it flowers next year. A tough lesson for this new fruit grower.

I havent inspected the fig closely yet but I am bracing for the worst.

I bought myself a double bed mosquito net from a manchester shop in Bull Creek for only $10. Even if it only lasts one season that is reasonable value.
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Fremantle
9th December 2010 7:12pm
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Julie says...
You were lucky at that price, hawkypork. Mine cost me $25 at a camping store!
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Julie
Roleystone WA
9th December 2010 8:30pm
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Norma says...
Got our Vegenet on Thursday. Now we need to work out how to make frames for it. Any suggestions? We would rather not put up a polypipe frame as a vegie plot isn't that big. We thinking of making tubes out of wire netting and then making tubes out of the vegenet to fit over them? Don't know if it would stand up to some of our heavier rain though.
And any suggestions on how to sew netting? Anyone sewn it before?
Thanks
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Norma
Greenbank, SEQld
11th December 2010 2:10pm
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Fruit Fly Control says...
Norma

Electrical conduit makes a good frame for small trees. We used Bunnings gazebo netting on our trees this season with nil positive effect. Not sure if the high winds are to blame or the fact that netting wasnt staked into the ground.

Think those ctitters will find their way in anywhere, looks like chemicals next year which will be a pain if we get the repeat rainy season we have had this year.
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Harvest
Clarence Town
20th December 2010 6:25pm
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Original Post was last edited: 20th December 2010 6:26pm
torastus says...
Hi Norma
Yes you can sew Vegenet. Netpro sell sail thread & needles also spikes for in the ground. I find now that U shaped metal spikes such as used for dripper hoses work really well in heavy winds & rain. I used the vegenet first on my cherry tree. Last week I was actually able to eat cherries off my tree. I only had 270g but it was great! We only used wooden stakes in a teepee style and bricks on the ground but hey it worked! My other trees are peaches, nectarines and apples but have used a different method for them see picture on my last post. I am hoping to attach some photos. Good Luck!!
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Fay1
NSW
22nd December 2010 11:31am
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Bucko says...
Currently testing organza gift bags on my guava. The bags are synthetic and should last a long time. They are a very fine nylon mesh and have a drawstring for easy fitting. Cheap as well - I paid about $10 for 50 bags on ebay.
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Brisbane
4th May 2011 12:02pm
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Jantina says...
Thanks for that Bucko, with any luck they will discourage the birds too.
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Jantina
Mt Gambier
4th May 2011 12:12pm
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lang says...
Same here Bucko, this is my second year using organza bags(off ebay) of various sizes on my figs, feijoa, cherry rio grande(for birds really) and pepino(limited success).
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lang
perth
4th May 2011 12:41pm
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Mark says...
Debbie, Grant is right. Fruit fly baits are just to moniter if & how may fruit fly you get. Some areas like here,the council sends people around to spray.They do streets parks homes the blocks, anywhere that it's needed. Some people don't like to have the spray & we habe a choice. People with breathing problems or fish ponds they leave alone. .. Really, the ONLY way to stop fruit fly is with Poison. Unfortunate, but other systems are too flawed.
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Mark27
N.W. Victoria
27th June 2011 11:23pm
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Vince says...
Interested to know if fruit bats will try to eat the fruits wrapped inside the vegenet and organza bags and end up with their claws tangled up by the fine mesh? What about shade cloth? Anyone here has used shadecloth and has bats snagged in the shadecloth?
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30th June 2011 10:25am
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M Nash says...
Yeah, I thought about that.
May need two layers of protection.
I dont care much at all about fruit bats as they are in plague up here.
I wont be netting to look after the bats, rather the fruit
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MNash1
Terranora Northern NSW
30th June 2011 6:12pm
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John Mc says...
My biggest problem here, after ff, are king parrots. At least now the organza bags slow them up. They go for one or two fruit and keep working on those few fruit they select instead of taking the lot because the fruit is much harder to get at.
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JohnMc1
 
1st July 2011 2:01pm
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Mark says...
Vince, I've never seen or heard of a fruit bat trying to take bate from a trap. We get a few up here but they are not a problem & don't go for the fruit in the bates. Up in Qld. they turn the sky black there's so many, but they seem to all know where they are going to & it's not into the traps. I'm not saying it couldn't happen, but I think it would be the exception more than the rule.
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Mark27
N.W. Victoria
2nd July 2011 11:35am
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Vince says...
I remember Kath mentioned her
neighbour had bats caught in the net structure. Here is the link

https://www.daleysfruit.com.au/forum/fruit-fly-exclusion-bags/

I wonder what sort of net used by her neighbour? I am thinking if the mesh holes are smaller like those of the shade cloth then perhaps the bat claws won't get snagged.

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2nd July 2011 12:12pm
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Vince says...
Bats are bind. They use echo and smell to navigate their way around branches once landed on a tree. For those who have used organza bags, have you caught any bats yet? I hate those smelly critters eating most of my fruits.
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2nd July 2011 12:21pm
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Mike says...
Vince flying foxes and other fruit bats (megachiropterans) do not have echo location and have excellent eyesight and they are aromatic.They are more closely related to primates than the small insectivorous bats with echolocation (microchiropterans).They are aromatic and destroy fruit but are vital pollinators and seed dispersers in the natural environment.They get tangled most in mesh with fine threads or fine netting with a specific mesh size but rarely bird nets,mosquito or castnets.
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Cairns
2nd July 2011 1:16pm
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Vince says...
I have seen bats entangled in nylon string bird nets with mesh size of 1 inch sq. Will plastic shopping bags good for protecting almost ripe fruits? They would stop the bats poo and pee from soiling the fruit skins.
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2nd July 2011 1:28pm
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Mike says...
I used shopping bags as a short term measure and it saved the fruit.It can get hot and wet in the bag and ruin the fruit and there can be fungus forming easily.I use the 1 inch bird net and have not has any FF stuck or the smaller tube nosed fruit bats on my sapodillas.
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Cairns
2nd July 2011 3:27pm
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MR says...
Norma, we have 100% success with Bunnings Gazebo net. But we do have it reaching the ground. And in case there are any f/flies trapped inside, or any hatch later, we hang a male fruit fly bait inside the net. I realise you sent your email months ago, but I am just now browsing them.
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MR
Toowoomba
2nd July 2011 8:40pm
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Mark says...
Well, I'm just saying that I've never seen or heard of bats getting caught in fruit fly bait traps.... Of course, that doesn't mean it doesn't happen!
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Mark27
N.W. Victoria
8th July 2011 5:43pm
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Mark says...
Now then,, can I Ask a Question? Could anyone please give me the instructions of how to grow mushrooms,by making a culture of them using mushrooms from the supermarket? .. Is it difficult? Is it costly? & What do I use & where do I get it? .... I recall vaguely,someone here once talked about doing this to grow those Shitake' mushrooms,but I never got the details. .. & Can this all be done in any ordinary kitchen or is special equipment required? ... Thanks In Advance, To All.
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Mark27
N.W. Victoria
8th July 2011 5:50pm
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Julie says...
Mark, you will get more replies if you start a new thread called 'Mushrooms'. This is a fruit fly thread.

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Julie
Roleystone WA
8th July 2011 8:40pm
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Mark says...
Thanks Julie, I just thought that it was automatic. On the recently asked bit,, after 58 seconds it said I had 127 replies,but when I checked,there were none. .. Thanks,, I'll try what you said.
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Mark27
N.W. Victoria
9th July 2011 1:14am
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Mono says...
I've been using Cera trap fruit fly attractant I got from Mirco Bros and been having great results. Check there website for the label www.mircobros.com.au
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mono
 
9th July 2011 11:43pm
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usmccsnc says...
There will be a new product hitting the markets in early November. It is all green, and is called the FE-1. It was thought of by an inventor named Mike Sapara who owns Blackhawk Tools, located in Toledo, Ohio. Look up his site, and you can find out more. He has been in the hospitality industry for 30 years, always battling the evil fruit fly!
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usmccsnc
Michigan
10th September 2011 4:49am
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Tom says...
Hmmm - fruit flies have become the evil archnemeses of hoteliers around the globe? Thanks for the tip, usmccsnc, but the product which you've mentioned appears to be designed to combat flies in the family Drosophilidae (the ones that hatch in constantly wet places, like drains, and which are often called fruit flies, pomace flies, sewer flies, and drain flies.) They're pests for sure; but they're different from the fly in the family Tephritidae (Mediterranean fruit fly) which is the agricultural nemesis and which hatches inside fruit. Mediterranean fruit flies are the focus of this forum. Pesticides placed in drains (as the blackhawktool website describes), may be effective against the little guys in the kitchen coming out of the sink; but I don't see how this product is relevant to Mediterranean fruit fly control in the garden.
References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drosophila
http://lancaster.unl.edu/pest/resources/flies015.shtml
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Tom
Orlando, Florida
10th September 2011 8:15am
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Original Post was last edited: 10th September 2011 8:55am
mary perkins says...
Scott you have to use female bait as well as male attractants. You can buy Econature lure from Bunnings which works well. You must put the female bait out as soon as the weather gets warm, i.e now! Male bait should stay up all year round.
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Perky
mt tamborine
16th September 2011 7:36pm
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mary perkins says...
Debbie youneed to use both male and female bait. Male bait all the year round and put up female bait when the weather warms up, i.e. now! Get it at Bunnings.
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Perky
mt tamborine
16th September 2011 7:37pm
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john says...
Eco Naturlure attracts both male and female. It is expensive and will not work under high ffly pressure,
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N coast
18th September 2011 12:19pm
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mary perkins says...
Yes John it does attract both male and female and it has worked wvery well for me!
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Perky
mt tamborine
25th September 2011 6:07pm
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John Mc says...
I've got to reinforce the success I'm experiencing with the above mentioned organza bags, for the home gardener at least. The best test is that of the common ol' loquat and it works a treat. Never have I had such an excellent full crop of loquats that ripened to a golden yellow and the sweetest I've ever tasted because I could leave them on the tree for as long as I wanted, till they ripened to perfection. My fruit being enclosed and safe inside the organza bag is now totally immune from the dreaded FF, it's the best thing I've ever done in a long time. Can't recommend them enough. The bags come in all sizes, big enough to wrap around a bunch of loquats and also smaller ones for enclosing individual fruit like guavas.
On Ebay, they cost a few cents each and so far, it looks like I'll be using them again for a second year, there's no sign of degredation so far.
You might think it's a bit fiddly, wrapping each individual fruit, or bunch, but every fruit you wrap you know for sure that no FF is going to get near your precious fruit. It doesn't take long to pull the bag over the fruit and pull the built-in drawstring and move on to the next one. It's great therapy.
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JohnMc1
Warnervale NSW
25th September 2011 8:20pm
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Phil@Tyalgum says...
Hey John are they just the ones they sell for jewellery and gifts - can you recommend a seller in particular?
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TyalgumPhil
Murwillumbah
25th September 2011 8:49pm
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Stafgard says...
Hi All,
Andy here from Brisbane.Planted a Jaboticaba in ultra organic soil 4 months ago and all of the leaves have died.Dug it up an planted it in a pot
Nothing happening as yet ( two weeks ) any idea's on hoe to help it recover ?

Thanks

Andy L
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Stafgard
Brisbane
25th September 2011 9:16pm
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John Mc says...
I had to go back through my emails to try and find where I got them from. I originally googled and ebayed till I found someone. Here's a couple of places I've bought them from, the first is local in Aus and the 2nd listed is from China. Both are good, I bought plain white, but I'm sure any colour would do.

http://www.blingin.com.au/bags-organza-bags-c-6_505.html


http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/100-Drawable-Organza-Wedding-Gift-Bags-Pouches-12x9cm-/400243902936?pt=AU_Jewellery_Boxes_Supplies&hash=item5d306549d8
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JohnMc1
Warnervale NSW
25th September 2011 9:24pm
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Tom says...
Hi John MC, I took your organza bag advice in early Spring (six months ago up here in Florida), and I'm happy to report that there's no better fruit fly deterrent around. Here are some pictures of this morning's fruit bowl and two of the used organzas which protected those two big Peruvian guavas through the Summer. We wrap everything we can reach now, including the Feijoas in the other photo (looks like Christmas trees, eh?)

As long as you don't tie a knot (just pull the strings tight - that's enough), it's a simple process.

We found the best prices on ebay (about 2 cents a piece), and that's not bad for a bag which can be re-used several times. I've had good experiences with these ebay sellers, including the ones in China: goodluck_1962, susway, jzqlyb. Recommend getting the larger ones (14cm x 20cm); the little ones can be too tight a fit for expanding fruit.

