Any ideas on control? Funny, they don't go for the red currants -- perhaps because they are so much smaller?
I'm trying (a bit late I think -- I see signs of the maggots in some of the fruit already) some little yellow styrofoam balls strung on thread like popcorn. Yellow, ~ 3 mm and 6 mm diameters. I coated them in Tanglefoot warmed up in a double boiler. They look very shiny -- better than the fruit. Similar size. I'll let folks know what I catch.
The balls were found in a craft store, on sale, $5 for 20 years worth.
I figure it is not unlikely that the flies are over wintering in the dirt / wall below / behind the bushes so row covers may not work.
Rufus.
I get worms on my Jostaberry, which is a hybrid between black currant and gooseberry. They are pretty voracious and they eat up the leaves. I crawl under the plant and smash the worms with my fingers. Yes, it is very gross. They try to jump off and get lost in the mulch. I catch them before they do. I have a very diverse yard with many plant and animal species. I think smashing them tells the birds/snakes/whatever that that "yummy" smell is an all-you-can-eat carnivore fest, and it's never a problem after that. They haven't affected my red or European black currants, Crandall American black currants, many gooseberries, nor Bulgarian black currants much.
It works for me.
John S
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