Spotted Wing Drosophila

For updates on SWD and other pests, sign up now for the NY Berry Pest Monitoring Blog!

Anna Wallis, Cornell IPM 

Now is the time of year to be monitoring insect traps for economically significant insect pests! The Berry Pest Monitoring Network is a collection of monitoring locations and a blog sharing this type of seasonal berry pest activity across NY State. Data are contributed by extension, consultants, and growers for indicator sites in major fruit production regions.

The blog includes a dynamic map, graph, and table visualizing pest activity throughout the state. The dropdown options to the left of the graph are used to filter data to a specific year, location, and pest. It is a continuation of the SWD monitoring efforts and blog at Cornell IPM.

To keep receiving SWD and other berry pest updates, you need to subscribe and confirm your email. To subscribe to the new blog, visit the website link and click on 'Subscribe by Email' on the right hand menu. Next, check your email. You will receive a confirmation email, and you'll need to click the link to confirm.

Why the change? There are a few reasons for the change. First, this new blog will allow us to include other berry pests in our monitoring and reporting efforts across the state, including Cranberry Fruitworm (CBFW), Cherry Fruitworm (CFW), and Blueberry Maggot (BBM). These three pests were ranked highest for other problematic insect pests on your farms from poll responses of growers in winter 2023-24 conducted at regional winter meetings and on the SWD blog. They have the potential to cause significant damage to berry crops, primarily blueberry.

The change also allows us more visibility and consistency within Cornell resources and programming. It will also streamline efforts put toward data collection and reporting, making it possible to most efficiently share updated information with the industry.

 

Survey Responses: What other insects are problematic on your farm?

Responses from berry growers in winter 2023-2024. Surveys were conducted at regional winter meetings and on the SWD blog. 

Weighted Value	Pest	Rank
18.2	Cranberry Fruitworm	1
16.9	Rose Chafers	2
16.0	Cherry Fruitworm	3
13.8	Blueberry Maggot	4
12.1	Mites	5
9.4	Aphids	6
8.9	Leafhoppers	7
7.4	Japanese Beetles	8
6.2	Sap Beetles	9
3.9	Other - gall wasps	10

We are also now able to report regionally, rather than just at a county level. Nature rarely pays attention to boundaries like county lines. To account for more specific regional microclimates, we will reporting trap captures at a more local level. The new system will use a new dynamic map (on the homepage of the new blog), which is searchable by region, specific location, date, and time frame. We recognize the importance of protecting privacy, therefore GPS coordinates used in reporting will be truncated to be approximate.

If you are interested in contributing data to the network, please reach out to Anna Wallis at aew232@cornell.edu.

February 26, 2025
2:00-3:30 PM EST

***

A reminder that we are moving! During the 2025 season, all SWD information, including weekly trap captures and research updates, will be posted on the Berry Pest Monitoring Network blog. If you haven't already, please subscribe to our new blog!

https://blogs.cornell.edu/berrypests

***

Spotted wing drosophila (SWD) trap captures increased considerably in many locations throughout NY state over the past few weeks. Fewer sites reported data this week, as sustained trap capture has been reported in most locations.

First captures were reported:

• The week of 5/27 in Albany, Dutchess and Suffolk Counties.
• The week of 6/3 in Clinton, Columbia, Schuyler, Washington, and Ontario Counties.
• The week of 6/10 in Delaware, Essex, Niagara, Tioga, Tompkins, Wayne
• The week of 6/17 in Chenango
• The week of 6/24 in Monroe
• The week of 7/8 in St. Lawrence 
• The Week of 7/15 in Franklin County

In most locations, sustained trap capture was reported the following week (sustained + two consecutive weeks of positive trap captures). Traps are taken down in some locations after 2 or 3 consecutive weeks of captures. In other locations they are used by growers to estimate pest pressure over the course of the season. While there is currently no data-driven recommendations on thresholds to guide pesticide applications, work is being done to test this at labs across the country, including Dr. Greg Loeb's lab at Cornell AgriTech in Geneva.

As mentioned our first update for 2024 summarizing SWD monitoring, first captures are somewhat earlier than has been reported in the past. This is especially true compared to last season (2023), in which first trap captures for many locations were recorded nearly two weeks later than average. THe exception was in Franklin and St. Lawrence counties, in which first trap capture dates were similar in 2023 and 2024. This highlights the need for site and season specific monitoring efforts to initiate management programs at the appropriate time.

