To: North American Fruit Explorers <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: Re: [NAFEX] Apple pulp. Home of Apple Maggots???
Date: Fri, 06 Jan 2006 09:59:18 -0500
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Rodney wrote:
> I tend to think that the process of sqeezing apples to produce pulp would
> not be a part of the apple maggots life cycle as they need to be adequately
> developed larva before "dropping to the ground" and becoming an over
> wintering pupa and then an adult in the spring. Somehow the idea of being a
> squashed larva doesn't fit into the picture. Can they survive the cider
> making process?
I obtained a lot of pomace this past fall for compost. A few times when
I turned the compost there were /loads/ of maggots among the rotting
pomace. The theory is that the heat and nastiness of the composting
environment will kill the maggots. I turned it again yesterday and saw
some maggots that were not squirming at all.
The heat and environment of composting ought to kill the seeds as well,
which is why I would suggest composting the pomace with other materials
for a few months before adding it to plant beds.
Thomas
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