Thanks for the advice - much appreciated!
Tom
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Tom
Orlando, Florida
25th September 2011 11:33pm
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Michael says...
Hi John,

Next time you are visiting the Canley Vale nursery you can drop by Blingin as they are very close at Villawood .They only open on weekdays only.
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Michael D
Wakeley
26th September 2011 1:16pm
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amanda says...
Thanks Tom and John Mc - for the info on the bags - that makes my life easy! (I have not used ebay yet..!) Great pics Tom - lol - they do look rather xmas-like :)
Last year was the first time I had F.Fly here - and I was too slow to do anything much...this year I will be prepared for the little sods..!
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amanda19
Geraldton. Mide West WA.
2nd October 2011 12:55pm
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John Mc says...
Tom, I can't take credit for them, but when I found out just how effective they are I just had to tell the world. I think they deserve a thread on there own to highlight the importance of how well they perform. My loquats just get sweeter by the day, I never knew loquats could be so beautifully sweet. Fully sweetened on the tree, they rival the most delicious fruit I've ever tasted. The FF must be drooling around the organza bags, the protection they provide must be driving them crazy, and I'm laughing..
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JohnMc1
Warnervale NSW
2nd October 2011 1:46pm
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Julie says...
Now I'm wishing I had bought the larger size! I have ordered 200 blue bags, 70mm x 1400mm, which seemed large enough for individial fruit like peaches or apricots. Oh well, I'll see how they go. My mistake(?) may be to someone else's advantage.

I ordered blue because birds aren't attracted to that colour. My beautiful blue bird bath has never been used. And trials have found that blue coloured pesticides weren't taken by birds. Don't know which is worse, birds or fruit fly!

amanda, just Google ebay 'organza gift bags' (I added blue) and there are dozens of sellers at different sizes and prices.
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Julie
Roleystone WA
2nd October 2011 6:05pm
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Original Post was last edited: 2nd October 2011 6:09pm
amanda says...
Great tip Julie - thanks :) I was going to avoid yellow...but hadn't thought of birds as well. I will get the bigger size also (I want them to cover my white sapotes too - just in case)

Ps - nice one John Mc...! must be the sweetest revenge.. ;-)
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amanda19
Geraldton. Mide West WA.
2nd October 2011 6:50pm
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Original Post was last edited: 2nd October 2011 6:52pm
Brad says...
what size julie??? I'd have thought you need something like 120mm

wouldn't silver be a good colour choice for birds?
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Brad2
G Hill,Perth
3rd October 2011 1:52pm
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Julie says...
Why silver Brad? Can't work that out. 120mm is smaller than the ones I ordered! Or do you mean the width?
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Julie
Roleystone WA
3rd October 2011 9:08pm
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Brad says...
silver idea was a bit like hanging CDs from a tree.
70x1400 you didn't mean. 120x170 or 130x180 or something i suspect is a good size - i ordered a set to try and yeah i went blue.
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Brad2
G Hill,Perth
4th October 2011 1:27am
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Tom says...
Wish I'd taken a picture of the lime green and hot pink bags we used initially on the guavas(cheap left-over wedding favour wrappings I suppose). It'd be a good way to show y'all what an awful mistake that was - our horrendous, multi-coloured, Dr. Seuss-like garden. Recommend you stick with one colour, whatever it is, just to avoid the silly factor.

The bags work as well to keep ripe ambarellas and passion fruits from hitting the ground. They just fall off the stem into the bag. Seems to keep rats, raccoons, and possums away from them too.
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Tom
Orlando, Florida
4th October 2011 12:58pm
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Rowan says...
I have been using organza gift bags for the past couple of years for hand pollinating my melons and pumpkins for pure seed. They work great.
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Rowan
Casterton Vic
4th October 2011 1:21pm
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bucko says...
The organza bag results are in and I’m pleased to report we had a great crop of guava’s this year. Some were as big as oranges, perfectly ripened, and not a single grub. It’s great to see others are having similar success. As John mentioned above, it only takes a few seconds to slip the bag on and pull the drawstring all for a very rewarding outcome.
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Brisbane
4th October 2011 4:27pm
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Julie says...
I seem to have stuffed up the order - just received them today and they are 70mm x 90mm. Far too small. It said on the site I can return for a refund, but would rather find a larger bag, if they make them. I have sent an email.

I'll get there eventually. Not enough sleep, I'm making mistakes all over the place!
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Julie
Roleystone WA
4th October 2011 6:35pm
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Wazza McG says...
Sorry to go off topic, Rowan, can you put some detail or a picture or two around the hand melon pollination method with the bags?
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wazzamcg
Brisbane
5th October 2011 8:46pm
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Rowan says...
Hi Wazza, what I meant was that I use the bags to cover the male and female flowers before they open to stop the bees getting at them. When they open I do the polinating with a paint brush, then put the bags back over the females until they set.
Because I grow so many varieties of melon, this is the only way I can get pure seed while growing them all close together.
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Rowan
Casterton Vic
6th October 2011 6:04am
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Wazza McG says...
Very clever Rowan
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wazzamcg
Brisbane
6th October 2011 7:15am
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LL says...
G'day John Mc.

Just ordering some organza bags from Blingin. Did you want to send me a referral code for Blingin so you get discounts etc.??

I appreciate your help with the advice on the bags!

Cheers

L

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LL
Narromine
10th October 2011 11:31am
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colin says...
Debbie, re FF control. There are available a number of products that claim to control FF, these include Cover sprays ( Lebaycid ) bait sprays ( Natauralure ) and traps. The traps are either a pheromone base which attract only the male and protein based which will attract both male and female. The difficulty in FF control using traps in a backyard situation is that the FF will fly into your tree from another yard and sting your fruit. Traps and baiting programs only really work if you can cover a reasonable sized`area. It is important to hang traps early and place them in the foliage of the tree. A new product called ceratrap is probably the best of the currently available traps.
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colin5
 
21st October 2011 8:44am
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john says...
Ceratrap is for WA only as it is for the Med fly, I think.
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coast
21st October 2011 9:09am
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Brad says...
Qld also according to http://www.greenharvest.com.au/pestcontrol/fruit_fly_prod.html

Not cheap
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Brad2
G Hill,Perth
21st October 2011 10:28am
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john says...
No, if you look it up Cera Trap only claims to be effective against Med. fly which ,as far as I know ,is not present in Qld.
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coast
21st October 2011 12:29pm
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Brad says...
got a source for that John? Green harvest page states
"The exception to this is the newly released Cera Trap and Eco Naturalure, which are effective for both."
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Brad2
G Hill,Perth
21st October 2011 1:14pm
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john says...
I think if you re- read the reference by "both" he means male and female flies.
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21st October 2011 2:51pm
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Brad says...
ha! funny. I read the right bit the first time...
"CERA TRAP
This exciting new product is an effective, environmentally appropriate solution to the problem of Qld Fruit Fly and Mediterranean Fruit Fly."
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Brad2
G Hill,Perth
21st October 2011 8:13pm
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john says...
If you go to www.ceratrap.com.au they make no claim to attracting Qld fruit fly . It is specific to Med. fly.
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ncoast
22nd October 2011 9:49am
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Brad says...
interesting. worth someone querying green harvest / telling them to correct it then. we only have medfly (grrrr) here in WA
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Brad2
G Hill, Perth
22nd October 2011 9:25pm
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mary perkins says...
Scott, you have to use Eco Nature Lure because Wild May only stops the male fruit fly. Eco Nature Lure stops both male and female flies. You can leave the Wild May up all year round to stop the males flies though.
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Perky
mt tamborine
17th November 2011 12:02pm
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mary perkins says...
Scott, you have to use Eco Nature Lure because Wild May only stops the male fruit fly. Eco Nature Lure stops both male and female flies. You can leave the Wild May up all year round to stop the males flies though.
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Perky
mt tamborine
17th November 2011 12:03pm
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john says...
Yes, Mary , Wild May is only an indicator that you have a problem with f.fly and will need to take action It is NOT part of the actual protection of our fruit. The manufacturer finesses this somewhat and you are lead to believe otherwise.
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coast
17th November 2011 5:58pm
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Chris says...
Same should be said about Eco Naturalure, John. It controls but it does not stop fruit fly.
The biggest drawback is rain, esp as in the summer months that means afternoon rain every other day in some areas. Netting is far easier then constantly spraying.
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Chris
Sydney
17th November 2011 8:33pm
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MaryT says...
OMG I think I have fruit flies in my chillies ? They look like they've been stung and around the 'sting' mark they are going yellow and soft? These are from the chilli tree.
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MaryT
Sydney
18th November 2011 7:18pm
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au0rey says...
Strange...i thought chilli plants are usually pest-free...I havent seen flies attacking all my chillis or chilli plants...Maybe netting will help?
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19th November 2011 8:59am
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Chris says...
Yep, they sure do. Doesn't seem to matter how hot they are either. I think FF will be bad this season as the winter was fairly mild and the conditions have been warmer than average.
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Chris
Sydney
19th November 2011 11:50am
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john says...
Humbly disagree,Chris. Eco Naturlure DOES control f.fly and i can testify to that. Two qualifications need to be made -you must be away from other sources of re infection and you must accept ,say,95% control. Netting is totally impractical for large trees and is very labour intensive.
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coast
19th November 2011 12:28pm
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Chris says...
Well I've used the product too John, sprayed every week, and I would say 50% of the crop, whether it's stone fruit or tomatoes were affected. My point is unless you are going to spray after every rain shower, (which can be very frequent here in summer) then it really is not effective. Hot 33 degrees days dries the stuff out too. So spraying multiple times a week is very impractical as well as costly.
Nets keep out birds and fruit fly.
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Chris
Sydney
19th November 2011 12:52pm
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Original Post was last edited: 19th November 2011 1:10pm
john says...
Hmm, to improve longevity with rain one can use a gel or a thickening agent Spraying yellow rags hanging vertically is another strategy. It is cheaper to buy the yeast autolysate separately and then add your own insecticide. In addition it is not necessary to have continuous coverage ; if it looks like rain you can miss that day.My cost is about $2.50 a week during f.fly season.
Are you in an isolated area?
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ncoasty
19th November 2011 2:27pm
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MaryT says...
Au0rey, I have lots of chillies but this is the first time I find fruit fly attacks - and it's on the whole crop of the chilli tree so I took every one of them off and nuked them in the microwave before putting them in the compost. A neglected garden nearby is breeding all sorts of diseases on their cumquat and lemonade trees. Sigh.
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MaryT
Sydney
19th November 2011 7:13pm
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Greg says...
Hey MaryT, Check out an earlier post in this thread (Mal 12th Feb, 2008). Tried a rocoto chili to see if would attract fruit fly. No luck so far just lots of chilis :) I think the fruit fly are sitting back waiting for my guavas. I've also tried Naturalure. Still received 100% stings on the guava. I think the problem is if someone nearby has poor fruit fly practices then these chemical controls are practically useless. Used paper exclusion bags last season with only 1 guava out of 600+ being affected. Also solved the bat problem.
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Greg16
Sydney
20th November 2011 9:44am
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Michael says...
My whole chilli collection were infested with maggots last year. I had Dorset Naga,Orange Habs and Bhut Jolokia's . I tried spraying with Lebycid towards the end which worked but I lost interest in eating the Chillies once it was sprayed.
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Michael D
Wakeley
20th November 2011 9:32pm
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MaryT says...
Thanks Greg; yes, my fruit fly infested chilli is the Rocoto tree, that's why I took every fruit off and nuked them. I have guavas and figs and I am hoping to eat them. Now I have to decide whether to take out the Rocoto; breaks my heart as it was flowering and fruiting so happily, but I can't have a fruit fly magnet in my garden! :(
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MaryT
Sydney
21st November 2011 9:14am
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Heather says...
I'm just writing to say we put our full fruit crop this year into the hands of Cera Traps believing that they would protect our precious fruit.

All I can say is don't use Cera Traps if you want no fruit fly in your fruit.

Cera traps may reduce some fruit fly but your fruit will be bursting with fruit fly. Cera traps don't work for protecting your precious fruit and at $100 for 4 its expensive too not to mention the huge loss of fruit we experienced.
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Heather9
Ruse NSW
28th November 2011 1:51pm
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Jimmy says...
Well, they only work on medfly which is in WA only and we only pay $12 each.

I think people get sucked into thinking their are a cure, they are only a part of the solution.

