Unlike common fruit flies that lay eggs only on overripe or rotting fruit, the Spotted Wing Drosophila has a serrated egg-laying organ that allows it to pierce fresh, ripening fruit. The eggs hatch into tiny larvae inside the strawberry, where they feed and develop.
Because strawberries are soft and porous, they’re particularly vulnerable — especially if grown outdoors.
Why Salt Water Makes Them Come Out
When you soak strawberries in salt water:
The salt creates an inhospitable environment.
The larvae react to the change in salinity.
They instinctively wriggle out of the fruit to escape.
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