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Category: 2020 trap network

Published on Leave a comment on First catch… Everywhere?

Not quite everywhere, but all of the Eastern NY network is now at first or sustained catch and all but four counties in the Lake Ontario, Central, Finger Lakes, and Southern Tier regions are at first catch. That’s seven counties reporting first catch, most from traps checked on June 22!

  • Cayuga County had 2 males and 2 females in a raspberry field. Checked June 18.
  • Chemung County had 3 males and 2 females in a blueberry planting. Checked June 22.
  • Columbia County had 2 males and 3 females in a tart cherry orchard. Checked June 22.
  • Orleans County had 1 female in a raspberry field. Checked June 22.
  • Tioga County had 5 males and 3 females in a blueberry field. Checked June 22.
  • Washington County had 1 male and 2 females I a blueberry field. Checked June 22.
  • Wayne County had 2 females in a raspberry planting. Checked June 22.
Photo of a male SWD on a blueberry.
A male spotted wing drosophila (SWD) on blueberry; another likely SWD is in the background.

Fruit across the region is ripening – blueberries, cherries, possibly even raspberries. Other summer fruits like haskaps and June berries are susceptible to SWD. June strawberries could be at risk. Day neutral strawberries will be at risk. Peaches and plums? – pick them before they are deliciously tree ripe and soft.

And now, I’m going to repeat myself.

Pest management for SWD includes:

  • Mowing – to reduce humidity and niches for SWD harborage and to increase sun penetration.
  • Weed management – to reduce humidity, alternate fruiting hosts and harborage and to increase sun penetration.
  • Pruning – to reduce humidity and to increase sun and spray penetration.
  • Monitoring – to know if SWD is present when fruit is ripening.
  • Sanitation – to reduce reproduction harborage and overall SWD population.
  • Cold storage – to slow or kill any eggs and larvae in harvested fruit.
  • Insecticide treatment – Insecticide Quick Guides for NY State:
Photo of a high tunnel with exclusion netting to protect the raspberry crop inside from SWD.
Exclusion netting over high tunnel raspberries will protect them from SWD.

Those who choose not to spray will have to take every measure possible to prevent population build up. Exclusion netting should be the plan for these growers going forward, because without exclusion netting and without insecticide protection it’s impossible to bring sufficient fruit to harvest in years like 2020 when SWD populations build up early and crop development is delayed.

Learn more about exclusion netting, Thinking Exclusion?, blogs.cornell.edu/swd1/2020/03/27/thinking-exclusion/

Clean picking and treating with insecticide to “reset the field” is a management tactic used in large-scale commercial blackberry production in North Carolina. You may want to consider that tactic in your raspberry and blackberry plantings, if SWD has gotten ahead of you. It will only work in such fruit crops that continue to flower and set fruit.

Use salt flotation to routinely sample your fields. Read, Guidelines for Checking Fruit for SWD Larvae in the Field.

Renovate June strawberry fields promptly, blogs.cornell.edu/swd1/2018/06/27/renovate-strawberry-plantings-promptly/

SWD Management, fruit.cornell.edu/spottedwing/management/ on Cornell Fruit Resources.

SWD Management in Blueberry

Read this blog, Managing SWD in blueberries at blogs.cornell.edu/swd1/2019/08/02/managing-swd-in-blueberries/ .

Spotted Wing Drosophila IPM in Blueberries from the NE IPM Center SWD Working Group, neipmc.org/go/swdpub2

SWD Management in Raspberry and Blackberry

Read this blog, Managing SWD in raspberries and blackberries at blogs.cornell.edu/swd1/2019/07/17/managing-swd-in-raspberries-blackberries/

Spotted Wing Drosophila IPM in Raspberries and Blackberries from the NE IPM Center SWD Working Group, neipmc.org/go/swdpub1

Learn more about SWD. Knowledge is power! Check out the information on Cornell Fruit Resources Spotted Wing Drosophila, fruit.cornell.edu/spottedwing/.