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28th November 2011 2:14pm
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Heather says...
Yes I realise we were sucked in particularly with the packaging stating that it also does Queensland Fruit fly.

Quote "an effective and evironmentally appropriate solution to the problem of Mediterranian fruit fly (Ceratis capitata) & Queensland fruif fly (bactrocera tryoni)"

It sounds like the best solution is to pull out all of our stone fruit trees as it nearly always rains making spraying prohibitive and the trees are too big to put nets over.

Yes I had googled them and found them cheaper once my partner came home with them. Even at $12.00 these are a waste of money. Will need to be picking up rotten fruit from the ground and off the trees to reduce the problem.
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Heather9
Ruse NSW
28th November 2011 3:33pm
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john says...
I think you have a case for misleading or deceptive conduct and actionable under Fair Trading. I would write them a letter demanding a refund and if that did not work take action under Fair Trading; it's not hard and there are no lawyers.
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29th November 2011 1:34pm
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russ says...
Our local council has a bark spray from bugs for bugs which lures and kills female fruit fly. Just spray it on the trees bark. And also there are small lure pads for the male, which lures and kill them as well. The male ones I have been told are $1 each and the basal spray is $99 for a liter. I do favour nets but you are correct in saying they are a pain when the trees are large. You can of course prune the trees as this makes picking easier and cover easier. If you are interested in the lures, email me at russ_drinkwater@yahoo.com.au and I will contact my council for the product names and availability and costs.
Russ
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rustynutz
eidsvold
2nd December 2011 8:06am
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john says...
The bark spray is a mixture of yeast autolysate and Maldison . The lure is Cuelure ,otherwise known as Dakpots ;same principle but a different manufacturer.
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2nd December 2011 8:36am
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TJ says...
Has anyone had any experience with vegenet as opposed to insect screen25/25 from NetPro? Which is the most durable?

I have given up wasting my time and money with sprays and baits. Nettting is the way to go. I make a frame with star posts and electrical conduit. Thread clothesline cord through the bottom holes on the star posts at ground level. Throw the net over, fold under the cord and peg with clothes pegs. I leave the the frame anc cord there all year and just take the net and clothes pegs on and off each season. My nets even have zippers in them for easy access to pick the fruit. Quick, easy and NO FRUIT FLY, birds or other animals stealing my fruit.
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T J
Dubbo
3rd December 2011 9:52am
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Chris says...
Care to post a pic TJ. I like your setup with the zippers to make picking the fruit easier.
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Chris
Sydney
3rd December 2011 4:21pm
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Greg says...
Hi TJ

I have both the vegenet and the insect screen (25/25 in black). I bought their pre packed sizes. Only had them around three months so can't comment fully on durability but the insect screen does appear more robust and in the pre packed sizes it comes with reinforced edges. The vegenet I am using as a throw over for some vegies. The insect screen I have over a frame made with star posts and polypipe.
Totally agree with you regarding sprays, waste of time. My trees will either be covered by the netting or where impractical I use exclusion bags.
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Greg16
Sydney
3rd December 2011 8:32pm
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Original Post was last edited: 3rd December 2011 8:34pm
amanda says...
My organza bags are on their way - thank goodness for this Forum! :) Not taking any chances with my white sapotes...(does Med fly go for white sapote..?)

These tents sound interesting - I am guessing they must be pretty expensive though?
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amanda19
Geraldton, Mid West WA
9th December 2011 6:52pm
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Leigh says...
I've taken the easy way out with my tomatoes. I've a theory that to a fruit fly size matters. I think the fruit fly will only lay its eggs in a fruit big enough to feed all its larvae.
So I now grow only cherry tomatoes. They fruit prolifically and the fruit flys leave them alone.
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Leigh
Ipswich, Qld.
14th December 2011 10:53am
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Mark says...
Leigh,,, I hope that you are right about the way you are growing your tomatoes, & though it does appear to be working, it seems to me that if the fruit flies are leaving your tomatoes alone, that that is more just a matter of 'chance',(& your good luck) than anything else. ... I look at it this way Leigh,,, If size really does matter to the fruit fly, Why then are Grape Growers in the region troubled with fruit fly? ... (my point is that grapes grown naturally, are a lot smaller than the average cherry tomatoes, & both grow in large quantities on the one plant.) .... What you're doing reminds me of the old saying..... "Trust in Allah, but tie up your camel."
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Mildura
30th December 2011 3:12pm
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Mazz says...
Leigh, i thought I read further back that the F.Fly wont eat the smaller tomatoes because of their skin being to tough for them to burrow into....I am looking forward to trying this out formyself and seeing what happens...although I do like the bigger tomatoes as well, and mat have to net them
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Mazz
Albury NSW
2nd January 2012 1:05pm
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BJ says...
Dont go for most 'cherry' tomato types. I heard it is because of the relatively thick skin, which is unsuitable to the fruit flies due to its round-ness. More oblong varieties of a similar size - grape toms and mini romas can still get stung. I bag grapes as fruit fly are the least of my worries with huge flocks of cockatoos and parrots going around during the day and families of three different possum types at night - So I couldnt tell you how bad the fruit flies get into them :)
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Theposterformerlyknownas
Brisbane
2nd January 2012 1:36pm
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Apollo says...
banana skins sounds like a good idea, as they like the yellow colour but the only thing which causes doubt is why dont bananas themselves then get attacked? Would be interested in any other techniques found to work against pumpkin/cucumber/fruit fly as these cause me up to 100% damage and I dont want t go the toxic chem way.
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Apollo
 
3rd January 2012 3:14am
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Apollo says...
Thanks for the yeast bottle trick, but 1mm funnel opening sounds wrong...nothing can get thru that, let alone a fruit fly.
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Apollo
 
3rd January 2012 4:34am
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worried grower says...
Its interesting to read all the above. I am a fruit grower 3rd generation. we will be losing our last cover spray Fenthion due to the APVMA deregulating it this year. In the past 5 years i have traveled the world looking for alternatives and brought the ideas and techniques back to trial on my own orchard as others have done also on theirs. I have come to the conclusion the only thing that will control fruit fly is to remove the tree.
Nothing works.By god we have tried all the alternatives in desperation to find a way.
The Australian Government has absolutly no idea of what is to come and the impact it will have on our food producers. They the government are being extremly misinformed by our socalled scientists who say they have the science to prove that these chemicals are dangerouse in the laboratory but no science at all to say out of the laboratory they are.We have proved time and time again that used right there is no sign of the chemical when chemical residue tests are done. The fresh fruit industry will be destroyed within years. Remember those of you who claim some control have not had the impact of a country where there is no cover spray at all. It is the first time the fresh fruit industries have lost a chemical and there is no new chemical to replace it. All I will say to you sceptics wait and you will see.
Then who will feed Australia?
China Maybe?
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Worried farmer
WA
6th January 2012 2:38pm
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john says...
Agree to a point but it's not a case of "we'll all be rooned" (Dad and Dave ). Yeast autolysate baiting is viable if only the customers could be persuaded that perfection has a cost, namely chemical residue. Your point that the organophosphates are undetectable in produce is unlikely to be true; why ,then, would it kill fruit fly larvae?
At present there is another organophosphate in use called Dipterex that has a withholding period of only 3 days . It is not under threat.
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6th January 2012 3:56pm
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Cheryl says...
In respone to worried grower, we are 5th generation farmers (not fruit growers) in nsw, and are so frustrated and upset with the same problems you are facing. We totally agree, backyard fruit producers need to be more vigilant about getting rid of fruit fly or pull the fruit trees OUT completely. Education of dealing with fruit fly needs to be funded, councils need to spray or get rid of fruit in their area or need to have permission to spray on peoples properties who are not dealing with this problem or permission to fully remove the fruit tree. Seedling fruit trees that grow wild in ares need to be ripped out by council too.
Organic sprays do not work, we have tried for many years everything you can think of at great expense. If fenthion is banned is Australia, the Australian Goverment hopefully will be able to come with an alterantive that will actually work! I would like to see that!! Stock up on Fenthion.
Be vigilant backyard fruit tree growers or pull them out please for the sake of our fruit tree industry.
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Walla
6th January 2012 5:01pm
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Peter says...
Yes, even more concerning to have now the Queensland fruit fly around in WA since last years outbreak in Highgate, Perth. My old point about the importance of quarantine measures...We need to think what we move around.
At least backyard growers eagerly want to grow their own fruit and try something against fruit fly, but just by driving around I see so many properties with for example nice mandarin trees where owners just don't care to pick them (rotten on the ground!). All what it is to them is a nice green thing with orange balls on them - and it's theirs - nobody sprays on it. Frustrating.
A hopeless case in the metropolitan suburbs...
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Peter36
Perth
6th January 2012 6:16pm
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snottiegobble says...
Are fruitflies relatively new to the southern States? I never had them in Sth west Vic!
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snottiegobble
Bunbury/Busso (smackin the middle)
6th January 2012 11:38pm
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john says...
So what is wrong with Dipterex. ? It is registered for fruit fly.
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7th January 2012 9:42am
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Chris says...
Trichlorfon is far more toxic then fenthion, hence it's limited use.
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Chris
 
7th January 2012 1:00pm
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john says...
Beg to differ Chris; trichlorfon has a shorter withholding period viz 3 days versus 7 days.
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7th January 2012 2:41pm
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Chris says...
Withholding doesn't actually say anything about the safety or otherwise of the chemical. Some of these chemicals breakdown into substances that are more toxic than the original compound, in this case, dichlorvos.
Banned in the EU and last year in NZ. In the USA it is permitted on turf lawns and ornamentals. We all know that APVMA is rank last when it comes to regulating the safe use of such chemicals.
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Chris
 
7th January 2012 5:01pm
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Original Post was last edited: 7th January 2012 5:04pm
kate says...
Just pull out your bloody fruit trees and save our fruit tree industry!
The fruit they import from overseas is sprayed with chemicals that may not be heavily regulated as in Australia.
Pull your fruit trees out and save our farmers.
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7th January 2012 8:47pm
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BJ says...
I'm not a true sandgroper - but an import to WA, so I'm not sure if this is urban myth or actual history ... but apparently in years gone by home-owners in Perth had to register their fruit trees and a small amount was added to their rates for the trees. In return the council would inspect the trees several times per year and spray them.
I actually think it is quite a good idea (despite complications). To some it may seem like the government would be controlling too much of what we do - but if that means our supermarkets are stocked with fruit that don't have the nasties they spray with in China then there are real benefits. It would also encourage home growers to consider fruit that was less likely to be commercialised (a mulberry tree instead of nectarines) or more disease resistant (whatever the local diseases may be). Stop selling the trees at Bunnings, focus on specialist nurseries and ensure home growers are provided with good support and education. Diversity helps beat the nasties too!
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BJ11
Perth
8th January 2012 10:58pm
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nick giancola says...
Hi BJ
Mate it is actual History.
Growing up in Belmont shire as a teenager in the late 60!s you had to register your fruit trees and a guy from the shire would come around probably 4 to 5 times a year walk around the front and back yard, even if no one was home and spray the fruit trees. Now days they can not come into you property unless somebody is home.

I personnaly think if they had continued the program we would not have our fruitfly problem that we have.
But everything has to be POLITICALLY CORRECT now days. What a load of Sh-----t
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nick giancola
perth wa
9th January 2012 3:23am
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MaryT says...
Why should commercial interests override liberty? It seems to me that INDUSTRY should choose disease resistant trees and stop spraying nasties so we don't have to grow our own. Farmers are not more responsible than ordinary citizens and their interest is commercial. Why should we sacrifice our health to make them money? I do NOT want anyone coming on my property to spray poison. I will do my own battle. As it is I see council workmen riding on tanks of poison and spraying everything that's green up and down the streets. Ignorant men who cannot tell a native from a weed nor do they care to. You want them in your yard?
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MaryT
Sydney
9th January 2012 9:00am
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john says...
I agree regarding the knuckle- draggers that councils employ. it was explained to me that the pay is so poor that only the worst people will work for council.
Having said that in NSW there is a legal responsibility for householders to suppress fruit fly,and I believe, a moral one.
In the south of NSW councils use yeast autolysate bait in the street and sell the same to householders. Sterile male release is another technique. So you see there are lots of safer strategies.
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9th January 2012 10:14am
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MaryT says...
Perhaps if councils would employ qualified inspectors who warns or fine people who are irresponsibly breeding pest and diseases, the problem would be minimised. While they're at it they could fine people who cough and sneeze without covering their mouths and noses, but education is the key.
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MaryT
Sydney
9th January 2012 11:45am
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amanda says...
Maybe the Fruit Industry should start a small but persistent advertising/education campaign of their own...(eg: gardening mags, newspapers - maybe even an ad in the middle of Gardening Aust on TV)

If they are that concerned about it - throw a little money at the problem perhaps...?

