Monitoring for Spotted Wing Drosophila "SWD" in wild blueberry

SWD is a new invasive soft fruit pest that could affect wild blueberries this year. The key for controlling this pest, is to determine when it begins to enter a field and target controls around that first capture.  Monitoring is very important. "SWD" won't be in a blueberry field at any significant levels until the field begins to ripen.  It does not over winter in the field and it is attracted to ripening fruit (any ripening fruit).

Here is a homemade trap that you can build.

There are a lot of unknowns with this new pest, but we have a decent idea on how to trap for it. You can place the traps in the fields around mid July.

Here is a new factsheet that shows you how to monitor for this pest. (click on the link)

http://www.perennia.ca/Fact%20Sheets/IPM/General/SWD%20factsheet_May2013.pdf

Also Click the link below to go to the OMAFRA SWD website. This site has tons of information on this pest.

http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/facts/swd-management.htm

The PMRA is currently reviewing Emergency Insecticide Registrations for control of SWD in all soft fruit for 2013 in Canada.  Their decisions are expected to come soon.  I will pass around a management guide when the insecticides are approved for usage.

Feel free to contact me with any questions.

Peter Burgess
Horticulture Specialist, Perennia
(902) 896-0277