If you missed the spotted wing drosophila webinar April 27, you can now view it online.
About the webinar:
Join Dr. Greg Loeb, Cornell University grape and small fruit entomologist, as he discusses the new invasive species spotted wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii) that arrived in the Northeast in 2011. Originally from Asia, this fruit pest was first discovered in California in 2008 and has now spread to 20+ states, including the Northeast. Where it has become established it has caused major damage to soft-skinned fruit with blueberries, raspberries, and cherries being particularly vulnerable, although day-neutral strawberries in the late summer are also likely to be seriously impacted. The reason this species of fruit fly is such a threat to berry crops is that the female is able to lay her eggs in ripe or ripening fruit as compared to other fruit fly species that wait until fruit is overripe or decaying, hence of less economic value.
In this webinar, Dr. Loeb will first review the basic biology of spotted wing drosophila (SWD), identification, history of invasion, and crops at greatest risk, and then go on to discuss management strategies including monitoring and possible control options.