Spotted Wing Drosophila
- New Research Shows Spotted Wing Drosophila Repellent Naturally Produced in Fruits - Growing Produce
- Spotted Wing Drosophila - Website: Oregon State University College of Agricultural Sciences
Small Fruit Fly Packs Hefty Economic Punch
- Infests berries and stone fruits
- Attacks healthy ripening fruit as well as damaged fruit
- Lays eggs inside ripe fruit
- Widely distributed
The Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD), a native of Southeast Asia was first detected in North America in Santa Cruz County, California in 2008. Since that time, the pest has spread throughout multiple states and into Canada. SWD is distributed globally in most temperate soft fruit producing areas with the exceptions of South America, New Zealand and Australia.
In addition to rotting fruit, this species readily attacks undamaged fruit which can also cause additional damage by secondary fungal and bacterial pathogens. Females lay eggs under the skin of ripening fruit. When the larvae hatch, they begin feeding within the fruit escalating soft tissue damage and creating entry points for pathogens.
Monitoring for SWD activity is important to detect populations to minimize damage as harvest approaches. Alpha Scents traps are low-cost, convenient and ready to use. No water or drowning solution is required.
Alpha Scents traps out-perform USDA standards and are equal to or superior to the competition.
- High capture rate
- Easy to assemble
- Weather resistant
Adding a lure to traps improves capture rates for more accurate monitoring of actual pest populations.
- Attaches to the back of Yellow Card or Wing Trap Bottom
- Improves capture rates
- Effective for 60 days
- Can be moved from saturated to fresh cards