Author Erfan VafaiePosted on Categories Growers, Top WatchLeave a comment on Spotted Wing Drosophila in TexasSnapshot:
Drosophila suzukii, Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD), is an invasive pest that attacks several soft-bodied fruit, such as cherries, blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries and grapes. Similar in size to the common fruit fly, except the females have a serrated ovipositor (organ used for depositing eggs), allowing them to lay eggs in fruit just before harvest. As a result, the fruit can be unfit for fresh markets by the time they are harvested, resulting in crop loss. If you would like to send samples to confirm SWD identification, please use the spotted wing drosophila submission form.
Traps should be set in the crop canopy.
Male spotted wing drosophila can be distinguished by he spots on the tips of the first wing vein.
Two males with spots on their wings.
Female spotted wing drosophila can be distinguished by their serrated ovipositor under a microscope.
A trained eye can recognize spotted wing drosophila without any visual aid.
Yellow sticky traps can also catch spotted wing drosophila, although they tend to be less effective than apple cider vinegar traps.