Under the correct conditions, populations of SWD can increase rapidly. First and sustained trap capture has been reported in the majority of monitoring locations at this time, although in some locations SWD has not yet been detected in traps. In most places populations have rapidly increased, which is typical of this insect. In other locations, populations have declined, likely suppressed by insecticide applications. The following graph shows at sites across NY State from the week of May 27 to July 22, showing increase in the overall number of insects captured per site.

 

Weekly SWD trap captures by location across NY

 

Weekly SWD trap captures by location across NY

 

Location	Week of 5/27	Week of 6/3	Week of 6/10	Week of 6/17	Week of 6/24	Week of 7/1	Week of 7/8	Week of 7/15	Week of 7/22
Albany1	10	9	5
Chenango1			0	1
Clinton1		4	5
Columbia2	0	9	5	16
Columbia3	0	2	9	57	83	4	78	25
Delaware1			23		30
Dutchess6	2	21	77	452
Essex3		0	6	6
Franklin1						0	0	14
Monroe1			0		2	6	3	10	49
Niagara4	0	0	2	5	37	20	50	26	146
Niagara6			0	2
Orleans2	0	0	1		0	6	3	13	72
Orleans4	0	0	0		6	1	9	5	72
Schuyler6	0	3	12
StLawrence2					0	0	2		11
StLawrence4					0	0	7
StLawrence5					0	0	0
StLawrence6					0	0	17
StLawrence7					0		1
Suffolk1	4	3	95	11	227	225
Suffolk2			13	45
Tioga10				9	9
Tioga4		0	8	12	19
Tioga5				7	2
Tioga6				3	7
Tioga7				5	10
Tioga8				6	0
Tioga9				10	20
Tompkins4	0	0	1	2
Washington1		2	3	9
Washington2		2	9	18
Wayne11	0	0	1	0	1	1	3	3	26
Wayne13	0	0	0	2	29	17	49	12	11
WNY Geneva - Ontario6		5	19	7

Thank you to all of our collaborators for servicing SWD traps across the state!

Spotted wing drosophila (SWD) trap captures continue to be reported in many locations throughout NY state over the past few weeks, as many varieties of berries are come into full production & harvest continues. Fewer sites reported data this week, as sustained trap capture has been reported in most locations. In more locations, traps captures continue to increase. In some locations, captures fluctuate depending on management strategy and as crop is harvested. At a few sites, trap captures remain very low.

New first trap captures were reported this week in Franklin County. In both Franklin and St. Lawrence Counties, first trap capture dates were similar for 2024 (June 11) and 2023 (June 13) which is unexpected and different than other sites. In many locations trap captures have been 1-2 weeks earlier than average this year likely due to the warm, wet weather. This is especially noticeable compared to last year (2023) in which the cool, dry spring resulted in trap captures later than average.

First captures were reported:

• The week of 5/27 in Albany, Dutchess and Suffolk Counties.
• The week of 6/3 in Clinton, Columbia, Schuyler, Washington, and Ontario Counties.
• The week of 6/10 in Delaware, Essex, Niagara, Tioga, Tompkins, Wayne
• The week of 6/17 in Chenango
• The week of 6/24 in Monroe
• The week of 7/8 in St. Lawrence 
• The Week of 7/15 in Franklin County

In most locations, sustained trap capture was reported the following week (sustained + two consecutive weeks of positive trap captures). Traps are taken down in some locations after 2 or 3 consecutive weeks of captures. In other locations they are used by growers to estimate pest pressure over the course of the season. While there is currently no data-driven recommendations on thresholds to guide pesticide applications, work is being done to test this at labs across the country, including Dr. Greg Loeb's lab at Cornell AgriTech in Geneva.

As mentioned our first update for 2024 summarizing SWD monitoring, first captures are somewhat earlier than has been reported in the past. This is especially true compared to last season (2023), in which first trap captures for many locations were recorded nearly two weeks later than average. This highlights the need for site and season specific monitoring efforts to initiate management programs at the appropriate time.

Under the correct conditions, populations of SWD can increase rapidly. First and sustained trap capture has been reported in the majority of monitoring locations at this time, although in some locations SWD has not yet been detected in traps. In most places, numbers are low and slowly increasing. But in some locations populations have increased dramatically. In other locations, populations have declined, likely suppressed by insecticide applications. The following graph shows at sites across NY State from the week of May 27 to July 1, showing increase in the overall number of insects captured per site.