Other Industries do - like the Wool industry etc...
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amanda19
Geraldton. WA
9th January 2012 12:28pm
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Jimmy says...
community baiting schemes in WA collapsed when the dude running it ran away with the takings, schemes have restarted in Donnybrook and Manjimup.

All rate payers get to vote and if it succeeds then they pay a small extra fee in the shire rates for the baiting to be done.

Considering its with Spinosad I would not be the slightest worried about it.
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10th January 2012 2:09pm
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M Nash says...
And this is why I'm against the concept of fruit trees planted on council strips as "public" free food.
The bloke next door to me wont spray any of his several fruit trees and I am always at battle with bugs comming from his yard.
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MNash1
Terranora Northern NSW
10th January 2012 2:42pm
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amanda says...
Surely there are food trees that could be planted that won't cause fruit fly problems..? What about nut trees? Pomegranate, olives, carob, mulberry? I guess if u want to eat a nice peach or nectarine - then that's not going to happen...

But if we lower our sights to less glamorous food trees and more practical plants (that are not water pigs also) then it could work?

Nuts are a valuable and healthy food choice. Many of the older streets in Perth are lined with box trees...imagine if they had used nut trees instead?
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amanda19
Geraldton. WA
12th January 2012 10:47am
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Peter says...
Macadamia nut trees would be great, but maybe there would be a problem with rats. Worthwhile to run a trial with a few streets and check if the rat population increases. Then an annual Macadamia Street festival could be held at time of fruiting with plenty of tastings and activities, strengthening the community.
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Peter36
Perth
12th January 2012 12:34pm
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Peter says...
There is an example of a inner city fruit garden in Perth, opposite of the art museum. A formerly dark corner you would like to avoid at night has now turned into an interesting place with olive trees, peaches, macadamias, guava, mango, etc plus herbs and ornamental fragrant sages. Looks like the city really invests money in this and takes continuous care of it - a real show-off (however, the mango tree is quite diseased). Lets see what measures they will take when it comes to fruit fly...
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Peter36
Perth
12th January 2012 12:47pm
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Qasimkakar says...
why ammonia is attracted, if it is source of protein ther are alot of protein sourc. please tell me the exact reseasons?
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Qasim kakar
Pakistan
15th January 2012 9:05am
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john says...
Two reasons to use ammonia 1) it increases pH towards the ideal of 8.4 which has been found to be the most attractant. 2) ammonia is not a protein but when proteins rot they give off an ammoniacal smell; this in turn brings in the f.flies.
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15th January 2012 3:52pm
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Mike says...
I imagime that initial attraction is based on the volatile aromatics that lure seeds dispersers and then FF check it with their receptors.Protein is something females would look for and even its breakdown N products.They prefer to sting fruit that is not yet over-ripe.The pH does sound dodgy.
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Cairns
15th January 2012 6:15pm
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Peter says...
It is a puzzle to me, why they don't attack grapes? The skin is soft enough to get through...
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Peter36
Perth
15th January 2012 6:42pm
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john says...
You're quick off the mark , Mike ; especially as, at a guess, I'd say you would not be across fruit fly research. (and,yes,I am)
As for not attacking grapes (and cherry tomatoes) my hypothesis is that the larvae are programmed to bore a certain distance into the fruit and this distance is unavailable in small round fruit.
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15th January 2012 7:45pm
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Mike says...
They are in tiny cherry guavas at that size,so there could be a chemical deterrant or a physical one with the surface.As different species have different preferences there could be some that attack them where they are native.Look at papaya fruit flies with paws paws and maprangs.
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Cairns
15th January 2012 8:01pm
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Worried farmer says...
Dear John,
I resent the dad and dave reference dated 6th January. Do you think I or we as orchardists like to use Fenthion , no we do not. our family orchard has over the past ten years become virtually organic we have changed our chemical practices wherever possible to reduce chemical impact on predators enviroment etc.With your view that you do not believe us that we do not find chemical residues when using Fenthion ,I should clarify that the present whp is 3 days . We have been using Fenthion with a self imposed whp of 21 days which we are proving is fairly successful with the backing of a good baiting program. With your view that Diptrex works , well it does not we have done the trial. Diptrex , Sucsess and Delegate trials have been done by myself and others. We are finding that using these type of sprays are no more useful than spraying Mortein around in the air and hoping it to kill a few stray flies. In fact overseas studies have shown that these chemicals must be used on a weekly basis and that high infestations of fly should still be expected. Our trials with these products are showing here that we are getting up to 15%damage on peaches at Christmas time and we all know fly pressure only increases after that period. I absolutely hate the product Fenthion but I am a realist and not a dreamer. We need this product as there is no substitute that does the same job. Why is Fenthion so different to other chemicals. We have found that fly in the early part of the season in Spring, sting all the they can possibly find wether it be maturing fruit or green fruit not due for another 3-4 months. When the fruit comes close to maturity the deposited eggs which have laid dormant hatch. Fenthion is the only product that kills the eggs in the fruit.
So please don't tell me it's better to use a product like your suggesting weekly or using Fenthion just one time only. I believe all Fenthion users should be registered to buy and that if the grower fails to use the product correctly should lose their right of use. Until the time comes that a product is found to replace Fenthion we surely will struggle to grow fruit that has no protein inside it.(maggots)
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Worried farmer
Country
17th January 2012 9:03pm
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john says...
I'm sorry if comparisons to Dad and Dave rubbed you up the wrong way. If you look at any regulatory change imposed on farmers or the rural sector in general, you'll find that the cry "we'll all be rooned" goes up almost reflexly.(vide the cessation of rainforest logging in NSW "we cannot make plywood from anything but rainforest timbers" etc etc )
The reason fenthion is under a cloud is ,at least, in part due to its highly toxic effect on birds.
Isn't the organophosphate Rogor (dimethoate), registered for f.fly?
I do believe there is a place for yeast autolysate baiting, if only people would accept something less than perfection
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18th January 2012 8:48am
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Brendan says...
john, I think dimethoate (Rogor) is under suspension at the moment?

Maybe this? http://www.yates.com.au/products/pest-control/insects-concentrates/natures-way-fruit-fly-control/
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Brendan
Mackay, Q
18th January 2012 9:11am
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Original Post was last edited: 18th January 2012 9:16am
Glennis says...
Bought some wild may liquid and i placed 1 up in the back yard (average suburban block) and 1 in the front on a Zig zag vine (Melodorum leichhardtii) . They have been there for 6 months . Usually the zig zag vine fruit (which is prollific) is full of fruit fly maggotts . Everyone has them . Now i would say half have a few spots and about a quarter have no spots or maggotts .
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brisbane
18th January 2012 9:17am
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john says...
Wild May only kills males and is an indicator not a cure for f.fly. Perhaps a better name would be "Fat Chance".
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18th January 2012 10:05am
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Glennis says...
I am only giving my observations .
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Brisbane
18th January 2012 11:49am
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Mike says...
It is amazing that fruit flies get a living out of such small fruit with scant flesh.Zig zag vines are planted all over the place as they host 3 species of triangle butterflies.When the papaya fruit fly team eradicated them from 100km2 they first were getting 1000's in traps.Chipboard blocks impregnated with attractant and malathion I think were nailed up in their thousands and now they are all dead.The terrain was very difficult,the outbreak was widespread,the last few were hard to get but it was done with community support.Maybe the same fruitfly expertise and firepower utlised again could come up with better qfly controls.
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Cairns
18th January 2012 6:10pm
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Mark says...
John, I find that I Agree with your comments to 'Worrid Farmer' 6/January. I've been away & have just read the debate that went on. Your comments of "we'll all be rooned" (Dad& Dave), were very appropriate & correct. ... If you care to re read "Worried Farmer"s postings over again,you might see what I did. He seems to argue against his own reasoning,all the time using 'science' to support whatever he is trying to say. ... He took offence at your Dad & Dave comment,but uses threats & sarcasm himself! ... A third generation farmer,he has travelled the world 5 times,looking for an alternative! ... (well,to do that, even for business,he can't be what one would call "poor" or even "struggling".)(I wish I was so poor as to be able to travel the world 5 times!) ...... Whatever tests you do,by whatever standards, "Poison is Poison", & "Toxic is Toxic." ... I'm Not a farmer,& I have no alternative solution but one. .... Maybe 'Worried Farmer',would become less worried, if he accepted a larger loss in profits each year. Same goes for all other "Dad & Dave's" out there ! ........ By the way "Worried Farmer",, You & other farmers provide only a very small percent of Australia's foods. You're more worried about money than feeding Australia. Who sells out to Overseas? .... Our dear Farmers, that's who.
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Mildura
21st January 2012 10:51pm
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amanda says...
Oh this just gets better all the time! Bring on The Days of Our Lives!? ;-)
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amanda19
Geraldton. WA
21st January 2012 10:58pm
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Mike says...
It's a pity it can't be applied to the garden and amanda has come out swinging.I'd be giving it on points to worried farmer so far.
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Cairns
21st January 2012 11:57pm
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amanda says...
Would u Mike...? U can contact me anytime, for further discussion on sunley@wn.com.au...? :) I don;t think u will somehow...

If u agree with Mark..then u are not who I think u are perhaps..
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amanda19
Geraldton. WA
22nd January 2012 12:50am
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amanda says...
PS - we still haven't worked out how to stop a simple mossie from killing millions of people yet...? C'mon...u coming the raw prawn here Mike..truly.

Some of these arguments are just plain dumb really...so there u have it mate.
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amanda19
Geraldton. WA
22nd January 2012 1:05am
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amanda says...
Mike - I have been on this forum for 4yrs maybe now? Like others...I know exactly who Mark, kert, john..etc are. I only trust certain folk on this forum now. Most I am in email contact with.

You are an unknown quantity, for me, to be honest. U have not earned my trust as yet. Sorry - but that's the way it is. It's a fault of this forum because it does not require registration.

Contact me via email and then I might believe who u are. Otherwise - forget it. I don't trust that u are who u say u are. No offence.
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amanda19
Geraldton. WA
22nd January 2012 1:20am
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Mike says...
Amanda I don't know what you are really talking about but fair enough and I'm not seeking your trust.This is an exchange of ideas on a forum and I do contact a few people from it, who I get on with.
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Cairns
22nd January 2012 1:32am
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amanda says...
Take it off the forum - u have my email now - I have nothing to hide here? I get very tired of folk who have no ID No. Who never post pics etc etc.

I have been prefectly honest and transparent here and I am fearless too :)

I roll my eyes lots BTW.. :) I have lots of laughs/eye rolls over kerts multiple personalities..!

Ps - why don't u have an ID no Mike..?
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amanda19
Geraldton. WA
22nd January 2012 1:42am
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Original Post was last edited: 22nd January 2012 1:43am
amanda says...
Incidentally - there are many people working on these issues as we speak...if there was an amazing control measure out there..then we would have it already.

We can wax lyrical all about what we think about these things - but at the end of the day - are we working at the coal-face here? No.

Little bugs causing lots of problems...U have to admire them really...and the best we can do is spray chemicals all over the place..?

Man has travelled to the moon and back...I think it's ironic that we can't control a simple fly.

Maybe that's our problem...we keep trying to repress Nature...maybe it can't be Done..? ;-)
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amanda19
Geraldton. WA
22nd January 2012 1:57am
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Mike says...
If you care to check Amanda my postings in the middle of 2011 had an id no. but the system ditched it a few times and I didn't bother after that.My full name and address has been posted in threads, but only the mystery guava was my picture.
Your commitment to and longevity on the forum is admirable and you'll most likely still be here after I've gone.How much need is there on a garden forum for people to prove or justfy themselves? It is up to if you choose not to trust me or disagree with my views.
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Cairns
22nd January 2012 2:05am
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MaryT says...
Amanda, you're right - much has been said and many have tried to eradicate fruit flies but like cockroaches and rats I believe that they're here to stay.

As for ID; we know who you are and it's good to know such an open and fearless soul but we are all different and I for one accept that an online forum is just a place in which ideas and opinions are exchanged. Occasionally some of us make contact outside of cyberspace and that's been a pleasure for me but everyone has the right to pop in and speak and that is an attractive feature of this forum; sometimes we get valuable advice and interesting opinions from people who may not visit us if they had to go through registration. It means we have to look a little harder for useful information but I think that's worth the effort.

