Joanne Whalen, Extension IPM Specialist;jwhalen@udel.edu
The first Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD) adults were found in traps in Kent and Sussex counties this past week. Unfortunately, there are no thresholds available based on trap catches. These first detections do mean that small fruit growers (especially bramble and blueberry growers) will need to maintain their spray schedules for this very damaging insect pest. We have also started sampling blueberry fruit for larvae, and so far none have been detected. Information from surrounding states indicate that population levels are still low but starting to increase. For more information on management of SWD in fruit, you will want to consider the following resources:
Rutgers Plant Pest Advisory – http://plant-pest-advisory.rutgers.edu/category/fruit/small-fruit/
Michigan State – http://www.ipm.msu.edu/invasive_species/spotted_wing_drosophila
Virginia Tech – http://www.virginiafruit.ento.vt.edu/SWD.html