Content
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 within a few days it processes it into a tasty, healthy drink, kombucha. Midges in kombucha are an unpleasant, but natural phenomenon. Insects are attracted to the smell released during the fermentation process.
Why does kombucha contain midges, larvae, and worms?
To obtain kombucha, the medusomycete is immersed in a weakly sweetened brew. If you do not cover the container with the infusion, midges will definitely appear, especially in summer. The question arises: is it possible to drink such a drink and what to do with the living creatures.
If a mosquito or ant accidentally gets into the jar, the insects are simply removed. Particularly squeamish people can pour out the drink, rinse the container and Medusomycete (the scientific name for kombucha). But this is the least of the possible problems - mosquitoes are not so attracted to fermentation and sweets, and an ant can only get into a jar by accident or in complete unsanitary conditions.In any case, they won’t do anything bad with the infusion.
Whose larvae appear in kombucha
The worms on the kombucha did not appear on their own. They were laid by fruit flies Drosophila, attracted by the smell of fermentation. This is an extensive genus, there are 1500 described species alone (23 have been well studied). Scientists suggest that in fact there are several times more of them.
Many species of Drosophila are synanthropic organisms, that is, they are attached to human habitation and feed on waste and products that begin to decompose. And the fermentation process is biological decay under the influence of microorganisms. Exactly what fruit flies need to survive and lay eggs.
How worms appear on kombucha
If the jar with medusomycetes is poorly covered, fruit flies can easily penetrate there. They do not need a large hole - the female’s body reaches a length of 2 mm, while the male’s is even smaller. There, insects feed on the sweet solution and lay eggs in the body of the kombucha. It is very difficult to notice them with the naked eye, since their size does not exceed 0.5 mm.
The embryos develop for a day, then larvae appear on the kombucha and begin to actively eat the medusomycete. They feed on foods that have at least a trace of vinegar fermentation. Kombucha produces it itself.
It is at this moment that Drosophila larvae can be seen for the first time on the surface of the substance. Then they gnaw passages in the kombucha, continuing to feed, and hide inside.
The cycle lasts 5 days. By the beginning of pupation, the larvae stop eating the medusomycete, crawl to the surface and begin to actively move. This is how white worms appear on kombucha.
The complete developmental 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 new fertilization. Each Drosophila lives 10-20 days in the summer, constantly mates and lays eggs.
What to do if there are worms or midges in your kombucha
If your kombucha has worms, all you have to do is throw it away. Some try to save the medusomycete by tearing off and throwing away the upper plates. But this can only be done on an old mushroom. And there is no guarantee that the remaining layers are not hiding larvae that have climbed there.
Even a few pieces in 9-10 days will give a new generation, numerous and prolific. The medusomycete will still have to be thrown away. It’s better to ask your friends for a healthy plate or grow it from scratch yourself.
Is it possible to drink a drink if there are midges or larvae in the kombucha?
Fruit midges themselves are safe for humans, even if he accidentally eats a few of them along with the unwashed fruits they have covered. But the larvae are another matter. They can cause intestinal myiases, characterized by:
- diarrhea;
- vomiting;
- pain in the stomach and intestines.
Ingestion of Drosophila larvae through food and drink often results in enteritis, a very unpleasant disease of the small intestine. Such “happiness” is not needed by a healthy person, and for those taking an infusion of medusomycetes for treatment it can be a real blow.
What to do to prevent midges from growing in kombucha
If worms appear in the kombucha, it means that fruit flies have entered the container. To protect against insects, simply covering the jar of kombucha you are preparing with gauze is not enough. It is the vinegar-yeast smell that attracts midges. The aroma of medusomycetes is much stronger than that of fruits or kitchen waste that have begun to rot. And it’s even more pleasant for fruit flies.
The neck of the jar should be covered with gauze or other thin, air-permeable fabric, folded several times. It must be intact and not dilapidated. The flies will try to get inside, looking for the slightest crack. Secure with an elastic band or rope.
How to prevent the appearance of fruit flies can be recommended:
- do not keep ripe, let alone fruits that have begun to rot, in the same room with kombucha;
- take out the trash can on time;
- use thick gauze or other fabric folded several times;
- hang sticky fly strips.
To prevent larvae from infesting the kombucha, the jar must be tightly tied with a strong, air-permeable fabric.
What is not recommended is to set up homemade midge traps. Drosophila will still climb into the medusomycete; it is much more attractive to them than honey, beer or pieces of fruit.
You can learn how to properly care for kombucha from the video:
Conclusion
Midges don’t just grow in kombucha. They are attracted by the smell of fermentation, and the way is opened by a loosely covered neck. It is very easy to avoid this - you need to use thick gauze and an elastic band. But if a fruit fly has gotten inside, the kombucha should be poured out and the medusomycete should be thrown away.
When the midges have already laid eggs on the kombucha, is it possible to remove the top layer and throw it away and leave the rest?