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MaryT
Sydney
22nd January 2012 8:15am
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john says...
Brendan ,your link to the Yates product is merely Eco Naturlure in another package. I use yeast autolysate +insecticide with pretty good results, not 100% but more like 95% ie 5% loss to f.fly in bad years . This would not be satisfactory to commercial growers at present.
As to "why can't they fix f/fly (or insert whatever) when we've been to the Moon and back" represents the worst sort of intellectual reasoning. It speaks or rather babbles for itself. (Res ipse loquitor)
As to why people don't use ID ,here's why : there are some certifiable sociopaths on the loose in this forum and I sleep better if they know as little about me as possible.
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22nd January 2012 8:40am
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amanda says...
Soory Mike - looks like we had a crossed sense of humour between threads there....? I thought u were having a go at me...my mistake :)
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amanda19
Geraldton. WA
22nd January 2012 1:30pm
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Chris says...
Who needs the comedy channel, when you can get a good laugh reading through these posts.
John, where do you buy your yeast autolysate from?
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Chris
 
22nd January 2012 11:47pm
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john says...
You need to place an order with Elders,Chris. Five liters costs 115 dollars. It lasts me 3 years.
To Amanda -here is an offer -I'll stay out of your posts if you stay out of mine.I really don't wish to transact with you at all.
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23rd January 2012 8:54am
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Muhammad Masoom Shah says...
Iam working on IPM OF fruit flies SINCE 1995.
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Muhammad Masoom Shah
TANDO JAM. HYDERABAD
27th January 2012 8:23pm
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john says...
What have you learned?
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28th January 2012 1:05pm
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Glennis says...
Netting is the only answer in a small backyard . Definately not food forest .
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Brisbane
28th January 2012 1:43pm
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Glennis says...
Muhammad , one question i need the answer for . Are fruit flies healthier than normal flies ?
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Brisbane
28th January 2012 2:05pm
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john says...
Yes, they are delicious and low in cholesterol.
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29th January 2012 10:15am
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amanda says...
Why don't fruit fruit fly sting my grapes? (or acerola fruit?) the skin is thin enough?
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amanda19
Geraldton, 400km North of Perth
29th January 2012 11:29am
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Tanvi says...
Rowtex TFG is a specially designed U.V Stabilized Tubular Agrifabric used to protect the fruits from parasites and bacteria carriers like white flies that can contaminate the fruit causing bruising and rotting. The fabric is designed to allow enough air and light to pass for the Fruits to mature, hence recommended for the healthy growth of quality fruits. For more info write to info@rowtex.in
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Tanvi
India
31st January 2012 10:27pm
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snottiegobble says...
Its that amazing resveratrol in grapes Amanda! Doesnt agree with FFs but certainly doesnt put me off, So here`s Cheers!!!
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snottiegobble
Bunbury/Busso (smackin the middle)
2nd February 2012 1:03am
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amanda says...
Ah! Thanks SG! Now...maybe I should be spraying my fruit with red wine then?? :D
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amanda19
Geraldton, 400km North of Perth
2nd February 2012 9:35am
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Mike says...
My ff are not very cultured here at the outppost and may not even recognise the clash of red wine at a white guava meal.
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Cairns
2nd February 2012 10:00pm
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BJ says...
maybe you should spray with moonshine then? :)
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Theposterformerlyknownas
Brisbane
2nd February 2012 10:57pm
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Mike says...
BJ that wouldn't work either, they'd only start wearing suspenders,pluckin banjos and inviting the extended family over.
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Cairns
2nd February 2012 11:53pm
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amanda says...
Well..having imbibed (sp?) myself now...I often wonder if remedies are not staring us in the face sometimes? (but they are so simple we don't see them...unless we Observe perhaps?)

I don't really care anymore if I don't grow anything much edible now - I am having such a good time just playing around in my garden and watching "stuff"..?

And look at Dipel, for eg? A simple caterpiller remedy? And check out this link doing the rounds. There is still so much for us to discover guys...someone had to discover all of this after all..?

Plastic eating fungi..that's got lots of wow factor. And there will be more - and there will be a f/fly solution perhaps. Maybe it might be a fungi that kills/eats them too? I see bush flies here die due to some weird fungus growing out of their carapace? (Speedy confirms this) So why are we not investigating this as a fly control measure I wonder?

http://www.fastcoexist.com/1679201/fungi-discovered-in-the-amazon-will-eat-your-plastic
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amanda19
Geraldton, 400km North of Perth
3rd February 2012 12:16am
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Mike says...
Amanda I get the yellow and white stinkhorns in my yard after rain and seetheflies buzzing all over them.I also see the flies stuck to leaves with fungus growing out of them and presume a connection.We either have to get something that lures and kills ff or shields the fruit from their effects unless there is a ff parasite out there that could be effective.
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amanda says...
There may be a f/fly parasite out there Mike...it just may not be where we are expecting it to be? Look at the plastic eating fungus for eg? Nature is full of these wonderful surprises. We often don't pay attention tho - or we find stuff out by total accident - just like penicillin, for eg?

Many amazing scientific discoveries are made by chance. We need to think laterally too? I have worked in science long enuf to know that breakthru's are often just hunches, hypothesis or even accident?

Many people here are potential "discoverers" I feel. U don't have to be a rocket scientist at all.

U just have to Observe...

And why don't f/fly attack mulberries either? This is the stuff that makes me think - "Why"..? Blackberries? etc?

(ps - that fungus evolved utterly independent of plastics? It's just serendipity that it does what it does...I am betting there is lots of serendipity out there perhaps?)
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amanda19
Geraldton, 400km North of Perth
3rd February 2012 1:04am
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Original Post was last edited: 3rd February 2012 1:09am
snottiegobble says...
Hope there`s one of your serendi thingos for cane toads, Amanda! Its a very serious invasion now right across the top end into WA & still moving! Maybe a fungus is our only hope, but we dont want to kill our own anphibians, its a struggle for them now as it is!
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snottiegobble
Bunbury/Busso (smackin the middle)
4th February 2012 12:43am
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Mike says...
snottie the toads will boom in the colonising population and then naturalise and numbers will go down and they willbe smaller on average.They haven't made any frogs,turtles,quolls are other species go extinct.After a few years native animals learn to eat them and species effected go back to the same populations as before.Toadbusting and killing as many as possible won't slow them down.
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Cairns
4th February 2012 1:14am
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MaryT says...
I hope you are right about the Cane Toad, Mike. Amanda I think fruit flies have their favourites, just like us. Mine loves the rocotto tree chillies so left the guava alone this year.
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MaryT
Sydney
4th February 2012 6:59am
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Mike says...
Mary T toads have been studied to death.....it might be the only thing that gets rid of them.The same pattern keeps recurring wherever they get to but the media is more interested in being as alarmist as possible.Some reptiles and mammals will suffer losses initially,and water rats,crows, kites etc will learn ways to kill and eat parts of them.
I can't believe that fruit fly would turn their noses up at guava in favour of any other fruit.
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4th February 2012 9:32am
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MaryT says...
Yes they REALLY like the rocotto chillies; sigh - so do I. Well they may still turn to the guava once they've decimated the chillies, but the chillies keep on keeping on; it just kept flowering and fruiting...
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Sydney
4th February 2012 10:10am
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Gardening Australia wannabee says...
QLD fruit fly infest mulberries just like a lot of other fruits. It is far more pervasive and has greater hosts then the Med Fly. One needs to be specific about fruit fly before making a blanket claim that a particular fruit is safe from attack.
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Mike says...
That is true GAWS and I was only assuming it was Qfly we were talking about.I remember how the paw paw fruit flies attacked species left alone by qfly.A range of native dacus/bactrocera can be seen in my yard (which is near rainforest) sitting on fruit but I think very few sting the garden produce.
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Cairns
4th February 2012 11:13am
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Gardening Australia wannabee says...
Nothing worse than getting ready to make mulberry jam from Black English and have maggots leap out at you.
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4th February 2012 11:30am
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Mike says...
I know the feeling.I used to get the feral guavas and most of the time they are bags of live rice.I don't know if med fly attack guavas with the same relish as qfly.
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4th February 2012 11:43am
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BJ says...
Toadbusting and killing as many as possible won't slow them down.

But its sure is a lot of fun!
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Theposterformerlyknownas
Brisbane
4th February 2012 1:20pm
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amanda says...
Yes guys - as I live in WA I am obviously talking about Medfly only. We don't have QLD f/fly here john :)

Med fly loves my guavas too Mike and I am going to have to give away many of my strawberry guava plants :(

The medfly has not attacked my mulberries, acerola or grapes...and even left my plum crop alone too...(surprisingly) All of my citrus (lemon, lime, tangello, navels) are fine except the pink grapefruit and mandarins.

It may well behave differently and have it's fave's MaryT :D

No blanket claim..just my Observations in my garden...curious to see if it rings true for others as it will direct my planting choices in the future.
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amanda19
Geraldton, 400km North of Perth
4th February 2012 1:22pm
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john says...
Some research has come to light on bentonite( fine clay) sprayed on ripening fruit to prevent f.fly . Seems safe and cheap; might well be an adjunct to other control measures.
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4th February 2012 5:52pm
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Mike says...
That is interesting john as I have heard that some old timers put a clay slurry over fruit to keep pests away.At the shop where I got some basalt rock flour it was suggested to me that the rock 'dust' discourages a range of insect pests from foliage and fruit.
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4th February 2012 7:30pm
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Had enough of you bagging farmers! says...
Fruit fly sucks, but a combination of lybacid every 3 weeks and Wild May hung on the trees, has cleaned it up after two years of battling with the maggot.I have tried every organic homemade mixture so what a relief to find something that acutally works Thankyou God!!!

Its nice to see you've got back to helping each other with gardening problems and Please stop with the small chat and bagging each other. Not Appropiate
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4th February 2012 8:15pm
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Julie says...
I think the product is called Surround (the clay slurry). Local orchardists use it to stop fruit and leaves from sunburn, but it doesn't seem to stop ff. They still spray.
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Julie
Roleystone WA
4th February 2012 8:16pm
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amanda says...
I agree john/Mike - I think it would be interesing testing clay out...it may even just camouflague the fruit - and that may be enough?

It would be easy to re-apply after rain or as the fruit grows. It would stop sunburning in a climate like mine, for eg. It's safe.

My only question would be how the fruit tastes at the end of it...and would it "colour up"?
In some fruits the colour goes hand in hand with it's nutrient content (eg: blueberries, Mangoes etc)

Or maybe something so sticky that the fruit fly cannot even land on the fruit without being incapacitated...that would be satisfying to watch too..? ;-)
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amanda19
Geraldton, 400km North of Perth
4th February 2012 8:24pm
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Mike says...
Yes there should be more bagging of fruit and less bagging of farmers.I think in warm, rainy climates where there is a big 'background' ff population bagging and fine netting are the only options for some fruit.Fruit moths and spotting bugs work as a tag team with ff's and are equally as tenaceous.If clay spraying was effective you think it would be in common use.
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Cairns
4th February 2012 8:34pm
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amanda says...
Maybe Mike. Sometimes we make solutions more complicated than they need to be too, tho?

Using clay as a sunblock is relatively new idea...yet how long has clay been around for? Pigs use it - and for good/same reasons too!? lol.

But I also think that f/fly is here to stay, for good, for all of us ... :( There is no point grumping at each other as farmers, home growers etc.

I feel fairly positive that we will find a way with f/fly - especially as chemical treatments become ever more restricted.

Adversity can be the mother of invention..? :)

And since chemicals have become more restricted we are starting to look for more natural remedies. Look at the Dipel story, for eg. The plastic eating fungus..etc. Accident maybe..but the "connections" are being made..? The dying bush fly with the fungus..? That's a connection too.

And people can be lazy or time strapped too. Many find the bagging, baiting etc rigmarole too much..they would rather spray and get it over and done with..?