 

Weekly SWD trap captures by location across NY

 

Weekly SWD trap captures by location across NY

Location	Week of 5/27	Week of 6/3	Week of 6/10	Week of 6/17	Week of 6/24	Week of 7/1	Week of 7/8	Week of 7/15
Albany1	10	9	5
Chenango1			0	1
Clinton1		4	5
Columbia2	0	9	5	16
Columbia3	0	2	9	57	83	4	78	25
Delaware1			23		30
Dutchess6	2	21	77	452
Essex3		0	6	6
Franklin1						0	0	14
Monroe1			0		2	6	3	10
Niagara4	0	0	2	5	37	20	50	26
Niagara6			0	2
Orleans2	0	0	1		0	6	3	13
Orleans4	0	0	0		6	1	9	5
Schuyler6	0	3	12
StLawrence2					0	0	2
StLawrence4					0	0	7
StLawrence5					0	0	0
StLawrence6					0	0	17
StLawrence7					0		1
Suffolk1	4	3	95	11	227	225
Suffolk2			13	45
Tioga10				9	9
Tioga4		0	8	12	19
Tioga5				7	2
Tioga6				3	7
Tioga7				5	10
Tioga8				6	0
Tioga9				10	20
Tompkins4	0	0	1	2
Washington1		2	3	9
Washington2		2	9	18
Wayne11	0	0	1	0	1	1	3	3
Wayne13	0	0	0	2	29	17	49	12
WNY Geneva - Ontario6		5	19	7

Thank you to all of our collaborators for servicing SWD traps across the state!

Spotted wing drosophila (SWD) trap captures continue to be reported in many locations throughout NY state over the past few weeks. Fewer sites reported this week, as sustained trap capture has been reported in most locations. In many places, trap counts continue to be low. In some locations populations have escalated quickly. No new first captures were reported this week (Week of 7/8).

New first trap captures were reported this week in St. Lawrence county. First trap capture dates were similar for 2024 (June 11) and 2023 (June 13) which is unexpected and different than other sites. In many locations trap captures have been 1-2 weeks earlier than average this year likely due to the warm, wet weather. This is especially noticeable compared to last year (2023) in which the cool, dry spring resulted in trap captures later than average.

Cumulative SWD Trap Captures at Monitoring Locations in NY State

First captures were reported:

• The week of 5/27 in Albany, Dutchess and Suffolk Counties.
• The week of 6/3 in Clinton, Columbia, Schuyler, Washington, and Ontario Counties.
• The week of 6/10 in Delaware, Essex, Niagara, Tioga, Tompkins, Wayne
• The week of 6/17 in Chenango
• The week of 6/24 in Monroe
• The week of 7/8 in St. Lawrence 

In most locations, sustained trap capture was reported the following week (sustained + two consecutive weeks of positive trap captures). Traps are taken down in some locations after 2 or 3 consecutive weeks of captures. In other locations they are used by growers to estimate pest pressure over the course of the season. While there is currently no data-driven recommendations on thresholds to guide pesticide applications, work is being done to test this at labs across the country, including Dr. Greg Loeb's lab at Cornell AgriTech in Geneva.

As mentioned our first update for 2024 summarizing SWD monitoring, first captures are somewhat earlier than has been reported in the past. This is especially true compared to last season (2023), in which first trap captures for many locations were recorded nearly two weeks later than average. This highlights the need for site and season specific monitoring efforts to initiate management programs at the appropriate time.

Under the correct conditions, populations of SWD can increase rapidly. First and sustained trap capture has been reported in the majority of monitoring locations at this time, although in some locations SWD has not yet been detected in traps. In most places, numbers are low and slowly increasing. But in some locations populations have increased dramatically. In other locations, populations have declined, likely suppressed by insecticide applications. The following graph shows at sites across NY State from the week of May 27 to July 1, showing increase in the overall number of insects captured per site.

 

Weekly SWD trap captures by location across NY

 

Weekly SWD trap captures by location across NY

Location	Week of 5/27	Week of 6/3	Week of 6/10	Week of 6/17	Week of 6/24	Week of 7/1	Week of 7/8
Albany1	10	9	5
Chenango1			0	1
Clinton1		4	5
Columbia2	0	9	5	16
Columbia3	0	2	9	57	83	4	78
Delaware1			23		30
Dutchess6	2	21	77	452
Essex3		0	6	6
Monroe1			0		2	6	3
Niagara4	0	0	2	5	37	20	50
Niagara6			0	2
Orleans2	0	0	1		0	6	3
Orleans4	0	0	0		6	1	9
Schuyler6	0	3	12
Suffolk1	4	3	95	11	227	225
Suffolk2			13	45
Tioga4		0	8	12	19
Tompkins4	0	0	1	2
Washington1		2	3	9
Washington2		2	9	18
Wayne11	0	0	1	0	1	1	3
Wayne13	0	0	0	2	29	17	49
WNY Geneva - Ontario6		5	19	7
Tioga5				7	2
Tioga10				9	9
Tioga6				3	7
Tioga7				5	10
Tioga8				6	0
Tioga9				10	20
StLawrence2					0	0	2
StLawrence4					0	0	7
StLawrence5					0	0	0
StLawrence6					0	0	17
StLawrence7					0		1
Franklin1						0	0

Thank you to all of our collaborators for servicing SWD traps across the state!