Thanks go out to

  • Grace Marshall, CCE NYS IPM, who is monitoring the sites in Cayuga and Wayne Counties;
  • Liz Alexander, CCE Chemung County, who is monitoring the sites in Chemung County (she’s a first year CCE educator. Go, Liz!);
  • Natasha Field, CCE ENYCHP, who is monitoring the Columbia County site;
  • Janet van Zoeren, CCE Lake Ontario Fruit Program, who is monitoring the Orleans County site;
  • Barb Neal, CCE Tioga County, who is monitoring the Tioga County site; and
  • Laura McDermott, CCE ENYCHP, who is monitoring the Washington County site.

Published on Leave a comment on Sustained catch: Ulster and Albany Counties

Sustained catch, that is two weeks in a row, was obtained in two counties in Eastern NY, Ulster on June 19 and June 21 and Albany on June 22. Indeed, SWD catch was prevalent across New York State’s monitoring network in traps checked at the end of last week and early this week.

  • Ulster site 5 had 1 male and 1 female in a blueberry field – fruit is ripening and will need to be protected. Checked June 19.
  • Ulster site 6 had 4 males and 2 females in a raspberry planting – pink fruit will be picked clean and an insecticide applied to reset the field. Checked June 19.
  • Ulster HVL had 5 males and 11 females in a cherry orchard – fruit is ripening and will need to be protected. Checked June 21.
  • Albany had 10 males and 26 females in a raspberry field – ripening fruit will need to be protected. Checked June 22.
Picture of honeysuckle, an early-season host for SWD.
Fruit of tartarian honeysuckle, also considered an invasive plant in NY, can support SWD development.

Are you seeing a pattern? With numbers this high, it will be imperative to begin a spray program to protect fruit. SWD populations have built up just as fruit are beginning to ripen. This translates into a challenging year for SWD management.

Those who choose not to spray will have to take every measure possible to prevent population build up. Exclusion netting should be the plan for these growers going forward, because without exclusion netting and without insecticide protection it’s impossible to bring sufficient fruit to harvest in years like 2020 when SWD populations build up early and crop development is delayed.

Learn more about exclusion netting, Thinking Exclusion? blogs.cornell.edu/swd1/2020/03/27/thinking-exclusion/

Renovate June strawberry fields promptly, blogs.cornell.edu/swd1/2018/06/27/renovate-strawberry-plantings-promptly/

Use salt flotation to routinely sample your fields. Read, Guidelines for Checking Fruit for SWD Larvae in the Field.

Pest management for SWD includes:

  • Mowing – to reduce humidity and niches for SWD harborage and to increase sun penetration.
  • Weed management – to reduce humidity, alternate fruiting hosts and harborage and to increase sun penetration.
  • Pruning – to reduce humidity and to increase sun and spray penetration.
  • Monitoring – to know if SWD is present when fruit is ripening.
  • Sanitation – to reduce reproduction harborage and overall SWD population.
  • Cold storage – to slow or kill any eggs and larvae in harvested fruit.
  • Insecticide treatment – Insecticide Quick Guides for NY State:

Clean picking and treating with insecticide to “reset the field” is a management tactic used in large-scale commercial blackberry production in North Carolina. You may want to consider that tactic in your raspberry and blackberry plantings, if SWD has gotten ahead of you. It works best in such fruit crops that continue to flower and set fruit season-long.

SWD Management, fruit.cornell.edu/spottedwing/management/ on Cornell Fruit Resources.

SWD Management in Blueberry

Read this blog, Managing SWD in blueberries at https://blogs.cornell.edu/swd1/2019/08/02/managing-swd-in-blueberries/ .

Spotted Wing Drosophila IPM in Blueberries from the NE IPM Center SWD Working Group, http://neipmc.org/go/swdpub2

SWD Management in Raspberry and Blackberry

Read this blog, Managing SWD in raspberries and blackberries at https://blogs.cornell.edu/swd1/2019/07/17/managing-swd-in-raspberries-blackberries/

Spotted Wing Drosophila IPM in Raspberries and Blackberries from the NE IPM Center SWD Working Group, http://neipmc.org/go/swdpub1

Learn more about SWD.

Check out the information on Cornell Fruit Resources Spotted Wing Drosophila, http://fruit.cornell.edu/spottedwing/.