And we may not realise/appreciate the dedication that goes into controlling f/fly with some fruit trees..eg - a fig tree? Tough, hardy, lovely fruit, handsome tree...but a f/fly magnet.
They don't tell u that on the plant label tho - do they.. :(

A healthy ecology can help with the other pests tho. Eg: I never, ever needed to treat for caterpillars here...the many wasps take care of them for me..a little damage sometimes - but not enough to warrant any kind of intervention from me. I love my wasps - they do a good job (and have never stung me either :)

Sometimes the solution is very simple.. ;-)




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amanda19
Geraldton, 400km North of Perth
4th February 2012 9:20pm
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Mike says...
Amanda you could be right about a worthwhile solution being under our noses.For ff a magic bullet seems more likely to be an outstanding food and pheromone bait with an insectide in a cheap form.
There are kilos of caterpillar and bug paste under my bean vines from all I have squashed.The predators can't keep up even though the mantises and birds are putiing in some work
I try to minimise the work in the garden and a hardly ever water from November to June relying on the rain.I haven't bagged guavas and sapodillas this season and the ff's have partied.
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Cairns
4th February 2012 10:01pm
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amanda says...
Ah well Mike...that's the price u pay for living in such a "fertile" environment!? :D U can't have it both ways perhaps.. ;-)

I will never forget having to actually wash my walls with bleach due the massive mould/mildew build up, in Cairns.
All the leather going mouldy...even mould inside my camera lens?

The "foam" parties caused big outbreaks of conjunctivitis there, etc etc. I actually found it to be a very "germy" environment myself. Hence I don't live there anymore ;-)

We live in very disparate environs. U likely have a big reserviour of f/fly in the natural environment alone.

I rarely suffer fungal problems due the aridity here. And I will always say that this semi-arid enviroment is just amazing for insects/fauna...but the vast majority don't cause problems with fruit/veg growing at all.

They are actually so hungry that they help me maybe..? :)

Anyway - I am totally convinced that it's my "ornamental" garden that actually protects my edible garden, in the main. i planted it with fauna food foremost in my mind. Benny food all year round.

Maybe it just works where I am (or WA)...I don't know for sure. But the results are in, for me.
I can use quite passive intervention methods when I really have to.

Even the usual aphid plague didn't get a look in last spring..they were too slow with the early rains, the ladybirds were out b4 them and all the new growth was too hardened off anyway....that's a big clue? That's observation maybe?

I agree with Rev..if u don't want to deal with f/fly - then don't plant the f/fly host trees? Otherwise put up with it and deal with it.
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amanda19
Geraldton, 400km North of Perth
4th February 2012 11:03pm
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amanda says...
Perhaps WA's ultra strict quarantine regs have paid of for us over here? and the physical isolation too. :)
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amanda19
Geraldton, 400km North of Perth
5th February 2012 1:55am
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john says...
There are some v. clever people working on fFly . Check this out -fipronil ,an insecticide that does not cause death instantly used with a male lure . The male then poisons the female during copulation. Ingenious .
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amanda says...
That's different! :D So do they die at some point tho' john? I guess any eggs would end up contaminated too...

Pity they can't insert a self-destruct gene into them.. ;-)
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amanda19
Geraldton, 400km North of Perth
5th February 2012 1:15pm
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Tupp says...
I have just spent an hour reading this blog and (sadly) it looks like there is no easy answer to tackling the fruit fly problem.

I have a couple of questions as I am a complete novice at growing fruit trees:

1. If the female fruit fly lives in the ground below the fruit tree, don't they still get to the fruit if you net?
2. If you net the trees, doesn't this inhibit pollination by bees?
3. There was a link earlier on for http://coastguardnetting.com.au/index.html ... has anyone here built one of these more permanent looking structures or is the cost prohibitive?
4. It seems that dastardly female can't be trapped, but wouldn't trapping the males help break the breeding cycle?
5. I'm confused as to why the traps are set IN the fruit trees. Wouldn't it be better to trap the flies away from the trees you are trying to protect?

Sorry if these questions seem really dumb, but as I said earlier, I know nothing. Thanks.
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Tupp
Toowoomba, Queensland
11th February 2012 1:56pm
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Phil@Tyalgum says...
Tupp have a look at what can be achieved at the Daleys Facebook page, look under the photos of the visit to Picone's exclusion orchard, he has native bees under the netting and not a fruit fly in sight..
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TyalgumPhil
Murwillumbah
11th February 2012 2:20pm
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colin says...
FF larvae or maggots burrow into the soil where they pupate and emerge as adults after 2-4 days in summer and up to 3 weeks in winter, they don't actually live in the soil. Female fruit flies fly into the tree when the fruit is ripening to lay eggs. Nets are really the best way for a home gardener to protect the fruit from FF, the nets should be in place 6-8 weeks prior to fruit ripening. Traps for the male and female do capture FF's but unless there is sufficient traps over a wide area then your efforts will be unrewarded.Traps need to be placed in the fruit tree as that is where the FF's are located. Male pheromone traps can be placed out in the open as the attraction is so attractive to the male. You will catch many more males than females as the pheromone attracts from a wider area. A combination of male and female traps will be more effective but again for a home gardener it is unlikely to protect your crop. The only real solution for FF control is area wide management.
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15th February 2012 8:58pm
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MR says...
Tupp, We live near toowoomba, and have found the only sure way is netting the tree after fruit has set. The female fruit fly seemingly has to eat protein for about a week before mating, so if any hatch out of the ground under the net, they cannot immediately sting the fruit. We set a wild may trap for any males inside the net. If females hatch under the net, there is hopefully no protein, and if there is, no male flies.
because of the male fruit fly bait. The nets have also kept out possums, parrots and so on.
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MR
Toowoomba
21st February 2012 8:09pm
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sony says...
You're right, I had a good crop of rocotos until last week..the heat after the rain has helped the fly population and now 3/4 of production is ruined. Tomatoes grow next to it and they are fine!...maybe rocotos have something that attract these bugs. I have placed traps and collected fruit before they become winged. Hopefully this will slow down the infestation..
I still managed to make chilli jam with the good bits.
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sony
Sydney
27th February 2012 11:05am
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MaryT says...
It may seem ridiculous sony but I've actually bagged some of my rocotos just to get some decent fruit. Good to know that you still used the good bits.
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MaryT
Sydney
27th February 2012 11:15am
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Michael says...
I was picking from a good crop of orange habaneros until last week when they started to get infected by maggots . Somehow the Bhut Jolokia wasn't affected maybe because of the shine on the skin. It's annoying that I also have to bag my chillies from fruit flies .
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Michael D
Wakeley
29th February 2012 12:50pm
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MaryT says...
FF seems to like Rocoto chillies in my garden and nothing else; I have six or seven other varieties and they don't get stung.
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MaryT
Sydney
29th February 2012 2:57pm
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Julie says...
Well, the organza bags have been a bit of a disappointment. They may keep out fruit fly, but not birds or rats. The birds could see through the bags, and knocked peaches off the tree before they were ripe.

For some weird reason they were more effective on my apricots - the birds left them alone. Unfortunately they were all full of FF because the bags arrived too late in the season. Better luck next year!

Mary, from what you are saying, the Rocoto might work as a trap crop. Grow several and bag the ones you want to eat - leave the rest to the FF! Do they take long to grow? My cayennes are ready in 5-6 months from seed.

PS Mary, could you please send me some seed? If yes, I can give you my address.



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Julie25
Roleystone WA
29th February 2012 9:41pm
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Original Post was last edited: 29th February 2012 9:53pm
MaryT says...
The Rocoto had a slow start as it suffered from red spider mites and undiagnosed for too long after it arrived but once it got over that it's been cropping non stop. Trouble is the FF likes it so much that every fruit had multiple stings on it and never gets to ripen before they rot from the inside, so I have not been able to collect seeds. Now that I've bagged some of them I hope to propagate it like you said as sacrifice. :) I have a guava right next to the rocoto and none of its fruit got stung though some of them were bagged.

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MaryT
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29th February 2012 10:03pm
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Julie says...
I look forward to seed when you have more success. Cheers Mary.
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Julie25
Roleystone WA
1st March 2012 10:22pm
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Kati says...
Very interesting forum. Shame it got lost in the middle by bagging farmers.
I'll definately be trying both the netting and Rocoto chilli (where do I get some?) as it's been disappointing to never get any fruit from our plum or peach trees.
I know that around Coffs Hbr you are not allowed to grow bananas in your back yard so as to protect the local industry from disease but don't know how this could convert to the city. It would be a shame to stop the recent renewed interest in people growing their own food, maybe back to the old days of local councils spraying sububan trees?
I guess the more we stop the f/fly from breeding everywhere, the less chemicals farmers feel they need to use to combat them (organic or otherwise).
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Kati
Tamborine mtn Qld
3rd March 2012 4:09pm
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MaryT says...
No worries, Julie. You'll have the first seeds. Will keep you posted.
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MaryT
Sydney
3rd March 2012 4:47pm
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Julie says...

Fruit West and the Department of Agriculture and Food are trialling a device that attracts Mediterranean fruit flies (Medfly) and kills them after several seconds of contact.

Magnet MED is the latest weapon under scrutiny by the fruit industry, after a decision by the Australian Pest and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) to suspend many uses of the chemical dimethoate, a defence against the pest.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/regional/countryman/a/-/news/12781627/new-hope-on-medfly-frontline/


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Julie25
Roleystone WA
3rd March 2012 6:55pm
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Original Post was last edited: 3rd March 2012 7:00pm
Julie says...
Thanks so much Mary!
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Julie25
Roleystone WA
3rd March 2012 6:58pm
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SONY says...
I have lots of seeds and I can send them to you guys...
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sony
Mortdale NSW
12th March 2012 7:19am
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MaryT says...
At last I have a ripe fruit. Julie I have sent you an email for your address. Good on you SONY.
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MaryT
Sydney
12th March 2012 9:38am
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SONY says...
I have not received any messages from you...
try again
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sony
Mortdale NSW
16th March 2012 2:52pm
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Qasim Kakar says...
Dear Jack. I dont know how male and female both are attracted to one trap. please share and will start business with your new techniques and I am the student of fruit fly trap studies. Hope you will cooperate.
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Qasim kakar
Peshawar
16th March 2012 9:42pm
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colin says...
Dear Qasim Kakar, Protein based traps do attract both male and female flies but typically the immature male, the female requires protein for egg production so an ongoing requirement. To enhance the protein based trap add a parapheromone lure which will trap the males.
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colin5
 
21st March 2012 7:54pm
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john says...
Fraid that is not so. Females are trapped only in small numbers with protein based traps. The problem seems to be that the wily female will not enter confined spaces.Hence traps are not useful for females/
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22nd March 2012 7:41am
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amanda says...
Econaturalure is not put into a "trap" it is sprayed on a hard surface, tree trunk etc...?
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amanda19
Geraldton. 400km north of Perth.
22nd March 2012 8:59pm
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Mike says...
When papaya fruit fly were eradicated in NQ, chipboard blocks were impregnated with male attractant and female attracting protein as well as malathion.Blocks were nailed around on trees.It was a FF wipeout.
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Cairns
22nd March 2012 10:52pm
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john says...
yes, Mike. The operative word is "trap" and the fact that females won't enter confined spaces. Papaya ffly has a different biology to the Qld f.fly also.
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23rd March 2012 7:52am
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Qasim kakar says...
Dear Colins Thanks for your answer. Dear please send me some literature which shows that both male and female are attracted to protein based traps.
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Qasim kakar
Peshawar
29th March 2012 4:32pm
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Big Mumma says...
We have used eco lure for two years with little or no control of the fruit fly. We are vilgent with our fruit tree's in picking up every last piece of fruit. Have found that Lybacid works well in conjuction with Wild May. After many years of the fly, NO FRUIT FLY!!! this year, at last the hard work has paid of and are know enjoying fruit from the trees, soooo delicious.
Have read through info, very interesting to see how other people are coping with the Fruit Fly. Thanks.
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Big Mumma
albury
7th April 2012 6:32pm
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Grant says...
Better stock up on lebaycid then, because fenthion is highly likely to be phased out this year.
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GardeningAustraliaWanabee
 
7th April 2012 9:18pm
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Mike says...
Grant I thought that fenthion and lebaycid were the same thing.
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Mike25
 
7th April 2012 9:35pm
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john says...
If you live at Albury the local council supplies fruit fly kits to householders at a reduced rate. It consists of protein autolysate and malathion. I use these with pretty good results.
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john53
sydney
8th April 2012 8:04am
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Big Mumma says...
Lebaycid's main ingredient is fenthion.
This will be going off the Australian market soon and replaced with a similar chemical, so buy up!!

Also I was at the Sunday markets in Albury last weekend and bought avocado's grown in Glenrowan in Victoria, they were delicious. So there is hope for us to grow them down here in the cold.
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Big Mumma
 
20th April 2012 3:40pm
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Cin says...
Hi all

Hoping to bump this up and get some ideas for my fruit trees.

I have a row of plum and apple trees. The neighbours tell me (only just bought this property) that they get fruit fly in them and so I am keen to work on the issue.

