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Fruit flys are getting my oriental pumpkins.
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Posted by mtviewj Hilo Hawaii (My Page) on Sat, Aug 16, 03 at 3:20
| Can anyone in the Hilo area tell me how to protect my pumpkins from being stung by fruit flies? |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Fruit flys are getting my oriental pumpkins.
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| I haven't tried it, but I've heard that some of the tropical fruit growers on the Kona side put paper bags around fruits to protect them while they are maturing. Perhaps this might work for pumpkins too - try contact the Tropical Fruit Growers assn for more info. |
RE: Fruit flys are getting my oriental pumpkins.
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| When I was growing up in the Kohala area, my parents would wrap newspaper around the fruits of the bitter melon & pumpkin plants. Other than that, you might want to check with your local garden exchange or co-op if there is some kind of insecticide that could be used |
RE: Fruit flys are getting my oriental pumpkins.
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| Hell-o Tropictype and Rugosalover, thanks for your help. In case you are interested with what I am doing with my pumpkins; paper bags and newspaper will melt in the Mt. View rain which falls almost daily this time of year. I am using worn out nylon stockings to cover my fruit. The only way the fruit fly can introduce their larvae to the pumpkin is through the open female flower. Since bees carry pollen from the male flower to the female, keeping the pumpkins fruit fly free also keeps the bees from pollinating. So we must be aware of when the female flowers are opening for the first time. Early in the morning I find the newly open flower, hand pollinate it, fold the flower closed, slide the nylon "sock" over the fruit and close the bottom with a twisty tie. |
RE: Fruit flys are getting my oriental pumpkins.
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| Gee, send some of that rain over to this side of the island! We haven't had any decent rain for over a month and we're now on water restrictions! |
RE: Fruit flys are getting my oriental pumpkins.
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| There is a fruit fly hormone that is used in easily made traps that will attract the flys. I've used this for my citrus & it is very effective. You can find it at Garden Exchange. |
RE: Fruit flys are getting my oriental pumpkins.
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- Posted by keaau z11USA (My Page) on
Mon, Dec 29, 03 at 19:41
| At the Extension Service on Komohana you can get some traps to first determine what kind of Fruit Fly you have...then there is a specific "deterent" for each one. You probably have the Melon Fruit Fly...covering with netting is an excellent idea. |
RE: Fruit flys are getting my oriental pumpkins.
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| You can make your own fruit fly trap using a soda pop bottle. There are instructions at www.deadeasy.com on how to build one, and you can use vinegar, apple cider, wine and OJ are decent bait (the OJ starts to work best after a couple days - go figure.) |
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