Spotted Wing Drosophila in the Northeast

Pest Alert

Since its discovery in the Pacific Northwest in 2008, this tiny vinegar fly (Drosophila suzukii) has established outposts in nearly every fruit and berry-growing region of North America. Unlike most vinegar flies, this one attacks undamaged fruit. This fact sheet’s superb photos show distinguishing ID features, what damage looks like, and easy-to-make traps. Text describes scouting and control tactics. Created by entomologists and extension educators at Michigan State University. Download the Spotted Wing Drosophila Pest Alert (PDF).

Fact Sheets

Four fact sheets about spotted wing drosophila have been produced by Penn State Extension with funding from the Northeastern IPM Center Grant Program.

Overview and Identification: Summarizes the concern about spotted wing drosophila and contains photographs that illustrate the differences between SWD adults and other local fruit fly species.

Natural History: Discusses the life cycle of SWD and explains how environmental conditions and nearby crops can affect presence and numbers of SWD.

Monitoring: Describes how to monitor for SWD adults in fields and SWD larvae in fruit, and provides details on how to store and ship samples should identification from others be needed.

Management: Discusses cultural practices for minimizing populations and chemical options that will provide effective control for growers of susceptible crops.

Updates

New SWD Presentations Available – Presentations and reports from the September 2014 Spotted Wing Drosophila IPM Working Group meeting are now available online.

Cornell Releases 2015 Pest Management Guidelines for Berry Crops – This annual publication provides up-to-date pest management and crop production information for blueberry, bramble (raspberry and blackberry), strawberry, ribes (currant and gooseberry), cranberry, elderberry, and Juneberry (Saskatoon) production in New York State. Source: Cornell.edu, February 12, 2015.

New Jersey

The first spotted wing drosophila were detected in blueberry fields in New Jersey during the week of July 7, 2011. Rutgers Fruit IPM Coordinator Dean Polk is monitoring the pest and provides regular updates via the Rutgers Plant and Pest Advisory website.

Pennsylvania

Spotted wing drosophila has also arrived in Pennsylvania, and the state’s IPM program provides updates and recommendations:

New Hampshire

Spotted wing drosophila was first discovered in New Hampshire on September 6, 2011, and in 2012 it caused $1.5 million in crop losses. For more information about SWD in New Hampshire, see the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension website.

More Information

The northeastern region Spotted Wing Drosophila IPM Working Group is helping identify and prioritize the research and extension needs for SWD.

Oregon State’s spotted wing drosophila website provides links to many more resources around the country.

Find more spotted wing drosophila resources in our database.

Spanish-language resource: La mosca de alas manchadas: Una plaga de frutos pequeños en Nueva Jersey

View recorded webinars about spotted wing drosophila: