Fao Theprof

[society]

Where do worms come from, or how do they appear in fruits? Do they just form from the overripe fruit flesh?

I've always wondered about this and would appreciate responses from anyone. Thanks

[society]

Hi Jem, in summer time I buy lots of tropical fruits mostly from the Chinese or Korean Stores.

[Jemisa]

Mmmm! You've just answered your own Q.

Try to go to a store that has a quicker turnover 'Waitrose' maybe. the quicker the turnover the fresher the fruit. No one knows what its like in the back of these shops, they could be infested with flies there bearing in mind these fruit flies are soo tiny. In the big stores tropical fruits are delivered in refridgerated lorries and stored at a cool temperature mainly for your health's sake & to keep at bay any tropical diseases.


jem

[wildwood]

It appears that your endeavour to wind up Theprof did not bear any fruit.

[vascop]

What happens is that insects lay eggs in the flower parts before the fruit has developed, then when the fruit develops around the eggs the maggot hatches out and finds itself inside the fruit and eats its way out.

[jomifl]

I am almost lost for words, the spontaneous creation myth was dispelled centuries ago (before the theory of evolution) . There are various kinds of worms, some parasitic in animals and plants, some free living, you can look them up on wiki. What you get in fruit is usually insect larvae of some kind, they could be fly or beetle larvae. They hatch out from eggs laid by insects. You could get nematode worms in fruit but they would be small and thin and not very wriggly. Why don't you keep some maggoty fruit in a large closed container and see what hatches out. you could get some wonderful examples of the diversity of nature (but probably not). Happy new year!

[flicrat]

Back in 1962 I bought a tin of celery hearts. When I opened it and brought them out there was a long worm curled up in the middle of one of the hearts. Never bought any since!

[society]

Thanks everyone for your input. The next time I see worms / maggots when I cut open a papaya (or any fruit) I will take a photo and post it on this thread.


“It appears that your endeavour to wind up Theprof did not bear any fruit.”

Wildwood, this ^^^ statement which you’ve made makes one hesitant to ask a question on here. This is not a wind-up. I particularly directed this question to Theprof because of his knowledge, experience and qualifications.

[boxtops]

society, rather than posting it on here - each time you cut open fruit and see a maggot, take it back to the shop. Their fruit has obviously been got at by whatever bug is laying its eggs in your fruit.

[wildwood]

society //Do they just form from the overripe fruit flesh?//

Are you for real?

[starone]

The parent fly lays its eggs in the flower even before the fruit is formed, then when the fruit is set the egg hatches out and the maggot eats its way out, not inwards.