First trap capture was reported in St. Lawrence County in blueberries on Wednesday July 10. One male was identified in a jar trap.

Thank you to Nick Hamilton-Honey for servicing these traps.

This is similar timing to last season -- in 2023, first trap capture was recorded on July 13. This is different than many other locations this season, which were up to 2 weeks earlier in 2024 than 2023. The earlier trap captures in some locations are likely related to the early, wet spring. In St. Lawrence County, the similar trap capture date may be due to microclimate of this region or location. Emphasizing again the importance of site-specific monitoring!

 

~ This is a friendly reminder to subscribe to the NEW Berry Pest Monitoring Network Blog! We are transitioning to the new blog this year and will cross-post for the 2024 season. https://blogs.cornell.edu/berrypests/ ~

Spotted wing drosophila (SWD) trap captures continue to be reported in many locations throughout NY state over the past few weeks. Fewer sites reported this week, as sustained trap capture has been reported in most locations. In many places, trap counts continue to be low. In some locations populations have escalated quickly. No new first captures were reported this week (7/1).

 

Cumulative SWD Trap Captures at Monitoring Locations in NY State

 

First captures were reported:

• The week of 5/27 in Albany, Dutchess and Suffolk Counties.
• The week of 6/3 in Clinton, Columbia, Schuyler, Washington, and Ontario Counties.
• The week of 6/10 in Delaware, Essex, Niagara, Tioga, Tompkins, Wayne
• The week of 6/17 in Chenango
• The week of 6/24 in Monroe

In most locations, sustained trap capture was reported the following week (sustained + two consecutive weeks of positive trap captures). Traps are taken down in some locations after 2 or 3 consecutive weeks of captures. In other locations they are used by growers to estimate pest pressure over the course of the season. While there is currently no data-driven recommendations on thresholds to guide pesticide applications, work is being done to test this at labs across the country, including Dr. Greg Loeb's lab at Cornell AgriTech in Geneva.

As mentioned our first update for 2024 summarizing SWD monitoring, first captures are somewhat earlier than has been reported in the past. This is especially true compared to last season (2023), in which first trap captures for many locations were recorded nearly two weeks later than average. This highlights the need for site and season specific monitoring efforts to initiate management programs at the appropriate time.

Under the correct conditions, populations of SWD can increase rapidly. First and sustained trap capture has been reported in the majority of monitoring locations at this time, although in some locations SWD has not yet been detected in traps. In most places, numbers are low and slowly increasing. But in some locations populations have increased dramatically. In other locations, populations have declined, likely suppressed by insecticide applications. The following graph shows at sites across NY State from the week of May 27 to July 1, showing increase in the overall number of insects captured per site.

 

Weekly SWD trap captures by location across NY

 

 

Weekly SWD trap captures by location across NY

Location	Week of 5/27	Week of 6/3	Week of 6/10	Week of 6/17	Week of 6/24	Week of 7/1
Albany1	10	9	5
Chenango1			0	1
Clinton1		4	5
Columbia2	0	9	5	16
Delaware1			23		30
Essex3		0	6	6
HV Fishkill - Dutchess6	2	21	77	452
HV Red Hook - Columbia3	0	2	9	57	83	59
LO1 - Niagara4	0	0	2	5	37	20
LO2 - Orleans2	0	0	1		0	6
Monroe1			0		2	6
Niagara6			0	2
Orleans4	0	0	0		6	1
Schuyler6	0	3	12
Suffolk1	4	3	95	11	227	225
Suffolk2			13	45
Tioga4		0	8	12	19
Tompkins4	0	0	1	2
Washington1		2	3	9
Washington2		2	9	18
Wayne11	0	0	1	0	1	1
Wayne13	0	0	0	2	29	17
WNY Geneva - Ontario6		5	15	7	4
Tioga5				7	2
Tioga10				9	9
Tioga6				3	7
Tioga7				5	10
Tioga8				6	0
Tioga9				10	20
StLawrence2					0
StLawrence4					0
StLawrence5					0
StLawrence6					0
StLawrence7					0
Franklin1						0

Thank you to all of our collaborators for servicing SWD traps across the state!

