Stories
Guava Farming: Protect Your Crop from Fruit Flies and Prevent Internal Rot.
- •Guavas appearing healthy externally can be rotten inside due to fruit fly infestation, leading to crop loss.
- •Fruit flies lay eggs on tender guavas, causing internal damage and premature fruit drop.
- •Use 'fruit covers' on small, growing guavas to prevent direct contact with fruit flies and egg-laying.
- •Immediately remove and destroy rotten or fallen guavas from the orchard to prevent further infestation.
- •Maintain orchard cleanliness and consult agricultural experts for severe infestations to ensure crop quality.
Key Questions Answered
Female fruit flies lay eggs on tender and growing guava fruits. The small insects that hatch from these eggs penetrate inside and begin consuming the pulp, which causes the fruit to gradually rot and prematurely fall from the tree.
Farmers should cover the guava with a fruit cover as soon as the fruit is small and begins its growth phase to prevent direct contact with fruit flies. Experts also note that bagging can be done when the fruit reaches walnut size (about 4 to 6 cm) using perforated white or light-colored polybags or special fruit bags.
Farmers should immediately collect, remove, and destroy any rotted or fallen fruits instead of leaving them in the orchard, as leaving them behind increases the pest infestation. Regular monitoring for holes, black marks, or rot, along with maintaining overall orchard cleanliness, is essential.
