Explore Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
Can't find the answer in our existing FAQs, submit a question to Mr. Smarty Plants.
Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.
rate this answer
Saturday - March 12, 2011
From: Lake Worth, FL
Region: Southeast
Topic: Non-Natives
Title: Fruit fly maggots attacking non-native Grumichama in Lake Worth FL
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
Dear Mr. Smarty Plants How do I prevent fruit fly maggots from attacking my Grumichama fruit?ANSWER:
As often happens, we had never heard of Grumichama, so we went to the Internet and found this article from Purdue University Horticulture Eugenia brasiliensis, Grumichama. We learned that it is native, as the name indicates, to Brasil and therefore does not appear in our Native Plant Database. It has been planted in Florida and Hawaii with some success. The article went on to say that in Hawaii, the plant has been heavily attacked by the Meditteranean Fruit Fly.
We had heard of that pest, but had no personal experience of it, so we went to this Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Service article Pest Alert. We are not saying that is what you have chewing on the fruit on your plant, because we are not entomologists and really have no idea. However, we would suggest you read the Pest Alert article and perhaps contact the Extension Office for Palm Beach County.
More Non-Natives Questions
Information on various plants from Alamo TX
November 15, 2009 - Have you heard of the following plants: Butterfly Iris,Compact Nanpina, Red Dwarf Turks? I would like to know some details on the above plant: size, flowers?, drought tolerant, where to plant
Thanki...
view the full question and answer
Erosion control in Spicewood TX
March 20, 2013 - I am from a small community along the Colorado River a few miles East of Marble Falls. We are looking for a ground cover/grass to prevent erosion on on our beach front. We had planned to use Bermuda G...
view the full question and answer
What variations of non-native Lavender will grow in Montgomery County TX
June 18, 2011 - I live in East Montgomery County, Texas. What varieties of Lavender grow best in my area? I had some success with Providence variety and Spanish variety. I would like to grow more varieties if possi...
view the full question and answer
Non-native peanutbutter tree suckering in Oregon City OR
August 02, 2011 - I have a beautiful 'peanutbutter tree' in my yard. I have noted that there are plantlets coming up that appear to be attached to the main root(s) of the tree. I have been breaking them off as I don...
view the full question and answer
Trees to replace some non-native invasives in Deltona FL
February 02, 2012 - I would like to replace 3 large ChinaBerry & 3 large Chinese Tallow trees in my good sized back yard with some local wildlife friendly trees native to the Deltona area(first area.) What do you recomme...
view the full question and answer
 |
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. Mr. Smarty Plants wants you to be his Facebook friend. Click the Facebook icon to add yourself to Mr. Smarty Plants list of friends. |
