During the week ending on June 27, 2018, 6 female and 2 male SWD were captured in two separate Scentry-lure baited traps at blueberry and raspberry locations in eastern Long Island. This is about 2 weeks later than last year’s first interception in Suffolk County. Blueberries are still too unripe to be damaged by SWD. Some raspberries are near ripening.
After checking about 20 raspberries, no sign of SWD egg laying or damage was found in fruit. These particular blueberry and raspberry sites have surrounding woods and both traps that captured the SWD were placed on the border rows near the woods.
No SWD have been captured in traps placed in other locations (in the raspberry and blueberry fields, in a blackberry planting, and in a grape vineyard).
At this time the SWD population appears to be very low and sporadic. Insecticide applications may be necessary when fly populations are high which usually occurs from late July onward.
This post was written by Dr. Faruque Zaman, entomologist, Suffolk County Cornell Cooperative Extension, who is monitoring SWD traps in Suffolk County, Long Island.