The cherry fly is only conventionally called "cherry". In fact, it readily harms the harvest of cherries, sweet cherries, apricots and other stone fruit crops, even honeysuckle.
However, it is not so easy to understand that this particular insect has appeared in the garden. We will tell you what signs give it away and how to deal with it.
The fly wakes up when the air warms up to 16 degrees Celsius. Therefore, you need to fight from early spring by loosening the soil and placing sticky traps. If you find a creature on them that is similar in color to a wasp or a bee, but only 4-6 mm in size, then the fly has already settled in your garden.
The treatment begins before the first ovaries begin to form. During flowering, females lay eggs at the base of the future berry. It is said that just one insect can make up to 150 clutches.
Therefore, the treatment is carried out at the very beginning of flowering and at least 2-3 times. But the fight should really begin after the snow melts.
In early spring, deep loosening of the soil in the trunk circle of stone fruit trees helps a lot.
Industrial products include the following preparations: "Aktellik", "Iskra", "Alatar", "Aktara", "Aktofit" or "Fufanon-nova". The latter is more effective, but toxic.
Plastic bottles with jam, juice or honey are used as traps. The solution should be renewed daily, and the insects should be destroyed. But this method should only be used together with treatment. It is not very effective on its own.
In addition, it is worth fighting aphids on cherries, because insects flock to the secretions of this pest.