When you buy tangerines, they can be strawy, moldy or mushy. Maggot infestation is less common with them. But there are also insects whose larvae develop in the citrus fruits. The Mediterranean fruit fly in particular is relevant for plantation culture.

Mandarins infested with maggots can be safely disposed of in organic waste or compost

Interesting facts about the Mediterranean fruit fly

The Mediterranean fruit fly, zoologically Ceratitis capitata, belongs to the borer fly family and is not directly related to the "fruit flies" (or rather fruit flies) that are all too well known in this country.

The actually very pretty, multicolored spotted fly does not originally come from the Mediterranean area, but from central and southern Africa. Because it is extremely adaptable, however, it has spread all over the world and is causing major problems in fruit and vegetable growing, especially in tropical and subtropical areas. The animals are not only quite open to the climate for their tropical home, but also not particularly choosy when it comes to their host plants.

To remember:

  • Mediterranean fruit fly is native to Central and South Africa
  • is very climate and food tolerant
  • massive damage potential in global fruit and vegetable production, especially in (sub)tropical areas

The maggots

The females lay the eggs in depressions or cracks in the shell of the half-ripe to ripe fruit. The larvae that hatch from this are white maggots and are around 7-9 mm long at the end of their development period. There can be several maggots in one fruit, usually close together.

How to deal with infested tangerines?

Despite strict quarantine regulations, it can of course happen that infected mandarins are imported. In order to recognize infested fruit in the supermarket or at the weekly market from the outset, pay particular attention to soft, rotten spots in the skin.

The region of origin could also be an indication of a higher risk of contamination. Although the Mediterranean fruit fly is surprisingly relaxed about temperatures outside its native range, it does not survive a Central European winter. It can therefore be assumed that the risk for infested fruits from African, Asian or Central American growing areas tends to be higher than for fruits from the Mediterranean region.

Also: the closer the region of origin is, the shorter the transport routes the mandarins have to go. This is definitely better for the environment and also for the quality of consumption.

Category:

Vegetable garden