Fruit Maggots & Fruit Flies

Overview

Rhagoletis pomonella is known as the apple maggot fly, the apple fruit fly, or the railroad worm. Apples aren't the only host plants for the apple maggot; they can sometimes be found on blueberries, cherries, pears, and plums as well. Most of the damage caused is to the fruit. Apple maggot is a more serious problem in early-maturing varieties of apples. This insect also causes damage to the fruit of ornamental flowering crabapples and hawthorn trees. They are particularly troublesome after a cold spring.

Symptoms and Diagnosis

Apple maggot injury will vary among apple cultivars. Fruit may be dimpled or distorted where the female fly has laid eggs. White or yellowish worms emerge from the eggs and are found in the developing fruit. The young larvae tunnel through the fruit, leaving small, brown trails. Small pits may be observed on the skin; these holes are where mature larvae have emerged from the fruit. Infested fruit drop prematurely. If you slice open a fallen fruit, numerous brown thread-like tunnels are evidence of larval feeding damage.

Life Cycle

Pupae overwinter in the soil, and adults begin emerging in late May continuing through August. Eggs are laid on the fruit and larvae will hatch in about three weeks. At 1/4 inch long, the adult is slightly smaller than a common housefly. It has a black body with markings on the legs and white bands across the abdomen. The wings of the adult fly are clear with distinguishing black bands. There may be up to two generations per year. Cherry fruit flies resemble small houseflies with barred wings. The maggots are yellowish-white and legless with 2 dark mouth hooks. 

Integrated Pest Management Strategies

1. Prevent adult flies from laying eggs within the developing fruit. There is no control once the maggots are feeding inside the fruit. Yellow sticky traps for flies can be found in most garden supply shops. Six to eight traps should be hung in a full-sized tree. You can also use commercially available red spherical sticky traps, ideally hung 4 to 5 per tree, to monitor their arrival. Do not leave traps in trees for more than a month from the time adults begin to emerge because the traps may attract some beneficial insects as well.

2. Clean up fallen fruit regularly so that larvae don't have a chance to burrow into the ground and pupate, becoming a problem the following season.

3. Avoid planting ‘Cortland’, ‘Wealthy’, ‘Delicious’, and other early-maturing apple varieties because they are the most susceptible varieties.

4. Do not plant hawthorns or crabapples in the vicinity of apple trees because these ornamentals may harbor apple maggots that may also infest the fruit on nearby apple trees.

5. Use chemicals. Pesticides registered for use include phosmet, esfenvalerate, and pyrethrins.

Organic Strategies

Strategies 1, 2, 3, and 4 are strictly organic approaches. For an organic approach to Strategies 5, consult the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI™) for appropriate pyrethrin products.

Pesticide Disclaimer: 

Always follow the product's label and ensure the product is effective against fruit maggots & fruit flies. Not following the pesticide label before usage is a violation of federal law.