David Grays Fruit Fly Garden Spray 200mL – Maldison Concentrate for Fruit Fly Control

David Grays Fruit Fly Garden Spray 200mL: Maldison Control for Fruit Fly

David Grays Fruit Fly Garden Spray is a concentrated insecticide for controlling fruit fly on fruit trees in the home garden, including Queensland fruit fly. Fruit fly is the pest that ruins a home crop from the inside: the fly stings ripening fruit and lays eggs, the maggots develop inside, and the fruit rots and drops before you get to eat it. This spray helps you get on top of it before that happens. The active is maldison (malathion) at 500 g/L, and you dilute the 200mL concentrate with water, so you mix only what you need.

What It Controls

Its main job is fruit fly on home fruit trees. The same maldison formula also controls a range of other garden pests, including aphids, mites, scale, cabbage moth and loopers on ornamentals and vegetables, so it does more than one job around the garden.

Two Ways to Use It for Fruit Fly

You've got two options, and it's worth knowing both, because they suit different situations.

The first is a direct cover spray: mix the concentrate with water and spray it over the developing fruit, coating it so the flies are killed on contact with the treated fruit. The second is a splash-on bait: add a protein source or sugar to the mix as an attractant, then paint or splash it onto the tree trunk or other non-fruiting surfaces with a rag or brush. The flies are drawn to the bait and killed there, which means you're not coating the fruit itself and you use less spray overall. Many gardeners prefer the bait method for that reason.

Mixing Rates

For fruit fly, mix 25mL of concentrate per 4 litres of water. That batch is enough to treat around 30 trees, and for the bait method you add 25mL of protein or 200g of sugar to it as the attractant. For the other pests on ornamentals and vegetables, aphids, mites, scale, cabbage moth and loopers, the rate is 5mL per 2 litres of water. Always check your pack's label for the exact rate, and spray late in the day, out of the heat, to avoid stressing the plants.

Withholding Period and How Often to Spray

Do not pick fruit or vegetables for 4 days after spraying. For fruit fly, apply at the first signs of activity, and the manufacturer's guidance is to reapply about every 2 weeks through the risk period to keep protection up as fruit continues to ripen. Because fruit fly pressure builds as fruit matures, staying on top of it with regular application makes a real difference to how much fruit you save.

Bees, Fish and Safe Handling

Maldison is an organophosphate, so it needs to be handled with care. It's harmful to bees, so spray only when bees aren't active and avoid spraying open flowers they're visiting. It's also toxic to fish, so keep it away from ponds, drains and waterways and avoid spray drift near water. Wear suitable protective clothing when mixing and spraying, including gloves, avoid breathing the spray mist, and keep children and pets away during application and until the spray has dried. Cats are more sensitive to it than most animals, so take particular care around them.

Key Features & Benefits

• Controls fruit fly on home garden fruit trees, including Queensland fruit fly

• Active constituent maldison (malathion) 500 g/L

• Two application methods: direct cover spray or splash-on bait

• One batch treats around 30 trees

• Also controls aphids, mites, scale, cabbage moth and loopers on ornamentals and vegetables

• Concentrated 200mL, mix only what you need

• Short 4-day withholding period on fruit and vegetables

Frequently Asked Questions

What does David Grays Fruit Fly Spray control?
Fruit fly on home fruit trees, including Queensland fruit fly. The same maldison formula also controls aphids, mites, scale, cabbage moth and loopers on ornamentals and vegetables.

What is the active ingredient?
Maldison (malathion) at 500 g/L, an organophosphate insecticide.

How do I use it for fruit fly?
Mix 25mL per 4 litres of water. You can spray it directly over the developing fruit, or add protein or 200g of sugar to make a splash-on bait that you paint onto tree trunks. That batch treats around 30 trees.

What is the withholding period?
Do not pick fruit or vegetables for 4 days after spraying.

How often should I spray?
Apply at the first signs of fruit fly, then reapply about every 2 weeks through the period when fruit is ripening.

Does it work on Queensland fruit fly?
Yes. It's effective against Queensland fruit fly on home garden fruit trees.

Is it safe for bees?
No, maldison is harmful to bees. Spray only when bees aren't active, avoid flowering plants they're visiting, and keep it away from waterways as it's also toxic to fish.

Where can I buy David Grays Fruit Fly Garden Spray in Australia?
You can buy the 200mL bottle from BPG Supplies, shipped Australia-wide.