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:
- 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" - Managing SWD in blueberries
Blueberries are highly susceptible to SWD. Although early maturing varieties can escape infestation in some years, that hasn’t been the case this year in many areas of NY State. U-Pick and farm stand customers want the best from farm-fresh blueberries and SWD can mar that experience — so be proactive — make sure your customers ...continue reading "Managing SWD in blueberries" - Sustained catch in Dutchess, Erie, Herkimer, Livingston, Onondaga, Orleans, & Tioga Counties
Sustained SWD catch was obtained over the last couple of weeks in several counties — Dutchess 1 SWD, Herkimer 6 SWD, Livingston 18 SWD, Onondaga 16 SWD, Orleans at two farms 11 and 9 SWD, and Tioga 1 SWD. Last month, I missed reporting sustained catch in Erie County on June 6, 1 female SWD. ...continue reading "Sustained catch in Dutchess, Erie, Herkimer, Livingston, Onondaga, Orleans, & Tioga Counties" - High numbers of SWD last week!
The ability for the SWD population to explode as summer rolls on was demonstrated last week in several counties where I have research projects. Per trap, 5 to 125 SWD were caught in raspberry, blueberry, and tart cherry in mid-July. The totals for the two to four traps set in the orchards and fields were ...continue reading "High numbers of SWD last week!"
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