Genus species: Drosophila suzukii
The spotted wing Drosophila (SWD) is a vinegar or fruit fly of East Asian origin. It made its way into New York by 2011. Today, it has spread throughout most of the continental US. It can directly infest the fruit of many plants, but is most attracted to raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, and other late-season, soft-flesh fruits — cultivated and wild.
SWD deserves notice because, unlike her relatives, which lay eggs on over-ripe or rotting fruit, she can lay eggs inside fresh fruit, often before harvest. After only a few days, the fruit skin becomes dimpled or wrinkled, forming craters in the fruit. Without control measures, late season raspberries, blackberries and blueberries can suffer upwards of 80% crop loss.
Cornell University is coordinating SWD monitoring in NY. A map of current findings is found on the Distribution maps page and the SWD blog reports where it is being caught.
Crops of concern and wild hosts
Economic and environmental impact
SWD Resources:
- Spotted Wing Drosophila Working Group, NE IPM:
- Getting Ready for Spotted Wing Drosophila: Understanding Risks for Small Fruit Crops and Current Management Options – webcast with Dr. Greg Loeb, Cornell University
- Spotted Wing Drosophila – Michigan State University
- Spotted Wing Drosophila – Oregon State University
- SWD Resource Database from the Northeastern IPM Center
- PA IPM, Spotted Wing Drosophila, Individual sections in PDF format:
- This “Ninja” Fruit Fly Cuts into Perfect Fruits – Spotted Wing Drosophila (2012 Fruit Quarterly v. 20-3)
- Spotted Wing Drosophila – General information, NC Small Fruit & Specialty Crop IPM
- Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD), New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets & Food
- Finger Lakes SWD monitoring videos – See — and learn how to ID — what the Loeb Lab is finding in their SWD traps. More info.
- Spotted Wing Drosophila – Info from the New York State IPM Program.
- SWD ID Video – You-tube video from Oregon State University on how to identify SWD.
- SWD Management – NY product tables for berry crops – including blueberries, raspberries and blackberries, and strawberries. NY product tables for stone fruit and grapes.
- Special SWD issue of New York Berry News [2013-07-29]
- Evaluation of Insect Exclusion and Mass Trapping as Cultural Controls of Spotted Wing Drosophila in Organic Blueberry Production – New York Fruit Quarterly, Spring 2014.
- How do I manage Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD) in my garden?
Spotted Wing Drosophila Blog:
Latest posts:
- Thinking exclusion?
As in "exclusion netting"...? Here are answers to growers' most frequently asked questions. In organic and low spray vegetable production, insect exclusion netting, for many years, has successfully reduced or eliminated insect pest damage. The arrival of spotted wing drosophila (SWD) and the devastation it caused prompted immediate field research on this barrier method for ...continue reading "Thinking exclusion?" - Stay Healthy, Wash your Hands, Meet Online
I trust everyone is staying healthy, washing their hands and meeting mainly online, rather than in person. Regardless, our fruit crops will grow and require care and protection from insects, mites, plant diseases, wildlife, and weeds! I will continue to provide SWD information via this blog. Current plans are to run the SWD monitoring network ...continue reading "Stay Healthy, Wash your Hands, Meet Online" - Is SWD still a problem?
In the past eight years, we’ve progressed in our ability to manage spotted wing drosophila (SWD), but it remains a serious economic problem for fruit growers in NY and across the US. Do you think that statement is correct? If yes, we could use your help in telling the USDA just that—that SWD remains a ...continue reading "Is SWD still a problem?" - Strawberry Substrate Workshop, February 11-13, 2020
An in-depth strawberry substrate workshop will be held February 11–13, 2020 at the Moakley House, Ithaca, NY Growing strawberries in substrate (soil-less media) can help prevent soil-borne diseases. It can also increase yields, improve quality, and reduce the costs associated with pesticides, fertilizer, and water. In this 3-day workshop, led by Dennis Wilson of Delphy, a worldwide ...continue reading "Strawberry Substrate Workshop, February 11-13, 2020" - What does SWD do in the winter?
The Sustainable SWD Management Project's November 5 webinar covered the seasonal biology and movement of SWD, "SWD in Space and Time: What do we know about the seasonal biology and movement of SWD?" The recording from the webinar is now available on the project's website. Access the recording here: https://swdmanagement.org/2019/11/webinar-swd-in-space-time/ You'll gain information on: how ...continue reading "What does SWD do in the winter?" - Cull fruit and SWD
Fruit that has dropped to the ground in orchards and berry plantings provides resources for SWD — food and reproduction. Populations of SWD are climbing. SWD made up almost half of the fruit flies caught in traps in an unsprayed research site where ~300 were caught in four traps. I've seen lots of fruit flies ...continue reading "Cull fruit and SWD" - Spotted Lanternfly IPM Conference
Spotted Lanternfly — On the Doorstep Or Already In Our Fields? Learn more at the 2019 IPM Conference hosted by the New York State Integrated Pest Management Program on August 15, 2019 at the Broome County CCE Farmers Market, 840 Upper Front St., Binghamton, NY. Yes! That's this Thursday, 8:30 to 4:30. Lunch provided. Earn recertification ...continue reading "Spotted Lanternfly IPM Conference"
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