A new pest attacking healthy ripening fruit in Oregon : spotted wing Drosophila : Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura)

Abstract

"Infestations of the spotted wing Drosophila fly (Diptera: Drosophilidae), an exotic pest, have been found in Oregon fruits in 13 counties. Of the 3,000 species of Drosophila, commonly known as vinegar flies, approximately 175 are known in North America. Two of these known species have been found to be harmful to crops, of which spotted wing Drosophila (SWD) is one. These flies can infest and cause a great deal of damage to ripening fruit, as opposed to the overripe and fallen fruit that are infested by most other Drosophila species. We have confirmed findings of SWD in blueberries, wild blackberries, red raspberries, Marionberries, cherries, strawberries, plums, peaches, grapes, figs, hardy kiwis, and Asian pears. It is crucial to find infestations of this pest as early as possible, when they can still be treated effectively."--P. 1.