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Sustained catch in Albany County

Twelve SWD were caught in traps set in and on the edge of a raspberry planting in Albany County. Traps were checked on Monday, June 10, 2019 by Natasha Field, CCE Eastern NY Commercial Horticulture Program.

Photo of a probable SWD on a strawberry fruit.
Probable SWD female on a day neutral or everbearing strawberry fruit. Unripe fruit, in upper left, are not susceptible to oviposition. Photo taken in early September, 2013.

This uptick in numbers is of great concern for growers of at-risk fruit:

  • strawberry
  • raspberry
  • blackberry
  • blueberry
  • elderberry
  • sweet cherry
  • tart cherry
  • peach
  • plum

As fruit ripens and has 100% blush, is showing final color characters, that's when SWD females have the potential to lay eggs in fruit. They prefer softer fruit. Fruit that is left hanging until it is deliciously soft and ripe — think peaches — will be at risk of infestation. Keep track of the ripening progress of your fruit crops.

Perhaps plan to harvest a bit early, for those fruit that can tolerate that in the marketplace. Plan on sanitation, clean harvests, and immediate cooling of fruit with refrigeration. Blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries will tolerate storage temperatures close to 32° F, but SWD won't!

More on SWD Management on Cornell Fruit Resources SWD pages.

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