Thanks go out to Jim O’Connell, Ulster County CCE who is monitoring Ulster 5 and 6; Lydia Brown, Hudson Valley Research Laboratory, who is monitoring Ulster HVL (traps set in honeysuckle were at first catch this past week, too – one female); and Natasha Field, ENYCHP CCE, who is monitoring the Albany County site.

Published on Leave a comment on First catch in Orange County

A single male SWD was caught in a trap set on the edge of a fall raspberry planting in Orange County. This is first catch at this location. These traps are being monitored by Sarah Tobin, Eastern NY Commercial Horticulture Program.

Fall raspberries are not yet ripe, but typically once they are, they are highly susceptible to SWD infestation.

A map showing the current distribution of SWD trap catches, by County.
The current distribution map of SWD trap catches, showing where SWD has been caught by County.

It is striking how different the current SWD trap catch across the network is for Eastern versus Western NY. Reports in for the monitoring network show the counties where SWD has been found on the distribution map, as compared to those where none have yet been caught in traps (gray).

Published on Leave a comment on First catch in Saratoga County

At both trapping sites in Saratoga County, first catch occurred this week. In tart cherry, two male and one female were caught in traps set in the interior of the orchard. In blackberry, two male and three female SWD were caught in a trap set close to the hedgerow next to the planting. These traps are being monitored by Natasha Field, Eastern NY Commercial Horticulture Program, Cornell Cooperative Extension.

Tart cherries are starting to color and will become increasingly susceptible to infestation as ripening continues. Plan now for an effective insecticide program. Review the choices of insecticides for SWD and plan accordingly. Refer to the Insecticide Quick Guides for NY State for stone fruit and grapes www.hort.cornell.edu/fruit/pdfs/swd/treefruit-grape-insecticides.pdf.

A picture of the breathing tubes of SWD eggs on a blackberry.
Breathing tubes of SWD eggs as seen, magnified by a microscope, on the surface of blackberry fruit.

The blackberries are still hard and green and developing, therefore not susceptible to SWD just yet. once ripening begins, fruit will become susceptible to oviposition. Take time to review the insecticide options for berries, at www.hort.cornell.edu/fruit/pdfs/swd/berry-insecticides.pdf.

Published on Leave a comment on Sustained catch in Rensselaer County

In the Capital District things are heating up. Five male and four female SWD were caught this week ending June 15, 2020, ushering in sustained catch at this blueberry site in the two traps set on the edge of the planting. Traps at this site are being monitored by Laura McDermott, Eastern NY Commercial Horticulture Program.

A picture of blueberries showing signs of beginning to ripen.
Blueberry fruit beginning to show signs of ripening. be watchful of fruit development on your farm.

As blueberries ripen, they will become increasingly susceptible to infestation by the local SWD population. Keep the population down with judicious choices of insecticides used for insect pests such as blueberry maggot, cranberry fruitworm and cherry fruitworm. Cross reference the insecticides listed for these insect pests in the Cornell Pest Management Guidelines for Berry Crops and the SWD insecticide quick guide.

Remember, knowledge is power. Find out the basics on Cornell Fruit Resources Spotted Wing Drosophila, fruit.cornell.edu/spottedwing/. Drill down to specifics for blueberry in these two resources on SWD management in blueberry:

Published on Leave a comment on First and sustained catch in Suffolk County

A total of 6 male and 8 female SWD were first caught at two locations in Suffolk County, Long Island, in four traps checked on June 10, set, two each, in raspberries and blueberries. The following week, on June 16, sustained catch was obtained at these two sites with a total of 15 male and 18 female SWD being found. These traps are being monitored by Faruque Zaman, Suffolk County Cornell Cooperative Extension.

A picture showing a female SWD with an egg near her ovipositor.
A photomicrograph of a female SWD showing an egg near her ovipositor.

Female SWD being seen under the microscope have evidence of egg development. They are ready and willing to lay eggs in your fruit once it ripens.

Fruit at both locations is still green and hard, although ripening will be proceeding. Growers should be watchful for the onset of ripening, which signals fruit susceptibility to SWD egg laying and risk of subsequent infestation. Keeping tabs on fruit maturity is particularly important because SWD populations are on the rise in these locations on Long Island.

