Cooperative Extension at Highmoor Farm

Spotted Wing Drosophila Alert: October 13, 2017

David Handley, Vegetable and Small Fruit Specialist; James Dill, Pest Management Specialist; Frank Drummond, Professor of Insect Ecology/Entomology

Spotted wing drosophila populations continue to be high but variable this week. While some locations saw decreases in the weekly trap catch, others had the highest numbers of the season. (See table below.) This variability can be due to a number of factors, including changing availability of food, ambient moisture, temperature, and insecticide applications. Despite the variation however, all sites were over the threshold for infestation if fruit were left untreated; and growers who still have ripening fruit should continue to protect their crop on a spray interval of 5 to 7 days to prevent fruit from becoming infested. Also, continue harvest regularly and often, and keep overripe and rotten fruit out of the field as much as possible. Long range weather forecasts suggest a warmer than normal stretch of days ahead. While this is great for extending the late berry season, it also means that spotted wing drosophila will likely continue to be a threat.

For more information on identifying spotted wing drosophila and updates on populations around the state, visit our SWD blog.

David T. Handley
Vegetable and Small Fruit Specialist

Highmoor Farm, P.O. Box 179, 52 US Route 202, Monmouth, ME 04259, 207.933.2100

UMaine Extension Diagnostic Research Lab, Pest Management Unit, 17 Godfrey Drive, Orono, ME 04473, 1.800.287.0279

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