Coming into harvest with Spotted Wing Drosophila; where is the population at now?

July 5, 2023

Coming into harvest with Spotted Wing Drosophila; where is the population at now?

We are into the berry harvest. It’s a time of year that automatically prompts everyone to ask: “What can we expect for this year’s Spotted Wing Drosophila pressure coming into harvest?”

One of the main ways we track populations is by following adult trap counts. After reviewing the last few years of counts (Figure 1), we are trending similar counts to 2022 which was a moderate SWD pressure season. We did have some ideal weather the last few months but also experienced cold winter temperatures and a heat wave in May which challenged the overwintering population.

We saw the first 2023 generation of adults emerging in mid- June of this year which have had a chance to establish during the ideal June weather. We’ve just found our first SWD larvae in Kotata blackberry fruit, which had consistently high adult trap catches for weeks prior to the larvae infestation, and was in a hot spot location. This heatwave happening now should move the needle away from multiplying populations (eproduction drastically decreases during any temperatures over 86F or 30C).

Sample your fruit often to know what you’re up against. Concentrate on fruit near the field border habitat. There are efforts to use all the research over the past decade to create a field proven Integrated Pest Management program in berry fields. Stay tuned for development of that project later this year.

Also, know that the parasitoid wasp release against SWD is being ramped up this season as well.

So SWD larvae watch 2023 has started.

Is your fruit being affected by Spotted Wing Drosophila?

Do you find it helpful to sample your fruit often to know what you’re up against?

Does your management program work on your farm or is it not sustainable in the long run? What will make it more sustainable?

Join the conversation.

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