Pest control companies Long Beach often get called to help with the control of olive fruit flies. What exactly are these flies? The first step to effective pest control is to first understand the pest you are dealing with. What does it like? What does it eat? What problems can it cause? The purpose of this post is to answer these and more questions.
The olive fruit fly is native to eastern Africa. Just like its name depicts, this pest poses great problems to olive growers. The adult is about 3/16 of an inch in length and it has a reddish brown color. The eyes are large and reddish whereas the antennae are small. The fly has long wings which have dark veins. The tips of the wings have dark spots. The body is brown in color with dark markings. The thorax has a yellow color or white patches on the side. The female has a large black ovipositor. The larvae are yellowish-white in color and have pointed heads. Understanding these points will help you know if your efforts in pest control Long Beach involve dealing with olive fruit flies or other pests.
Life cycle
The female will lay eggs after mating with the male. The eggs normally hatch into tiny maggot that feed on fruit until they reach the pupa stage. They then emerge as adults. The development of a fruit fly can continue throughout the year. One generation can be completed in 30 to 35 days. The eggs normally hatch after 2 to 3 days and the maggot will develop within 20 days.
Damage
One reason why most people choose to work with pest control companies Long Beach when dealing with olive fruit flies is because of the damages these pests are capable of causing. To start with, you need to note that this fly will lay its egg in a fruit. The larvae rely on the fruit content after emerging for food. This causes fruits to soften and change in color. The larvae will cause further damage as it tunnels through the fruit as it feeds. In severe cases, premature fruit drop are common.
The female will lay between 50 to 400 eggs. The damage they cause can cause serious damage to fruits. Statistics show that olive fruit flies can damage up to 80% of the fruits by lowering both quality and quantity. It is also possible for this pest to cause a total loss in a crop. Seeking expert help in control is paramount.
Management
When it comes to pest control Long Beach, it is imperative that you be vigilant, diligent and systematic. The pest may get into your orchard without you ever noticing until it is already too late. There are several methods that can be used in control.
- Cultural. This is all about sanitation. Old fruits need to be harvested and destroyed. They should be buried at least 4 inches into the ground. Reducing the population of black scale will also help since the honeydew from these creatures will attract olive fruit flies.
- Barrier.
- Chemicals
- Professional help
