Fruit fly protection for Guavas (fruit trees) in Pots

[FlyingFoxFruits]

I must taste the Barbie Pink Guava again this year..its my favorite so far.  The tree is loaded with fruits, that I am determined to keep free of maggots!

I netted the tree!  I will keep you posted on how many fruits hold up, and how many worms I have to chew!

[Ethan]

Smart man, is that white mosquito netting? 

[FlyingFoxFruits]

Smart man, is that white mosquito netting?

thanks Ethan,

I think it was originally used to cover a bed...so yes it must be mosquito netting, it's very light weight.

I believe it came from a friend who was giving it away...I knew I'd find a use for it. 

[Ethan]

I picked up a few swathes of white mosquito net to protect a few of my crops from moth/butterfly larvae, so far so good.

[fruitlovers]

I picked up a few swathes of white mosquito net to protect a few of my crops from moth/butterfly larvae, so far so good.

I want to do the same thing with my mangosteen trees. They are getting chewed to pieces by mangosteen caterpillar. They only appear in dead of night so very hard to control. I thought of using fruit fly netting, but can't find anyone that sells nets ready made, they only seem to sell the material and then you have to sew it yourself, quite a hassle for a lot of trees. Adam gave me a good idea with the mosquito netting. That might be a lot easier and cheaper to get?
I noticed that in Israel they sell fruit fly netting for trees already made up and ready to apply. Does anybody know of a USA distributor?

[edzone9]

Adam Do all Guavas Get Worms ? I Just Planted One Last week ! , Dont Like Worms In My Fruit ;(.
I still hae time to pull it out of the ground and maybe plant something else..

[FlyingFoxFruits]

Adam Do all Guavas Get Worms ? I Just Planted One Last week ! , Dont Like Worms In My Fruit ;(.
I still hae time to pull it out of the ground and maybe plant something else..

not all guavas get worms!!

a large tree near me that has delicious white fruits, was totally untouched by maggots.

I believe certain varieties are less prone, and colder portions of the state, north of Orlando (away from large urban developments) have less fruit fies..sometimes none at all.

[LEOOEL]

Great idea, that looks fantastic. I'm planning to do the same thing with my two guava trees; Many thanks.

[fruitlovers]

Greater idea than you might originally think because will not only keep out fruit flies, but also birds, caterpillars, squirrels, and other critters.
To keep out the fruit fly you will need netting that will keep out noseeums. The netting made just for mosquitoes might be too large meshed to keep out fruit flies.

[ScottR]

Quite the look there Adam, all the fashionable fruit growers will follow. Great job, bet it works too!

[BMc]

I'll be doing this with a fruit fly canopy net on my stonefruit, or else I'll get zero fruit and the oriental fruit moth will tip-bore the trees to oblivion!
Guavas - I individually bag the fruits in mesh bags or else 100% of the crop is chook feed. They dont seem to mind the grasshopper attacks and the full enclosures here just seem to increase black mould etc...

[fruitlovers]

One problem with using mosquito netting might be that if it is not made UV resistant material it will not last very long before it disintegrates in summer sun.

[Ethan]

I believe what Adam has recycled is tulle, which most likely wont last more than one year.  Good mosquito netting should last a long time.

[Tomas]

Hi Adam,

A few months later... So I am just wondering how is that net holding up against fruit flies?

Tomas

[FlyingFoxFruits]

Tomas,

it worked out perfectly.

got about 30 guavas totally free of maggots...from my 15 gal barbie pink.

the net is degrading now...so I'll need a new one for next season.

[edzone9]

Thats great Adam ! ,

I pulled my Guava tree from the back yard where i have all my other fruit trees & transplanted it , in the front of the house ...

That thing is a magnet for Fruit flys i see little white eggs on the bottom of the leaves , i sprayed it with soapy water , neem oil , copper nothing seem to work so i gave up on the guava , it does look nice in the front of my house .