Cherry Fruit Fly
Overview
Cherry fruit fly is a fruit-damaging pest of cherries.
Larvae develop inside ripening fruit, making fruit unmarketable.
Main host crop
Identification
Damage may include:
- soft fruit
- larvae inside cherries
- premature fruit breakdown
- fruit rejection at harvest
Adults are small flies with patterned wings.
Risk conditions
| Condition | Risk |
|---|---|
| Ripening cherries | High |
| Warm weather | High |
| Unpicked fruit | Moderate–High |
| Nearby unmanaged trees | High |
Monitoring
Monitor using:
- traps
- fruit inspections
- harvest checks
- damaged fruit checks
IPM approach
Useful strategies:
- monitor before ripening
- harvest promptly
- remove damaged fruit
- reduce unmanaged fruit reservoirs
- maintain orchard hygiene
Key message
Cherry fruit fly management is closely linked to ripening-fruit monitoring and harvest hygiene.