# Worms in Red Currants **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 23, 2009, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worms-in-red-currants/500669 "2009-06-23T00:45:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worms-in-red-currants/500669/1 "2009-06-23T00:45:25Z")
Any dopers have experience with Red Currants? I picked about 4 pounds off of my bush this year, all eager to try making some wine. However, while washing them, maggoty worms (apparantly from the Currant Fruit Fly) sprouted from many of them. It was quite a horror show–it looks like the whole crop this year is an infested mess. Looking online, “Sevin” spray was recommended, but it also apparantly kills honeybees and earthworms so I don’t want to use it. There were a handful of “folk” alternatives, but nothing conclusive. Any ideas how to prepare for next year? I’m in the Pacific NW. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worms-in-red-currants/500669/2 "2009-06-23T02:30:19Z")
This thread’s title sounds like one of those krazy dishes they eat at the restaurants in American Psycho. ---
**Author:** ![Huerta88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/82dd89/32.png) [@Huerta88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Huerta88)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worms-in-red-currants/500669/3 "2009-06-23T13:14:27Z")
> [@GargoyleWB](#): > > Any dopers have experience with Red Currants? I picked about 4 pounds off of my bush this year, all eager to try making some wine. However, while washing them, maggoty worms (apparantly from the Currant Fruit Fly) sprouted from many of them. It was quite a horror show–it looks like the whole crop this year is an infested mess. > > Looking online, “Sevin” spray was recommended, but it also apparantly kills honeybees and earthworms so I don’t want to use it. There were a handful of “folk” alternatives, but nothing conclusive. > > Any ideas how to prepare for next year? I’m in the Pacific NW. You could spend a lot of time with the folk alternatives (planting marigolds; using pyrethrins or BT) and find little success. BT is IME marginally effective. Sevin/malathion might be your only choice if you want a really effective solution. ---
**Author:** ![SmashTheState](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@SmashTheState](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmashTheState)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worms-in-red-currants/500669/4 "2009-06-23T15:37:03Z")
> [@GargoyleWB](#): > > It was quite a horror show–it looks like the whole crop this year is an infested mess. I did a bit of research and you’re right, the “folk remedies” aren’t particularly effective. One interesting thing did turn up, however. Apparently chickens love fruit fly larvae. Fruit flies breed by infesting the fruit. The fruit falls, the larvae squirm into the ground, and then pupate. Chickens will spend happy hours scratching in the dirt, hunting for fruit fly larvae. If you live in an area which allows chickens (a lot of places do now, since they’re easy to keep and relatively quiet), you might consider buying one and fencing it in around your berry bushes. The dung will help your plants, the chicken will eat the bugs, and you’ll get fresh, organic, free-range eggs out of the deal. ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worms-in-red-currants/500669/5 "2009-06-23T18:11:28Z")
That’s an interesting idea, I’ve actually been thinking about getting chickens. And the currant bushes would pretty up an otherwise ugly chicken run… ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worms-in-red-currants/500669/6 "2009-06-23T18:18:09Z")
Chickens are not the solution as the worms will already have destroyed the currants. They can help on plants that have external bugs, but they also will tear up a garden after a while.