As is often the case within commercial horticulture, the Latin botanical names of plants, pests and diseases can be a mouthful. However, they are also often a detailed description that makes total sense - drosophilia (a genus of flies belonging to drosophilidae) suzukii (referencing it's native origin in South West Japan). Affectionately known to us in the west as Spotted Wing Dorsophila (or more commonly SWD).
As with any pest, the starting point for controlling it is to correctly identify it from what could be its harmless relation (drosophila melanogaster for example).
SWD has a description already in its name - spotted Wing - this is a good starting point for correct identification. It is actually the male that has these spots, one on the edge of each wing. The male also carries two dark sex combs on the forelegs of the fly which are used to grasp the female around the abdomen and spread their wings prior to mating. The females can be identified with their serrated ovipositor which is used to penetrate the skins of under ripe fruit; exactly why this pest is so devastating to world-wide fruit crops.
Adult SWD are similar in size to other types of fruit flies, between 2 - 3.5mm long. Both the male and female have a dark yellow abdomen with dark stripes and red eyes. The larval stages, which are nearly always found in the fruit are typically 3.5mm long and a pale white colour.
Identification of SWD in your traps and crop is critical for successful management and reduction in unnecessary pesticide sprays.
- MR
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