One of the apple trees has started to grow fruit already. Am I too late?

If possible I would prefer to try a more natural approach in the first instance.

I was going to try Econaturalure spray weekly and then some of te cera traps. Is it overkill to use both?

I can't net the trees as they are to tall, but wil look at pruning them at the end of the season.

I'll also look at the organza bags, but I possibly have at least 100 fruit on the apple tree already.

I've got no idea of varities at this stage, maybe as they grow I can post some pics :)

Many thanks
Cin
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Cin
Central Coast, NSW
11th October 2012 12:35pm
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lenn says...
Cera traps are no use in NSW ;they are for Med fly ,a WA pest.
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lenn1
sydney
12th October 2012 10:46am
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Julie says...
Just bought a Cera trap today. lenn, it does say on the label they are for Medfly and Qfly.

I'm debating whether to put the trap in the tree, or a nearby, non-fruiting tree. Seems to make sense to me to attract FF away from the tree you are protecting.

What do you think folks?
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Julie
Roleystone WA
17th October 2012 9:58pm
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lenn says...
This is a case of misleading labelling. Cera traps catch Medfly only. Do you realise traps are for indicative purposes alone? ;they have no control function.,only act as a trigger for eradicative action.
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lenn1
sydney
18th October 2012 9:49am
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Michael D says...
I bought the Cera traps because they label it's for QLD fruit fly as well and so far after two weeks not even a single QLD fruit fly . The best product for catching QLF Fruit fly so far that I've used is Wild May but it only catches the male flies .It can only reduce their population so you still get stings but at least you might get some fruits.
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Michael D
wakeley
18th October 2012 6:52pm
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Julie says...
lenn, what eradicative action? I can only think of Malathion splash baits, as Lebaycid is not available (well, in WA at least).

Any comments on my original question?


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Julie
Roleystone WA
18th October 2012 9:07pm
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Rusty Nuts says...
Hello,
A company near where i live may be able to help you. Bugs for Bugs phone 0741654663 they are in Mundubbera Qld. Otherwise use fruit fly netting next season "Eastcoast netting" I think they are called. All the stuff sold on Evil Bay are usually far to small
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rustynutz
Eidsvold
19th October 2012 7:59am
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lenn says...
Yes, splash baits are good for low to moderate infestations. Lebaycid is still available in the east. As alternatives there are Rogor and Dipterex. Not nice, I know but do you suppose the fruit in the shops is insecticide free?
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lenn1
sydney
19th October 2012 8:00am
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lenn says...
Bugs for Bugs is kinda expensive and, if at all possible, buy from where THEY buy their stuff. Afterall they don't make it.
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lenn1
sydney
19th October 2012 8:04am
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Cin says...
Has anyone ever tried a kaolin spray for fruit fly control?

http://www.groworganicapples.com/organic-orcharding-articles/surround-kaolin-clay.php/

I really realy don't want to use lebacyid. I have so many bees here and I'm quite fond of them

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Cin
Central Coast, NSW
26th October 2012 9:57am
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Cin says...
Oh and I just found this information also. I think I am going to try this if I can get the product...

http://www.agnova.com.au/resources/agnotes/Surround-Apples-Agnote.pdf
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Cin
Central Coast, NSW
26th October 2012 10:01am
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Cuke says...
I think it is more for sunburn and UV damage to the fruit, rather then fruit fly. It may also delay ripening somewhat.
Good luck and let everyone know if you have success.
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Chris
 
26th October 2012 11:55am
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Julie says...
The local orchardists were using Surround, but mainly for sunburn. They still used Lebaycid for FF.
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Julie
Roleystone WA
26th October 2012 9:11pm
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lenn says...
There's no need to buy Kaolin from Agnova . Kaolin is used by potters and, in clay soil country, the dams are filled with fine clay particles that should be just as effective.
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lenn1
sydney
28th October 2012 7:24am
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Julie says...
But how do you spray it without clogging up the sprayer?

PS Just found out that Malathion is also banned in WA, and no longer available. There is something called Malathon, but not as effective (haven't checked it out).
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Julie
Roleystone WA
28th October 2012 9:52pm
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Original Post was last edited: 28th October 2012 9:55pm
lenn says...
If you own a Rega pump sprayer you can certainly spray a colloidal suspension of clay without clogging.
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lenn1
sydney
29th October 2012 9:05am
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Baz131 says...
Hello GVV,
I followed your advice a few years ago and netted my fruit trees to protect from fruit fly. It worked 100%.

The problem is I need to renew my netting. I used Bunnings Gazebo nettings which worked well but I had to get pieces sewn together to close the opening.

I remember you ordered straight lengths of netting. Do you (or anybody else) have any contacts where I can get some? I have tried Netpro and Coast Guard Netting but the prices are prohibitive for this. $365 for 2 trees 10m X 10m.

Hoping you can help...

Baz
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Baz131
Bunbury
2nd November 2012 7:39pm
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Julie says...
I just read in my local news that there has been a release of sterile FF in my area - in fact my road is one of the boundaries. Yeh!

Hoping for great results, but will still use the organza bags.

Cera trap still catching lots, so surely it's time to put the 'fruit flies won't enter through small holes'idea to bed. They are definitely FF.
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Julie
Roleystone WA
7th November 2012 10:17pm
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lenn says...
What was said was that females won't enter small holes ; males certainly do and that is what you're catching.
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lenn1
sydney
8th November 2012 8:13am
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BJ says...
Yep. The traps both commercial and home brew are mostly sexually attractive to the males who, like many human males, will do just about anything to get at it. The females, often like human females, are more selective and dont have the desire to crawl through holes and jump through hoops for faint windborne promises. They are often seen sitting a few feet away from the traps watching in amusement as the males are lured into the rocks by toxic sirens.

Spray baits should get both males and females as long as you dont enclose them, in which case you will catch very few egg laying females.
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Theposterformerlyknownas
Brisbane
8th November 2012 9:18am
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T J says...
BAZ131 - I got Vege Net from NetPro - much cheaper than the Insect Screen they sell - same stuff as used in the Gazebo nets except white. It worked out more economical then buying extra gazebo nets to cut up to fill the holes. However, I do think the InsectScreen would probably last longer than the VegeNet.

I got NetPro to send me a long length of VegeNet - they just pulled of the roll and kept folding till it was the biggest single parcel size they could send with AustPost.

I get about 3 years out of the Gazebo nets (only on the tree during fruiting).

I've tried EcoNaturalue and other home made baits etc - netting is the way to go and keeps birds, bats etc all out.

I use cheap clothesline line around the bottom through the holes in star posts to peg my net down to with clothes pegs. Electrical conduit holds the net up off the tree. Might not be hi-tech - but does the job well.
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T J
Dubbo
8th November 2012 7:06pm
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Julie says...
Re Cera traps - checked today and it seems to be catching both male and female. Hope it doesn't catch too many of the sterile ones!
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Julie
Roleystone WA
9th November 2012 4:15pm
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Original Post was last edited: 9th November 2012 4:17pm
lenn says...
I think you are mistaken ;how do you recogniose females?
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lenn3
 
10th November 2012 9:01am
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Julie says...
By the ovipositor lenn. I have some good photos (not mine) to help ID. The label on the trap says they will catch male and female. I am following this up with a couple of growers.
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Julie
Roleystone WA
10th November 2012 9:44pm
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Mike says...
Conventional wisdom says no females can be caught in covered traps.Malathion and attractant laden blocks with no impeded passage are a diffent story.
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Cairns
11th November 2012 7:11am
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MaryT says...
Julie, Mike, John Mc and other organza bag users, I just found a supplier with discounted 30x40cm bags in silver and light pink at 99c each plus postage ($9 to me in Sydney). I think that is cheaper than I can make them.

http://www.thepouchplace.com.au/
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MaryT
Sydney
11th November 2012 8:57am
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Julie says...
Those are pretty big Mary! Thanks for the link.

Had a long conversation with our small, local hardware shop owner today (small shop, not small owner!)re fruit fly.

She is going to trial a trap using the Cera bait in another type of trap for female flies, next to the Cera trap, and will report on progress.

I went there to buy another trap, but they were completely sold out, due to the publicity caused by the ban on Lebaycid in WA. Most people in my area have large blocks with fruit trees, and we are surrounded by orchards.

I read this week that growers (probably not the public) will be given a year's grace and allowed to use Lebaycid for this season - hoping someone comes up with an alternative in the meantime.
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Julie
Roleystone WA
11th November 2012 9:26pm
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lenn says...
If you say that you're catching lots of females why do you need Lebaycid?
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lenn
 
12th November 2012 10:01am
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Julie says...
lenn, I didn't say lots - read my post again.And I don't need Lebaycid, the growers do.

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Julie
Roleystone WA
12th November 2012 9:14pm
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lenn says...
That's odd ; I re- read your post about Cera traps and "lots" is exactly what you said of F.F. which I take to mean female fruit flies.
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lenn6
 
13th November 2012 9:25am
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Jantina says...
I would have thought FF meant fruit fly so perhaps we should check what Julie meant. Wouldn't female fruit flies be FFF ?
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Jantina
Mt Gambier
13th November 2012 9:35am
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Baz131 says...
Thanks TJ, Sorry for the late reply. My gazebo nets have lasted 3 years and are still in good condition. The problem was I filled the hole with mosquito net that was not UV rated and that has degraded and fallen apart. I can't seem to source Gazebo nets to cut up and fill the hole either - maybe from USA? The Vege net doesn't sound like it will last too long either compared with the Gazebo netting?
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Baz131
Bunbury
13th November 2012 11:38am
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craig says...
is it ok to use a product such as naturalure if there are chooks that will eat the dead fruit fly
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craig9
lockeyer valley
16th November 2012 8:54am
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T J says...
BAZ131 - I'd say the VegeNet will last exactly the same as the Gazebo nets - seems like the same stuff. Might even last longer being white.

I know Bunnings discontinued the Gazebo & Umbrella nets - I have heard of some camping places having something similar - but at a much higher price.

Please keep us all updated with info re netting suppliers. I will have to source more in coming seasons too!
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T J
Dubbo
28th November 2012 7:07pm
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Big Mumma says...
Have just viewed the a garden full of tomatoes without fruit fly. They were cover in a net called netpro, it looks like it works really well to keep them out. have just ordered some from netpro.com.au. Pretty cheap too!! Hope it works for me too.
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Big Mumma
 
8th December 2012 9:41pm
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Rusty Nuts says...
Hi all,
I have found the cheapest place to purchase fruitfly netting is from Greenpatch Organic seeds, web address is as follows www.greenpatchseeds.com.au
Just scrollthrough their for sale gear. I have also been using wild may lure which they also sell and have trapped 100's of fruit fly so far.
Russ
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rustynutz
Eidsvold
19th December 2012 9:56am
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Perky says...
You need Ecolure as the Wild May only stops the male fruit fly. Get Ecolure from Bunnings which stops both male and female. Very effective and you just paint it on the tree trunk
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Perky
Mt Tamborine
19th December 2012 12:32pm
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ole says...
The preferred position is underneath leaves , shade if possible. It is not totally successful in high pressure areas.
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opowe
 
19th December 2012 3:26pm
#UserID: 7262
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ole says...
The preferred position is underneath leaves , shade if possible. It is not totally successful in high pressure areas.
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opowe
 
19th December 2012 3:26pm
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ole says...
The preferred position is underneath leaves , shade if possible. It is not totally successful in high pressure areas.
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opowe
 
19th December 2012 3:26pm
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ole says...
The preferred position is underneath leaves , shade if possible. It is not totally successful in high pressure areas.
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opowe
 
19th December 2012 3:26pm
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opowe says...
The preferred position is underneath leaves , shade if possible. It is not totally successful in high pressure areas.
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opowe
 
19th December 2012 3:26pm
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opowe says...
The preferred position is underneath leaves , shade if possible. It is not totally successful in high pressure areas.
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opowe
 
19th December 2012 3:26pm
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opowe says...
The preferred position is underneath leaves , shade if possible. It is not totally successful in high pressure areas.
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opowe
 
19th December 2012 3:27pm
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Big Mumma says...
Hey does anyone know the trick to growing long leaf corriander as the seed is so small and germination is sparce??
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Big Mumma
 
22nd January 2013 11:30am
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Julie says...
Wrong thread Big Mumma.
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Julie
Roleystone WA
2nd April 2013 2:08am
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Anonymous says...
Hi everyone

I've got heaps of fruit fly in my compost bin. :( (I set a trap, and caught a small number of ferment/vinegar flies, and about three hundred medflies.

