Knowledgebase
Western Cherry Fruit Fly Control #863758
Asked April 08, 2024, 7:15 PM EDT
Hello... I have moved to Nampa, ID, and have bing cherry tree in my back yard.  This is a neighborhood and not near any orchards that I know of.  Its wonderful and I love the cherries.  But, we have fly maggots pretty bad.  Last summer I ID'd them as almost certainly Western Cherry Fruit Flies.  In looking for ways to control them; I found that you can use a Degree Day table <https://treefruit.wsu.edu/crop-protection/opm/western-cherry-fruit-fly/> to help time any applications.  On that site it says, "First fly is expected at 950 degree-days after March 1. Chemical control sprays should be applied on or before 1060 degree-days to target mature, egg-laying flies." I'm fairly certain I'm reading the chart properly - taking the day's low temp and running down til l hit the day's high temp and recording that number.  Then added them all up.  My question is:  They say first fly is expected at 950 DD after March 1.  So does that mean I only count the DD from March 1, until I hit 950? Or do I begin the counting of DD on January 1?  Thank you for any help you can provide.
Canyon County Idaho
Expert Response
You would begin counting on January 1, with a lower threshold of 41°F for that particular species, given it is properly identified. Â
With any questions let me know.
Best,
One final question question or clarification, to make sure Iâm not an idiot. Â
âwith a lower threshold of 41°â
For example: if on a given day the low temp was 36 with a high of 52.  Would I count the number on that day⦠in this case it is 4dd?  Or do I only count days when the low temp is
Above 41 degrees regardless of the high temp.Â
(I get confused because the chart has numbers for those low temp days, if the high is above 45)
Thank you so much for your assistance. It genuinely is greatly appreciated.Â
Dan