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Guidelines for farmers to protect berry crops from spotted wing drosophila (SWD) were recently published in the NY Berry News. The article, Chemical Control of Spotted Wing Drosophila in Berry Crops, by Loeb et al., outlines key approaches for getting the best results from sprays aimed at protecting berries from SWD infestation.

Blackberry showing SWD infestation
Blackberries severely infested with SWD will hang limp, drip liquid, and dry out on the fruit cluster; inset shows a larva dissected from a blackberry fruit.

Insight on when SWD might be found in NY can be obtained from this 2012 table of SWD trap captures and reports of larvae in fruit that came in from scientists last year. Note, the first trap captures in Suffolk County that occurred in March 2012 are not reflected in the table. In the 2013 growing season, so far there have been no trap captures in Suffolk County. Check the 2013 NY distribution map for more info.

The NY distribution map published in September 2012, based on the reports received. SWD is now presumed distributed throughout NY.

 

The SWD monitoring trap instructions have been updated. The new pdf is at the same link as the older version, on the SWD Monitoring page. Using the yeast bait in an ampule floating in the apple cider vinegar drowning solution has resulted in increased numbers of fruit fly captures per trap. So far, though, no SWD have been captured in NY. Stay tuned.

SWD male
SWD male, note spot on each wing.

 

As of June 4, no SWD have been caught in traps in Maine, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, or Pennsylvania, in the US, nor in Ontario, Canada, as reported on the weekly Berry Call.

SWD trap in sweet cherry.
SWD trap hung in a sweet cherry orchard; attracting fruit flies in early June, but no SWD, yet.
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