Fruit Flies

You would think that since hubby and I are both entomologists that we would have a bug-free home, right? Wrong! We currently have fruit flies flying around in the kitchen. I know what they are and where they're coming from which are the biggest mysteries to solve when you have problems with small flies, so I'm well on my way to getting rid of them. We compost our kitchen scraps and the bin has gotten a bit ripe (and full), so I need to dump it into the compost pile outside and wash out the container.

Fruit flies can become a problem at any time of year because they are attracted to ripe or fermenting fruit. You can also be lucky and bring fruit flies home with you from the store sometimes. I'm sure that you've been grocery shopping and see tiny flies fluttering near the bananas or tomatoes.

So how do you tell fruit flies from other small flies you may find in your house? Adults are small (about 1/8 of an inch) and usually have red eyes. The front portion of the body is tan while the back portion is dark brown or black. If given the opportunity, females can lay up to 500 eggs. Larvae feed near the surface of fermenting foods or other organic matter.

Prevention is the best way to deal with fruit flies. Do not purchase over ripened fruit or vegetables. Fruit and vegetables should be eaten in a timely manner or stored in the refrigerator. If storage in the refrigerator is not an option because you are ripening the item, place it in a paper bag and use a clothespin or chip clip to close the bag. All recyclables should be rinsed thoroughly before placing them into the recycling bin. The recycling bin and garbage can (and compost bin!) should be cleaned out on a regular basis to eliminate any material that would attract the flies.

To eliminate a fruit fly infestation, all sources must be located and eliminated. Insecticides will not help if you do not get rid of where the flies are breeding. While searching and eliminating the source (breeding area), a trap can be constructed to capture adult flies. Create a paper funnel by rolling a piece of paper and securing it with a piece of tape. Place the funnel into a jar that contains a small amount of apple cider vinegar in the bottom. Instructables has a how-to on this process (but skip the hot glue gun & go for tape instead).

Photo of trap from Instructables.com.

Pecan Weevils (Central Texas)

Pecan harvest is under way and I was recently contacted by a colleague who handles all things pecan. Pecan weevil has not been recorded before from Travis County (and several other counties...see map below), so we're asking you to be our eyes in the field. If you suspect pecan weevil, please contact me.
Look for BB size exit holes in pecans.

Pecan weevil adults are brownish beetles about 3/8 of an inch long with long snouts. Larvae (grubs) are creamy-white with a brownish head capsule.

Adult weevils become active in late August- early September. Both adult male and female weevils can damage nuts by feeding on or laying eggs (females) on pecans.

After mating, females chew a hole in a pecan shell and deposit their eggs inside. Larvae feed and develop inside the pecan shell. Full grown larvae then chew out of the shell and drop to the ground to create a cell in the soil. Full grown larvae and adults spend the winter in the soil about 4-12 inches deep.

For more information on pecan weevil biology, please see the Texas AgriLife Extension Service publication.

Again, if you live in a county on the map above that is not red (without pecan weevils being confirmed) and you suspect that you may have them, please contact me. I would need to come out and collect suspected damaged pecans and record the GPS coordinates. Images are from Bill Ree- thanks Bill!