Spotted wing drosophila (SWD) trap captures continue to be reported in many locations throughout NY state over the past few weeks. In many places, trap counts continue to be low. In some locations populations have escalated quickly.

First captures were reported:

• The week of 5/27 in Albany, Dutchess and Suffolk Counties.
• The week of 6/3 in Clinton, Columbia, Schuyler, Washington, and Ontario Counties.
• The week of 6/10 in Delaware, Essex, Niagara, Tioga, Tompkins, Wayne
• The week of 6/17 in Chenango

As mentioned our first update for 2024 summarizing SWD monitoring, first captures are somewhat earlier than has been reported in the past. This is especially true compared to last season (2023), in which first trap captures for many locations were recorded nearly two weeks later than average. This highlights the need for site and season specific monitoring efforts to initiate management programs at the appropriate time.

Cumulative SWD Trap Captures at Monitoring Locations in NY State

Under the correct conditions, populations of SWD can increase rapidly. First and sustained trap capture has been reported in the majority of monitoring locations at this time, although in some locations SWD has not yet been detected in traps. In most places, numbers are low and slowly increasing. But in some locations populations have increased dramatically. In other locations, populations have declined, likely suppressed by insecticide applications. The following graph shows at sites across NY State from the week of May 27 to June 17, showing increase in the overall number of insects captured per site.

Weekly trap captures by locations

Location	Week of 5/27	Week of 6/3	Week of 6/10	Week of 6/17
Albany1	10	9	5
Chenango1			0	1
Clinton1		4	5
Columbia2	0	9	5	16
Delaware1			23
Essex3		0	6	6
Dutchess6	2	21	77	452
Columbia3	0	2	9	57
LO1 - Niagara4	0	0	2	5
LO2 - Orleans2	0	0	1	0
Monroe1			0	0
Niagara6			0	0
Orleans4	0	0	0	0
Schuyler6	0	3	12
Suffolk1	4	3	95	11
Suffolk2			13	45
Tioga4		0	8	12
Tompkins4	0	0	1	2
Washington1		2	3	9
Washington2		2	9	18
Wayne11	0	0	1	0
Wayne13	0	0	0	2
WNY Geneva - Ontario6		5	15
Tioga5				7
Tioga10				9
Tioga6				3
Tioga7				5
Tioga8				6
Tioga9				10

Thank you to all of our collaborators for servicing SWD traps across the state!

Spotted wing drosophila (SWD) first and sustained trap captures continue to be reported in many locations throughout NY state over the past three weeks.

First captures were reported

• The week of 5/27 in Albany, Dutchess and Suffolk Counties.
• The week of 6/3 in Clinton, Columbia, Schuyler, Washington, and Ontario Counties.
• The week of 6/10 in Delaware, Essex, Niagara, Tioga, Tompkins, Wayne

As mentioned our first update for 2024 summarizing SWD monitoring, first captures are somewhat earlier than has been reported in the past. This is especially true compared to last season (2023), in which first trap captures for many locations were recorded nearly two weeks later than average. This highlights the need for site and season specific monitoring efforts to initiate management programs at the appropriate time.

Under the correct conditions, populations of SWD can increase rapidly. This season, in most locations only low trap captures have been reported. But in a few locations, trap captures have already increase dramatically, particularly in places where first trap capture was reported earlier (at the end of May). The following graph shows at sites across NY State from the week of May 27 to June 10, showing increase in the overall number of insects captured per site.

Weekly trap captures by locations

Location	Week of 5/27	Week of 6/3	Week of 6/10
Albany1	10	9	5
Chenango1			0
Clinton1		4
Columbia2	0	9	5
Delaware1			23
Essex3		0	6
HV Fishkill - Dutchess6	2	21	77
HV Red Hook - Columbia3	0	2	9
LO1 - Niagara4	0	0	2
LO2 - Orleans2	0	0	1
Monroe1			0
Niagara6			0
Orleans4	0	0	0
Schuyler6	0	3	12
Suffolk1	4	3	95
Suffolk2			13
Tioga4		0	8
Tompkins4	0	0	1
Washington1		1
Washington2		2
Wayne11	0	0	1
Wayne13	0	0	0
WNY Geneva - Ontario6		5	15

Thank you to all of our collaborators for servicing SWD traps across the state!

First trap capture was reported in Niagara County on Tuesday June 11, 2 females were identified in a jar trap.

Thank you to Liz Tee for servicing these traps.

~ This is a friendly reminder to subscribe to the NEW Berry Pest Monitoring Network Blog! We are transitioning to the new blog this year and will cross-post for the 2024 season. https://blogs.cornell.edu/berrypests/ ~