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Control of
the CURRANT
FRUIT FLY

PUBLICATION 1143 REVISED 1967

CANADA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

CONTROL OF THE CURRANT FRUIT FLY

H.P. Richardson and H. Andison2

The currant fruit fly is a serious pest of currants and gooseberries. In
many parts of Canada it is the chief factor limiting the production of these fruits.

DESCRIPTION AND LIFE HISTORY

The insect passes the winter as a pupa in a puparium, in the soil beneath
the bushes. The puparium is about the size and shape of a wheat kernel. It is
smooth and light to dark brown.

The flies begin to emerge when the currants are in full flower. They are
yellowish, and about half as large as a house fly. They are very active and
difficult to observe. The flies start laying eggs about 10 days after they emerge,
when most of the blossoms have withered.

The female fly lays eggs in the young fruit (Figure 1). The eggs hatch in
about a week and as the maggots develop they eat the surrounding tissue.

Infested berries become discolored around the spots where the eggs were
inserted, and ripen unevenly and prematurely. Many drop from the bushes before
the main crop is ripe, but others remain (Figure 2) and are picked with the normal
berries.

The maggots leave the fruits soon after they fall, enter the soil to a depth
of one to two inches, and form puparia in which they pupate. They remain in this
stage until the next May.

CONTROL

To control the currant fruit fly, apply methoxychlor at 2 pounds of 50 percent
wettable powder in 100 gallons of water, or 25 pounds of 5 percent dust per acre.
Two applications are needed to kill the flies before they begin to lay eggs; the
first when 80 percent of the blossoms have withered or fallen, and the secont 10
days later. Spray or dust the bushes thoroughly.

Cautions: Follow closely all the cautions listed on the insecticide label.
The interval required between the last application and harvest varies with the
number of applications and the amount of methoxychlor applied. Keep to the
interval given to avoid residues that would render the fruit unfit for sale.

'Research Station, Winnipeg, Man.
2 Research Station, Saanichton, B.C.
^Epochra canadensis (Loew)

\

Figure 1. — Female fly laying eggs in a young currant.

Figure 2. — Currants, at picking time, damaged by the
currant fruit fly.

CAL/BCA OTTAWA K1A 0C5

3 9073 00193686 5

MORE INFORMATION

For more information consult your agricultural representative or provincial
entomologist, or write to the Research Station of the Canada Department of
Agriculture at Winnipeg (Box 6200, Winnipeg 1), Man., or the Research Station at
Saanichton, B.C.

Revision of Processed Publication Series, Entomology, No. 46

First printed as Publication 1 143 1962

Reprinted 1962

Revised 1967

Copies of thi s publication may be obtained from:

Information Division
CANADA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Ottawa, Ontario

ROGER DUHAMEL, F.R.S.C.

queen's PRINTER AND CONTROLLER OF STATIONERY

OTTAWA, 1962

Cat. No. A43-1143

3M-33857-6-67