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Kombucha is a living organism, a symbiosis of acetic bacteria and yeast. It is a gelatinous, jellyfish-like mass that floats in a nutrient solution of tea leaves and sugar, and processes it into a delicious, healthy kombucha drink in a few days. Midges in kombucha are an unpleasant phenomenon, but natural. Insects are attracted to the odor released during the fermentation process.
Why midges, larvae, worms start in Kombucha
To make kombucha, the medusa fungus is dipped in a weakly sweetened tea. Midges, if you do not cover the container with the infusion, will definitely appear, especially in summer. The question arises: is it possible to drink such a drink and what to do with living creatures.
If a mosquito or an ant accidentally gets into the jar, the insects are simply removed. Particularly squeamish people can pour out the drink, rinse the container and jellyfish (scientific name of kombucha). But this is the least of the possible problems – fermentation and sweets are not so attractive to mosquitoes, and an ant can only get into a jar by accident or with complete unsanitary conditions. In any case, they will not do anything bad to the infusion.
Whose larvae appear in kombucha
The worms on kombucha did not start on their own. They were deposited by Drosophila fruit flies, attracted by the smell of fermentation. This is an extensive genus, there are only 1500 described species (23 are well studied). Scientists suggest that in fact there are several times more of them.
Many species of fruit flies are synanthropic organisms, that is, they are attached to human habitation, they feed on waste and products that begin to decompose. And the fermentation process is the biological decay under the action of microorganisms. Exactly what fruit flies need to survive and lay eggs.
How worms appear on kombucha
If the jar of medusomycete is poorly covered, fruit flies can easily enter there. They do not need a large hole – the body of the female reaches a length of 2 mm, while the male is even smaller. There, insects feed on a sweet solution and lay eggs in the body of Kombucha. It is very difficult to notice them with the naked eye, since the size does not exceed 0,5 mm.
Embryos develop for a day, then larvae appear on the kombucha, starting to actively eat the medusomycete. They eat foods that have at least a trace of acetic fermentation. Kombucha itself produces it.
It is at this moment that Drosophila larvae can first be seen on the surface of the substance. Then they gnaw holes in the kombucha, continuing to eat, and hide inside.
The cycle lasts 5 days. By the beginning of pupation, the larvae stop eating the jellyfish, crawl out to the surface and begin to move actively. This is how white worms appear on kombucha.
Full development cycle of Drosophila – adults, eggs, larvae, pupae
Within 3 days the pupa develops. Right on the kombucha, she sheds her shell, and after 10 hours she is ready for a new fertilization. Each Drosophila lives 10-20 days in the summer, constantly mating and laying eggs.
What to do if worms or midges are wound up in Kombucha
If there are worms on the kombucha, it remains only to throw it away. Some try to save the jellyfish by tearing off and discarding the top plates. But this can only be done on an old mushroom. Yes, and there is no guarantee that the larvae that climbed there did not hide in the remaining layers.
Even a few pieces in 9-10 days will give a new generation, numerous and prolific. Medusomycetes will still have to be thrown away. It is better to ask friends for a healthy record or grow it yourself from scratch.
Is it possible to drink a drink if there are midges or larvae in Kombucha
The fruit midges themselves are safe for a person, even if he accidentally eats a few pieces along with the unwashed fruits offended by them. But the larvae are another matter. They can cause intestinal myiasis characterized by:
- diarrhea;
- vomiting;
- pain in the stomach and intestines.
Ingestion with food and drink of Drosophila larvae often ends with enteritis – a very unpleasant disease of the small intestine. Such “happiness” is not necessary for a healthy person, but for those who take the infusion of medusomycete for treatment, it can be a real blow.
What to do so that midges do not start in kombucha
If worms start up in the kombucha, it means that fruit flies have penetrated the container. To protect against insects, simply covering the jar of cooking kombucha with gauze is not enough. It is the vinegar-yeast smell that attracts midges. The aroma of the jellyfish is much stronger than that of fruits that have begun to rot or kitchen waste. And for Drosophila and more pleasant.
The neck of the jar should be covered with gauze or other thin, well-permeable cloth, folded several times. It must be intact and not worn out. Flies will try to get inside, looking for the slightest gap. Secure with a rubber band or rope.
How to prevent the appearance of Drosophila can be advised:
- do not keep in the same room with kombucha ripe, and even more so fruits that have begun to rot;
- take out the trash in time;
- use thick gauze or other fabric folded several times;
- hang sticky tape for flies.
To prevent the larvae from starting in the kombucha, the jar must be tightly tied with a strong, air-permeable cloth.
What is not recommended is to set up homemade traps for midges. Drosophila will still climb into the jellyfish, it is much more attractive to them than honey, beer or pieces of fruit.
How to properly care for kombucha, you can learn from the video:
Conclusion
Midges in kombucha do not just start. They are attracted by the smell of fermentation, and the loosely covered neck opens the way. Avoiding this is very simple – you need to use thick gauze and an elastic band. But if the Drosophila has already climbed inside, the kombucha should be poured out, and the jellyfish should be thrown away.