Think SWD management - mowing row middles, weed management within the row, pruning to improve air circulation, monitoring for SWD and for fruit infestation, sanitation of cull fruit, cold storage after harvest.

Raspberries and blueberries can tolerate cold storage temperatures close to 32° F, so don't be afraid to put your fruit in a cold storage to keep it crisp and fresh and kill or slow down SWD egg and larval development.

Consider all the things you can do to thwart this insect that will enhance the efficacy of your insecticide management program. Then plan accordingly. Updated Insecticide Quick Guides for NY State are found here (refresh the page to get the latest version):

Learn everything you can about SWD. Start by checking out the information on Cornell Fruit Resources Spotted Wing Drosophila, fruit.cornell.edu/spottedwing/.

Published on Leave a comment on Sustained catch in Niagara County

Although SWD numbers in western NY remain low, sustained catch of 1 female and 1 male SWD in a trap set on the edge of a blueberry planting was obtained in Niagara County on June 16, 2020. These traps are being monitored by Liz Tee, Lake Ontario Fruit Program, Cornell Cooperative Extension.

Photo of unripe blueberries into which SWD can't lay eggs.
Unripe blueberry fruit is too hard for SWD to lay eggs in.

Reports of purple color showing up on blueberry fruit harkens ripening and the upcoming harvest. Please prepare to manage SWD in tender fruit crops when they are ripe.

A good approach during harvest is to check fruit with salt flotation periodically. This is especially important if you are planning a low- to no-spray approach to managing SWD, so that you know when fruit is infested and you may need to shut down picking operations, do a clean harvest, and up your spray program. Check out, Guidelines for Checking Fruit for SWD Larvae in the Field, authored by Laura McDermott, ENYCHP.

Pest management for SWD includes:

  • Mowing – to reduce humidity and niches for SWD harborage and to increase sun penetration.
  • Weed management – to reduce humidity, alternate fruiting hosts and harborage and to increase sun penetration.
  • Pruning – to reduce humidity and to increase sun and spray penetration.
  • Monitoring – to know if SWD is present when fruit is ripening.
  • Sanitation – to reduce reproduction harborage and overall SWD population.
  • Cold storage – to slow or kill any eggs and larvae in harvested fruit.

Online Resources:

SWD Management, fruit.cornell.edu/spottedwing/management/ on Cornell Fruit Resources.

Insecticide Quick Guides for NY State are found here:

Published on Leave a comment on First catch in Clinton County

Five female and one male SWD were caught in two traps set on the edge of a blueberry planting in Clinton County. The traps were checked on June 15, 2020. Fruit is developing nicely, yet still green. These traps are being monitored by Andy Galimberti and Elisabeth Hodgdon, Eastern NY Commercial Horticulture Program, Cornell Cooperative Extension.

Reports of fruit beginning to change color or develop a blush, especially where exposed to sun, brings up an important point for you. It is time to pay attention to the color stage of your blueberries. When they are fully pink, SWD females can lay eggs in them. This has been ascertained in no-choice tests in laboratories. Your fruit planting might not be a “no-choice” arena for SWD females, but if she needs to lay eggs and your fruit are ripening, they may be at risk.

Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, cherries (both sweet and tart), plums, blackberries, June berries, etc. – all can be infested by SWD. Read more about SWD Hosts at fruit.cornell.edu/spottedwing/hosts/. A lot depends on the overlap of when the SWD population builds up in your area and when the onset of fruit ripening through harvest occurs. When these two worlds collide, bad things can happen to your fruit crop.

A composite image showing the characters that distinguish SWD males from females.
Key characteristics to identify SWD.

Be prepared. Learn how to monitor SWD. Look just for the males with their characteristic single, gray-black polka dot on the leading edge tip of each wing. (I used to love polka dots…) Baited yellow sticky cards hung in a shady area near your crop of interest will do the trick. Check them and clean them routinely. More on this technique in another post.

