Spotted Wing Drosophila Update

Joanne Whalen, Extension IPM Specialist; jwhalen@udel.edu

Over the last 7-day period, we detected our first adult fly in a trap in Sussex County. Although there are no thresholds available based on trap catches, small fruit growers will need to maintain a tight spray schedules for this very damaging insect pest. For more information on management of SWD in fruit, you will want to consider subscribing to Rutgers Plant Pest Advisory http://plant-pest-advisory.rutgers.edu/category/fruit/. You can also check the following link from Michigan State for additional information. http://www.ipm.msu.edu/invasive_species/spotted_wing_drosophila.

Reminder – you will need to check all pesticide labels for rates, restrictions as well as determine if they are labeled in your state.