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First catch in Tioga County

Single SWD were found at two monitoring locations in Tioga County. One female on June 13, 2017 in a trap set outside of a raspberry high tunnel planting.  One male, also on June 13, 2017 in a trap set within a fall raspberry field. The traps were set on June 8 and are being monitored by Margaret Ball, extension educator, Tioga County Cornell Cooperative Extension.

Male SWD on raspberry fruit. Note dimpling on the fruitlet in the upper left corner of the photo - indicative of fruit infestation.

The pattern of SWD population buildup is typically slow to start, with exponential growth in mid- to late summer. Low level infestations of SWD are difficult to spot. Fruit that is ripe and ripening at this time includes strawberries, day neutral and June bearing, sweet cherries and early maturing blueberries. Of these I'm only aware of strawberries being harvested at this time.

Make sure to scout your susceptible fruit crops for symptoms and signs of SWD infestation and take routine samples of fruit to check for larvae with salt flotation. The Spotted Wing Drosophila pages in Cornell Fruit Resources have more information on SWD, including tips on management.

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