Spotted Wing Drosophila Update – September 2, 2022
Spotted Wing Drosophila Alert: 9/2/2022
David Handley, Vegetable and Small Fruit Specialist; James Dill, Pest Management Specialist, Phil Fanning, Assistant Professor of Agricultural Entomology, Christina Howard, New Farmers Program Manager
Spotted wing drosophila fly counts have risen significantly at most locations this week. All sites were over the recommended control threshold. We anticipate continued growth of fly numbers in the coming days, which will threaten any unprotected soft fruit in the field.
All soft-fruited crops, including fall raspberries, blackberries and day neutral strawberries should be sprayed to prevent infestation by spotted wing drosophila larvae. Growers should maintain a 5-7-day spray schedule as long as flies are present, likely until the harvest season is finished.
Keep berry fields clean of over ripe and rotten fruit as much as possible. Rotten fruit on the plants or on the ground will greatly increase the number of fruit flies present, by providing them with food and egg-laying sites.
For more information on identifying spotted wing drosophila (SWD) and updates on populations around the state, visit our SWD blog at: https://extension.umaine.edu/highmoor/category/spotted-wing-drosophila/
Other IPM Web Pages
Michigan State University: http://www.canr.msu.edu/ipm/invasive_species/spotted_wing_drosophila/
Penn State University: https://extension.psu.edu/spotted-wing-drosophila-part-1-overview-and-identification
David T. Handley
Vegetable and Small Fruit Specialist
Highmoor Farm Pest Management Office
P.O. Box 179 491 College Avenue
Monmouth, ME 04259 Orono, ME 04473
207.933.2100 1.800.287.0279
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| Town | Spotted Wing Drosophila weekly trap catch 8/19/22 | Spotted Wing Drosophila weekly trap catch 8/26/22 | Spotted Wing Drosophila weekly trap catch 9/2/22 |
| Wells | 14 | 26 | 647 |
| Springvale | 42 | 142 | Crop done |
| Limerick | 290 | 26 | 20 |
| New Gloucester | 39 | 32 | 166 |
| Bowdoinham | 24 | 48 | 47 |
| Mechanic Falls | 26 | 179 | 249 |
| Monmouth | 76 | 412 | 1,519 |
| Fayette | 4 | 43 | Crop done |
| Wayne | 15 | 53 | 799 |