If you’ve ever watched a perfectly ripening mango suddenly go bad, you’re not alone.
Fruit flies are every mango grower’s nightmare—tiny but incredibly destructive. They sneak in, lay eggs, and before you know it, your beautiful fruit is infested from the inside. But here’s the good news: with a few smart steps, you can take control. In this guide, we’ll walk you through simple, effective ways to keep fruit flies away from your mangoes—using a mix of natural tricks, smart traps, and safe solutions that really work.

To effectively get rid of fruit flies on mangoes, a combination of preventive measures and control strategies is essential. Here are the recommended methods:

Preventive Measures

• Physical Barriers: Bag the mangoes with fine mesh nets or covers. This creates a physical barrier that prevents fruit flies from accessing the fruit and laying eggs.
• Sanitation: Regularly collect and dispose of fallen or infested fruits. This helps eliminate breeding grounds for the flies. It’s important to bury these fruits properly to prevent larvae from maturing in the soil.
• Soil Management: Plough the topsoil to expose pupae to sunlight, which can kill them and reduce future infestations.
• Remove Wild Hosts: Eliminate nearby wild or old trees that could serve as breeding sites for fruit flies.

Trapping Methods

• Pheromone Traps: Install methyl eugenol traps at a rate of 6 per acre during the fruit development stage. These traps attract and kill male fruit flies, helping to reduce the population.
• DIY Traps: Create traps using a mixture of vinegar, water, and honey or sugar. Place these traps near mango trees to attract and capture fruit flies.

Chemical Control

• Bait Sprays: If there is a severe infestation (more than 5 flies per trap per day), use bait sprays on tree trunks once a week. A common mixture includes 100 grams of jaggery or molasses mixed with 2 ml of deltamethrin in 1 liter of water.
• Neem Oil Sprays: Regularly spray neem oil (azadirachtin) diluted in water as a natural insecticide to deter fruit flies.

Biological Control

• Natural Predators: Introduce beneficial insects like parasitic wasps that prey on fruit fly larvae. This biological control can help manage populations without harmful chemicals.

By implementing these strategies, you can effectively manage and reduce fruit fly infestations on mangoes, ensuring better quality and yield of your harvest.

Citations:
[1] https://kisanvedika.bighaat.com/effective-management-of-fruit-fly-in-mango/
[2] https://krishisevakendra.in/blogs/news/measures-to-control-fruit-fly-in-mango
[3] https://epubs.icar.org.in/index.php/IndHort/article/download/124866/47064/325390
[4] https://kenaff.org/wp/2023/07/12/combatting-mango-fruit-fly-infestation-effective-strategies-for-farmers-in-kenya/
[5] https://www.khethari.com/blogs/news/how-to-manage-fruit-flies-in-mango-effectively
[6] https://www.iihr.res.in/ipm-mango-fruit-fly-bactrocera-dorsalis-hendel
[7] https://openknowledge.fao.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/6a6c0bf9-ef1e-4930-b4a8-43eaba093664/content
[8] https://www.swisscontact.org/en/news/training-mango-growers-in-fruit-fly-control
[9] https://mitraweb.in/blogs/how-to-manage-fruit-flies-in-mango-effectively/
[10] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tk9odeHEWq4

Admin

I am Gaushoul Agam

𝐂𝐨-𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 & 𝐂𝐄𝐎
ToAgriculture

I am an experienced Horticulture Officer in the Department of Agricultural Extension in Bangladesh. I am committed to improving agriculture and farming.

I created ToAgriculture to address global food safety concerns. These concerns are caused by a growing population, diminishing farmland, and the impact of climate change on agriculture. I assist readers in learning modern farming techniques.

I also help them control pests and diseases. Additionally, I guide managing agriculture sustainably. All of this is aimed at creating a better and more successful future in farming.

I have experience in field crops and horticulture crops. I know about fruit and vegetable farming, managing pests and diseases, irrigation, and grafting. Come with me as I share my knowledge and experiences to help you create a better future.