Larva in sour cherries - Ask Extension
We have two sour cherries trees. We picked our cherries today and, when we soaked them, discovered we worms in many of them. Our understanding is th...
Knowledgebase
Larva in sour cherries #875933
Asked July 04, 2024, 2:07 PM EDT
We have two sour cherries trees. We picked our cherries today and, when we soaked them, discovered we worms in many of them. Our understanding is that the larva are from a fly that comes from the soil under the tree. Is there anything that can be done to prevent the flies from coming up next year and to prevent them from getting our other tree? Are there options that won’t harm beneficial insects like bees? I’ve read about different pesticides, putting down a barrier on the ground under the tree, using worm casings, etc….
Hennepin County Minnesota
Expert Response
Good Morning Morgan,
Thank you for contacting the U of M Extension Service.
Please click on the following link from the U of M Extension Yard and Garden website about spotted wing drosophila (SWD): https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-insects/spotted-wing-drosophila
This information has details on how to deal with the SWD. It is a difficult pest of fruit.
Good Luck!