The composting set up is not ideal as we currently have few materials to compost! In the tumbler, I had too much dry stuff, but hosed it off a bit and it is now composting nicely. Separately, and while I wait for the tumbler to finish, I'm collecting compost material in an old plastic compost bin. The bin doesn't seal properly, but anyway has air holes on the lower side. It is sitting on fly screen as I didn't want any worms getting in there for when I transfer the stuff to the tumbler. Don't want cooked worms!

So, in the bin is a small amount of material, and when I opened it up the other day I saw heaps of little flies. They move too fast to identify them, but they didn't look like ferment flies. :( I put a vinegar trap in the bin, and caught lots of medflies. I've put the trap back, in the absence of any better ideas.

Is there a way to still get some benefit from this compost material? If I dig a deep hole and bury it? Or am I better off bagging it up and binning it? Would a thick layer of hay do anything useful?

This is a bad spot for fruit fly. I'd already decided to have to net all my fruit trees, but I'd not thought of having to net my compost!

Thanks
MJ
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14th April 2013 4:05pm
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Julie says...
MJ, I have never seen fruit fly in large numbers at one time. I definitely have a FF problem but still only see them one or two at a time, except when caught in the traps.

Are you sure these are FF? They generally go for unripe fruit, then the larva develop as the fruit ripens. Is it possible to take a pic?
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Roleystone WA
14th April 2013 4:39pm
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Anonymous says...
Hi Julie

They look like what I recognise as medfly and I looked them up again today. Guess I'd need to send them off to the ag dept to be sure. Will check the trap and see if I can post a pic.
Tks
MJ


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14th April 2013 7:10pm
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Anonymous says...
Let's see if this pic is useful.
MJ
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14th April 2013 7:36pm
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Anonymous says...
Let's see if this pic is useful.
MJ
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14th April 2013 7:37pm
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Anonymous says...
Didn't work ... Try again
MJ
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1
  
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Anonymous says...
Ok, it went through. Not easy to photograph but hopefully someone can see something! Also in the pic is one of the smaller things I think are ferment or vinegar flies.

Tks
MJ
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14th April 2013 7:43pm
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Julie says...
Mmm. Pretty hard to tell. Your idea of sending to the Ag Dept is probably the only way to be sure. I think it's free?
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Roleystone WA
14th April 2013 8:33pm
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Anonymous says...
Don't know but can ring tomorrow and find out.
Tks
MJ
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Anonymous says...
This is the page I was looking at: http://agspsrv34.agric.wa.gov.au/ento/medfly.htm

They do look like the ferment fly, but look too big, to me. I thought they were only about 1mm? These are more like 3-5mm. (Ferment fly would be *much* better! Fingers crossed! Though we do have a lot of med fly here - no mandarins etc survive without intervention.)

Anyway, have emailed some pics and will see what the ag dept say.

Bye
MJ
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15th April 2013 11:57am
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Anonymous says...
Hi

I've heard back from Ag Dept, and they think it is ferment fly. My thinking they were medfly was based on their publication that suggested ferment flies were 1mm. These are quite a bit bigger, about 4mm (some smaller also).

This is a relief! I can continue to compost this material.

Thanks
MJ
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17th April 2013 11:03am
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Anonymous says...
Oh, btw, the Ag dept identified this from pics emailed to them. It a free service to WA residents.
Bye
MJ
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Julie says...
That's good news MJ. Given the circumstances, I really didn't think they were FF, but you did the right thing by checking with the Ag Dept.
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17th April 2013 7:47pm
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Anonymous says...
Always better safe than sorry!

The reason I thought it was medfly was the size. The leaflet said ferment flies were 1mm long vs 4mm for medfly. The smaller of these are about 2mm and the larger are about 4 mm.

It is a great service by the ag dept.

The trap has reduced the numbers to tolerable levels, so that's good. As my worm farm numbers come up I'll give more of the food scraps to them and hopefully it will all go away!

MJ
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17th April 2013 9:38pm
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slowbutneat says...
Hi Debbie,

I have found that a homemade trap using a 1.25 litre plastic bottle with pencil sized holes drilled in the middle section is an ideal trap. A mixture of 1 tablespoon of Vegemite dissolved in a cup hot water plus urine (1/3 cup approx ) is a great way to attract fruit-fly. The stench of the mixture is quite powerful but it certainly does the trick. About two to three bottles per tree are required but to be honest netting is probably you safest bet.
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Medowie
26th November 2013 1:09pm
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yrt says...
None of these terrific fruit fly traps that served "my Granny" so well work. Females will not go into confined spaces.! but feel free to fantasize.
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sydney
26th November 2013 4:36pm
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M Nash says...
Ok, What is the Go here for QLD FF?
Ive tried netting on individual fruit or branches and its a PITA.
Id rather spray or bait to kill both M & F
Most of my citrus have already flowerd or are finishing up on their first burst.
They are also full of every pest you could think of.
Im going to Dimathote the lot and then ill let that sap out and keep up white oil and an odd dusting of spinosad. Then when the fruit start to atract FF, Ill need to think about the baiting.
Is Eco lure realy effective and worth the cost?
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Terranora
29th November 2013 7:12pm
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Brendan says...
I'd say yes M Nash, Eco Naturalure is expensive, but you don't use much.
I'm sure it was $52/L a couple of weeks ago in Mky.
http://www.organicsaustraliaonline.com.au/prod4103.htm
And, it's for both M & F FF.
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Mackay, Q
30th November 2013 7:03am
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yrt says...
There is another brand of the same ingredients as Eco-Natrlure that is half the price. I forgot its name ,though.
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sydney
30th November 2013 9:21am
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KitschWitch says...
CeraTrap?

I just bought one from Green Harvest. Can't yet tell you if it works.

http://greenharvest.com.au/PestControlOrganic/FruitFlyControlProducts.html
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5th December 2013 12:01am
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yrt says...
Well ,it seems that Green Harvest lived up to its name --you must be green and they harvested your cash. Cera traps are useless for Q. fruit fly.
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5th December 2013 8:56am
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Brendan says...
Spinosad is the active ingredient in eco-naturalure yrt, and it does lure & kill the Qld fruit fly, imho.
Best way to use it, buy some yellow cardboard (I use an old XXXX beer carton), and spot spray it, then place it under the fruit tree. Fruit flies are attracted to the yellow colour and the eco-naturalure, ingest it and die. No more fruit fly :-)
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6th December 2013 10:10am
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Boris Spasky says...
Wrong Brendan on the colour scheme;
Med fly= yellow
Qld fly = blue.
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6th December 2013 3:48pm
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Mike Tr says...
http://www.greenharvest.com.au/PestControlOrganic/Information/FruitFlyControl.html
The colour preferences are pretty well known.Fruit flies are bigger than the drosophilas,fungus gnats etc that can also be attracted to rotting fruit.
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Brendan says...
G'day Mike Tr, could you please explain the 'colour preferences' of fruit flies, thx.

Well Boris, those pesky Med flies must have flown over from WA to my place!, or they must be colour-blind?
Here they attack: YELLOW skinned Bananas, YELLOW Corn, YELLOW Guavas, YELLOW cherry Guavas, YELLOW Lemons, YELLOW Lemonades, Yellow Mandarins, YELLOW Sweet Lemons, YELLOW Pawpaws, YELLOW Mangoes, YELLOW flesh Nectarines, YELLOW flesh Peaches, YELLOW Cashew fruit etc! And, my YELLOW cardboard sprayed with Eco-Naturalure :-(
What a bummer!
Hey MNash, looks like your post has been deleted! You know, the one after Boris.
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9th December 2013 8:01am
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Original Post was last edited: 9th December 2013 7:59am
Mike Tr says...
There is not much to explain Brendan.Fruit flies are attracted by a range of bright colours that presumabley relate to fruit colours but insect colour perception is pretty complicated.Trials show that Qfly is most attracted by blue and Medfly is most attracted by yellow.Obviously Qflies are attracted by yellow also.
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9th December 2013 8:14am
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yrt says...
Clarke, Anthony R., Powell, Kevin S., Weldon, Christopher W., &
Taylor, Phillip W. (2011) The ecology of Bactrocera tryoni
(Froggatt) (Diptera: Tephritdae) : what do we know to assist pest
management?
If you read this reference you will see that colour preference of Qfly is anything but simple . Shape , texture , contrast all interplay and it cannot be said that "blue" is it full stop.
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sternus1 says...
Oh how I do miss APA referencing.
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9th December 2013 2:13pm
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Mike Tr says...
http://eprints.qut.edu.au/62855/2/Weerawickramage_Muthuthantri_Thesis.pdf
Page 10 actually indicates that B.tyroni has a clear preference for 520nm to 540nm which falls into the green part of the spectrum rather than blue or yellow.
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Cairns
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MNash1 says...
Gaaaa!
I'll have one of each colour.
Dont worry about my post being deleted, It was very pointing towards a gruff,,,, or some type of attitude. rather than a helpful one so I gots what I gave. Im not offended.
But your right, one should have the ticka to explain or own up.
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9th December 2013 6:59pm
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VF says...
Could this end up being a real control method??? An improved version of releasing sterilised males http://news.ninemsn.com.au/technology/2014/03/21/00/13/qld-fruit-flies-set-to-lose-their-manhood Could there be repercussions in areas such as rainforests?
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21st March 2014 3:20pm
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Purplewoogie says...
Where would you get this from?
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28th September 2014 1:53pm
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Juie 1 says...
That link is no longer available, but anyway, it would have been a government initiative, not something you could buy or do yourself.
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Roleystone WA
29th September 2014 1:56am
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Boris Spasky says...
Julie, what are the growers in your area doing this season without Fenthion? 50% crop losses ain't going to work.
http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-27/wa-stonefruit-growers-concerned-over-proposed-ban-of-fenthion/5773666
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Juie 1 says...
Boris, I don't know yet. This is a difficult situation. We had some sterile FF release a year or so ago, but personally I didn't notice any difference.

In fact, my loquat, which has never had FF before,has been infested with the little buggers for the last two years. Not saying there is any connection, just a comment.

Already some growers are selling up, and land redeveloped for housing. Many are threatening to pull out all stone fruit and replace with pest-free avocados. Talks still going on, but it's a worry for them.

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29th September 2014 12:45pm
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Slicko says...
I read today on the ABC web site that scientists at the University of New South Wales have completed mapping the entire genome of the Queensland fruit fly. They have also mapped the genomes of two other Australian fruit flies.

We can only hope that this work will lead to better control methods for all of us.
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6th February 2015 4:56pm
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ygik says...
Avocado does get FF Causes woodiness at sting site.
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leonay
6th February 2015 6:39pm
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TD says...
-Fruit fly traps do not work for me. It seems as if it has attracted more fruit flies from the surrounding areas. It has completely destroyed my fruit crops this years on an increasing level from last year. Conclusion: Fruit fly traps or spinosad from Yates do not work for me. And don't tell me that I am not doing it well. I have followed all the instructions.
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north epping nsw
10th March 2016 12:52pm
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slowbutneat says...
Hi TD,

I have found that homemade fly traps work brilliantly for all flies. A used 350 ml drink bottle with holes drilled in the top third with a mixture of human urine and molasses ( about a third of the container), top on and strung off tree branches. the more the merrier. It is a cheap and effective method. Stinks a fair bit after a few days but it really works.
Eugene
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Medowie
11th March 2016 1:09pm
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Asimili says...
Yes, you are right Fruit fly traps are only used to indicate when to apply control measures They are insufficient of themselves In high pressure areas cover sprays are the only effective measure In less affected areas you can use bait spraying such as yeast autolysate with malathion inecticide The latter works for me but never 1000per cent
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sYDNEY
12th March 2016 6:16pm
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Julie says...
I caught 1000's of fruit fly in Cera traps, but still lost all my Valencia oranges. Navels nearby weren't affected, but they ripen a bit earlier.
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14th March 2016 12:06pm
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Glennis says...
Are fruit flies healthier than normal flies ?
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Manly West
22nd February 2018 2:23pm
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Slicko says...
Glennis, I have no idea if the Qld ff is healthier than other flies' but the only way of getting a decent harvest from your garden or trees is to exclude them from the fruit, either by covering the whole plant or by bagging individual fruit. Even then you won't get the whole crop but you have a much better chance of enjoying the end result of your labour
Pic shows our Myer lemon with fruit bagged.

Mick
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CARINDALE,4152,QLD
23rd February 2018 5:35pm
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Original Post was last edited: 23rd February 2018 5:42pm

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