Do everything you can, that is feasible on your farm operation, to manage this pest. SWD IPM includes:

  • Mowing – to reduce humidity and niches for SWD harborage and to increase sun penetration.
  • Weed management – to reduce humidity, alternate fruiting hosts and harborage and to increase sun penetration.
  • Pruning – to reduce humidity and to increase sun and spray penetration.
  • Monitoring – to know if SWD is present when fruit is ripening.
  • Sanitation – to reduce reproduction harborage and overall SWD population.
  • Cold storage – to slow or kill any eggs and larvae in harvested fruit.

SWD Management, fruit.cornell.edu/spottedwing/management/ on Cornell Fruit Resources.

Insecticide Quick Guides for NY State are found here:

Refresh the page to see the latest versions.

Check out Cornell Fruit Resources Spotted Wing Drosophila, fruit.cornell.edu/spottedwing/.

Published on Leave a comment on First catch in Essex County

A single female SWD was caught in a trap set on the edge of a raspberry planting in Essex County. The traps were checked on June 15, 2020. Fruit is starting to develop, but is still green and not susceptible to egg-laying. These traps are being monitored by Andy Galimberti and Elisabeth Hodgdon, Eastern NY Commercial Horticulture Program, Cornell Cooperative Extension.

This picture shows green fruit on raspberry canes that aren't susceptible to SWD egg laying.
Green fruit on raspberry aren't susceptible to SWD.

So far, SWD has been caught in 8 of the 23 counties where traps are being monitored across NY State. No sustained catch, which is catch two weeks in a row, yet.

Brush up on SWD management, fruit.cornell.edu/spottedwing/management/ on Cornell Fruit Resources.

Learn more about SWD. Check out the information on Cornell Fruit Resources Spotted Wing Drosophila, fruit.cornell.edu/spottedwing/.

Published on Leave a comment on 40 SWD caught in Albany County

Ten female and 30 male SWD were caught in four traps set in and around a raspberry planting in Albany County. Yes, this is the first catch at this location — last week zero, zilch, nada. Talk about accelerated population growth! These traps are being monitored by Natasha Field, Eastern NY Commercial Horticulture Program (ENYCHP), Cornell Cooperative Extension. The traps were checked on June 15, 2020. Fruit is small and green and, therefore, not susceptible to egg-laying. But...

Are you managing a diversified fruit farm?

With SWD numbers this high, 40 SWD, any fruit that is susceptible, ripe and ripening will be at risk of infestation. Please sample your June strawberry harvests and sweet cherry harvests and check them via salt flotation.

Picture of strawberry fruit with an egg-laying site.
Evidence of oviposition into June strawberry found 20 June 2019, by Jim O'Connell, CCE Assoc of Ulster County. Notice the delicate white breathing tubes and the small area of sunken, tan tissue where the larva is inside the fruit.

Information is summarized in this pdf, Guidelines for Checking Fruit for SWD Larvae in the Field, authored by Laura McDermott, ENYCHP.

Always consider the sum total of management tactics you can do to thwart this insect. One thing at this time of year for diversified fruit farms is careful attention to strawberry harvests and field renovation. Laura McDermott and I wrote a blog on this topic, which you should review now.  Renovate Strawberry Plantings Promptly, blogs.cornell.edu/swd1/2018/06/27/renovate-strawberry-plantings-promptly/

Pest management for SWD includes:

  • Mowing – to reduce humidity and niches for SWD harborage and to increase sun penetration.
  • Weed management – to reduce humidity, alternate fruiting hosts and harborage and to increase sun penetration.
  • Pruning – to reduce humidity and to increase sun and spray penetration.
  • Monitoring – to know if SWD is present when fruit is ripening.
  • Sanitation – to reduce reproduction harborage and overall SWD population.
  • Cold storage – to slow or kill any eggs and larvae in harvested fruit.

Am I repeating myself? –yes!
Should you pay attention? –yes!

SWD Management, http://fruit.cornell.edu/spottedwing/management/ on Cornell Fruit Resources.

Insecticide Quick Guides for NY State are found here:

Refresh the page to see the latest version.

Learn more about SWD. Check out the information on Cornell Fruit Resources Spotted Wing Drosophila, fruit.cornell.edu/spottedwing/.

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