"Glenna Rose" wrote in message
news:fc.003d0941018f7e5a3b9aca0076193125.18f7e84@p mug.org...
writes:
... I'd be very interested in whatever you do regarding the apple maggots. I
try not to use chemicals in my yard, even those that are "good" and am
interested in continuing that. However, I am tired of picking up hundreds
of worm houses each fall when my apple trees are such good bearers. To
get even one pan of applesauce is far more work than it's worth, even as
good as it is, and I don't have a horse to use the apples for treats. ...

A couple of years ago I got one BOWL of apples out of my 5 apple trees!! I
feel your pain.

I got an idea from a fruit group... at about the 1st of June when the
blossoms are losing their petals and starting to turn to apples go to the
grocery store and get some very cheap apples. We went to Costco. Then take
some copper wire (or any ol' wire to wrap around the apple to hang on the
tree). Shape to hold an apple... then apply Tangle Foot (the sticky bug
catching stuff). Hang on your trees... a few to a tree (I did two per
espaliered tree).

The scent of the apple attacted the fruit flies... and then they got STUCK.
After a bit you have to remove the sticky apple (I was lazy and waited until
September... only a few were disgusting, and those were the ones I strung
the wire through, not around).

I actually had decent harvest of apples.

Now if only I could do something with the current fruit flies.