I soaked my berries in salt water and saw these white wiggling things come out. Should I just throw them away?

I soaked my berries in salt water and saw these white wiggling things come out. Should I just throw them away?

Salt water soaks are effective at drawing out larvae from berries due to a process called osmosis. When berries are submerged in a salt water solution, the difference in salt concentration inside and outside the larvae’s body causes water to move out of their cells, effectively dehydrating and forcing them to wriggle out of the fruit.
The typical ratio for a salt water soak is about 1 tablespoon of salt per cup of water. This concentration is enough to prompt larvae to emerge without damaging the fruit. The soak usually lasts for about 15-30 minutes, during which time any larvae present will likely surface.

3. Meet the Culprit: Strawberry Fruit Fly Larvae Explained
The Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD) is a small fruit fly that targets soft-skinned fruit such as berries. Unlike other fruit flies that lay eggs on overripe or damaged fruit, SWD can lay their eggs in healthy, ripening fruit, which makes them particularly troublesome for berry producers.
The lifecycle of the SWD involves laying eggs on the fruit, where the larvae hatch and begin feeding on the fruit’s flesh. This can occur very quickly, with a full lifecycle completing in as little as 8-12 days. The presence of larvae is usually not visible until they are fully developed, making detection challenging for consumers and producers alike.

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