In 2013 a new fruit fly pest was identified in South Dakota, the spotted wing drosophila or two spotted fruit fly, Drosophila suzukii. It is now commonly thought to be spread across most, if not all, of the U.S. and parts of Canada.
"These fruit flies differ from the standard vinegar fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster; that we commonly find on overripe fruit," said Mary Roduner, SDSU Extension consumer horticulture field specialist.
Roduner explained that vinegar fruit fly females lay eggs on the surface of overripe fruit. They are attracted by the ethylene gas given off during the ripening process. These flies are controlled mainly by removing any infested or overripe fruit.
"The spotted wing drosophila is another creature all together," she said. "These flies came from Asia and were found in California for the first time during 2008."
Since that time, the spotted wing Drosophila have spread throughout most of the United States and southern Canada causing severe financial losses, Roduner said.
She said the estimated raspberry and blackberry production loss during 2012 in the states with large production fields was approximately $6.7 million. Strawberry losses exceeded $207 million.
"Production costs go up because of the need for increased sprays and higher scrutiny during harvest, adding to the loss taken," Roduner said. "They have the potential to do serious damage to fruit and wine production throughout our entire region."
This pest does not only affect production fields. Roduner explained that it will attack any soft fruits available. Its favourite fruits include blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, cherries, strawberries, peaches, apricots, tomatoes, apples, crabapples, currants, chokecherries and sand cherries.
"Which means, homeowners are also at risk of losing their entire crops," she said.
Roduner added that June bearing strawberries seem to be affected less than the day neutral types because they ripen very early in the season before the first adult flies emerge.
Source - http://www.freshplaza.com/
