Western Cherry Fruit fly
Image credit: Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org
Western Cherry Fruit fly (Rhagoletis indifferens)
Identification
- Adults are smaller than a house fly with unique black markings on the wings.
Reasons for Control
- Flies feed and breed exclusively on cherries.
- Infested cherries are useless for market because once eggs are laid, no control of larvae is possible.
- No variety of cherry is resistant.
Control Notes
- Since the 90s the WCFF has been a problem for cherry producers. Regular treatments are required to produce uninfested fruit.
- Sticky traps are used to time spray treatments.