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Sour cherries with small worms #869865

Asked May 24, 2024, 12:31 AM EDT

Hi - Last year my sour cherries had very tiny little worms inside, close to the pits. I don’t have a picture. I’m wondering what they could be and what I could do to prevent them this year. Thank you -

Ramsey County Minnesota

Expert Response

Hi Dana,

This could be cherry fruit fly or spotted wing drosophila. More info here:

https://extension.umn.edu/fruit/growing-stone-fruits-home-garden#:~:text=Stone%20fruit%20trees%20need%20full,and%20a%20healthy%2C%20open%20canopy.

Spotted wing drosophila:

https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-insects/spotted-wing-drosophila

Cherry fruit fly:

https://www.canr.msu.edu/ipm/uploads/files/StoneFruitIPM_Cherryfruitfly21.pdf

These pests will be bad one year and not so common the next. Your best tactic to deal with these is diligent fall cleanup. This U.K. site has other organic techniques:

https://plantura.garden/uk/fruits/cherry-tree/cherry-fruit-fly

Hope this helps.

MJ Replied May 24, 2024, 8:21 AM EDT

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