Fruit fly larvae in primary fermenter

[DConnolly]

Hi all. I just mixed up my first attempt at homemade wine and it didn't take long to hit a speedbump. I'm making it with Raspberries. I added my yeast yesterday and this morning I discovered small white worms floating on the surface and in the must - fruit fly larvae presumably from eggs that had been laid in the fruit prior to picking. What do I do now? I tried straining them off but my smallest strainer wouldn't get them. They're very small so I don't think cheese cloth will get them either. Followed directions for the recipe and used 5 campden tablets in 5 gallons for 24 hours before adding the yeast. I thought that would have killed everything in there but I guess not. Please help!

 

[Tropical]

In South Florida we have big problems with fruit flies in everything from guava to strawberries to loquats. Just try to ignore them. In wines I've done that seem to have larvae issues, the yeast takes them out as quickly as it renders down the fruit. When racking into the secondary, anything floating is left in the primary and they become a non-issue. I just try not to let the wife see them.

 

[deboard]

You could try freezing the fruit first. The freezing will bring more sweetness out of the fruit anyways, and hopefully kill the fruit fly eggs in the process.

 

[djrockinsteve]

I agree with deboard, freeze the fruit first. You'll kill any larve and much bacteria, then thaw and ferment.

Freezing breaks the cell structure and allows the fruit to release easier

 

[DConnolly]

Thanks. Really appreciate the input. I skimmed off all I could see and haven't had many reappear so I think everything is good. Definitely had me concerned since this is my first attempt at making wine. Now my problem is that I'm 48 hours in and fermentation hasn't started at all. If it's not one thing it's another.

 

[Javila]

Question; soooooo.....larvae won't mess up the whole batch and hav 2 start all over? I did not know this. Also, would boiling fruit then put in strainer bag do same thing as freezing? Any pros/cons? thanks joe

 

[DConnolly]

This is my first attempt at making wine so I don't speak from experience. In my situation, I simply skimmed off all the larvae I could see near the surface and no more appeared after that. The must tastes good and my fermentation has started so everything seems ok.

 

[djrockinsteve]

Boiling fruit will or can cause additional trouble. Best to freeze. Of you have that much trouble with larve either start again or sulfite then rehydrate yeast.

Best to avoid the trouble in the 1st place even if you have to add fly pest strips nearby to catch the bugs.

 

[Javila]

Boiling fruit will or can cause additional trouble. Best to freeze. Of you have that much trouble with larve either start again or sulfite then rehydrate yeast.

Best to avoid the trouble in the 1st place even if you have to add fly pest strips nearby to catch the bugs.

Thanku, I did not know that. So if I get frozen fruit; ok to defrost and start batch? If I get fresh fruit; rinse very good then best to freeze? "still learninng here".

 

[mmadmikes1]

Freezing also help break down the cell walls in the fruit so you get better flavor extraction. Bioling will change the flavor

 

[Tracy Brooks]

Hi all. I just mixed up my first attempt at homemade wine and it didn't take long to hit a speedbump. I'm making it with Raspberries. I added my yeast yesterday and this morning I discovered small white worms floating on the surface and in the must - fruit fly larvae presumably from eggs that had been laid in the fruit prior to picking. What do I do now? I tried straining them off but my smallest strainer wouldn't get them. They're very small so I don't think cheese cloth will get them either. Followed directions for the recipe and used 5 campden tablets in 5 gallons for 24 hours before adding the yeast. I thought that would have killed everything in there but I guess not. Please help!

Same thing hPpened to me so do we throw it out I don't know I do know or don't want to drink magget wine

 

[cmason1957]

Same thing hPpened to me so do we throw it out I don't know I do know or don't want to drink magget wine

No need to dispose of the wine. Nothing can live in wine due to the low pH and relatively high alcohol.

Just so you are aware, this is a post from 2011, 13 years old. Is a good idea to check the dates before replying. It happens sometimes, nothing to get excited about. And welcome to WMT.

 

[hounddawg]

Jeese, what's all the fuss about,
you've stated that they are very small. Right?
ok then, they can't drink all that much of your wine,
Dawg

 

[hounddawg]

No need to dispose of the wine. Nothing can live in wine due to the low pH and relatively high alcohol.

Just so you are aware, this is a post from 2011, 13 years old. Is a good idea to check the dates before replying. It happens sometimes, nothing to get excited about. And welcome to WMT.

Yeah, to me several times, lol...
Dawg

 

[Raptor99]

@Tracy Brooks Welcome to WMT!

When we eat fresh fruit or tomatoes, we probably consume some fruit fly larvae on a regular basis. So I don't think that there is any harm in eating them in small numbers.

I freeze my berries and mash them before fermenting, so any fruit fly larvae are probably sufficiently mashed that they would not float to the surface. But if they were floating, I would try to scoop them out if I could.

I'm sure that commercial wines contain a small amount of various impurities. I would rather drink wine that included a small number of larvae than one made from fruit sprayed with pesticides.

 

[TurkeyHollow]

Same thing hPpened to me so do we throw it out I don't know I do know or don't want to drink magget wine

The rule of thumb is: If they're small enough to pass through a small strainer, it's safe to drink. If they're the really big ones, you're going to have to chew!

 

[hounddawg]

The rule of thumb is: If they're small enough to pass through a small strainer, it's safe to drink. If they're the really big ones, you're going to have to chew!

WOW, just came up with a alcohol protein drink. AKA a health drink,,,,
Dawg

 

[Charles DeVier]

I had worms floating in my cherry wine must this past October. I dipped out about 50 of the larva, probably cherry worms, not fruit flies. I had picked the cherries from my bushes, pitted them and froze in gallon bags. I don't want worms in my food either, so I spent 10 minutes getting them out. Did I miss some? Of course I did, but that is life. My wine is still "cleaner" than store bought; I did not spray pesticides, I don't use sulfides (wife is allergic to them} and I sanitize very well.
note: when you pick your fresh fruit, do not just stick it in the refrigerator, the eggs will still hatch and the worms will still crawl. But place the fresh fruit in the freezer to kill both eggs ans young worms.