Following is an update from Doug Pfeiffer at Virginia Tech with links for additional information concerning Spotted Wing Drosophilia.
From: Doug Pfeiffer
To: Grape Growers
From: Doug Pfeiffer, Fruit Entomologist
Sent: July 18, 2012
Hello, everyone:
Spotted wing drosophila: SWD is expected to be found in more sites following its 2011 collections in Hanover, Sussex, Frederick and Montgomery Counties, plus Virginia Beach. It has been documented in apple cider vinegar traps this season in vineyards and berry plantings in Amherst, Orange and Rappahannock Counties. SWD infestation was found in raspberries in June 2012 in Montgomery County, and in blackberries in Amherst in July. Berries quickly became very soft, and when picked, tiny maggots could be seen moving in the inner cavity of the raspberry. Adults are being collected in traps at vineyard sites; we will watch for the development of larval infestations in grapes.
There are likely insecticides for berry crops listed in the 2012 Pest Management Guide for Commercial Vineyards (http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/456/456-017/Section-3_Grapes-2.pdf). This guide is also linked in the Vineyard Scholar site in the tool bar on the left side of the page, as well as archived under Resources in PDF. Please pay special attention to the differing modes of action. SWD is a pest with a high likelihood of developing resistance to insecticides. It will be critical to rotate modes of action. We have at multiple modes of action included both in synthetic insecticides, and in botanical materials (OMRI approved). This will allow some flexibility both for our conventional and organic growers. Keep in mind that the organic materials have shorter residual action, and must be applied more often. Be vigilant as berries ripen. Try to harvest promptly, and minimize the time that ripe berries hang on the plant.
The SWD page (http://www.virginiafruit.ento.vt.edu/SWD.html) in the Virginia Fruit web site has been updated, with images of eggs, larvae, pupae, adults, and updated map. Further updates will be made when needed.
Scholar details There have been changes recently in Scholar. For non-Virginia Tech users, when you are enrolled, you are assigned a numeric password. The password was pretty cumbersome to memorize, and it was common to mislay the email containing the password. There is now a function to create your own password.
Log in using your current password (as before, if you have forgotten you password, you can have a new one sent by clicking the box in the right-hand portion of the screen, entitled Reset Guest Login Password)
Once logged in, look at the tool bar on the left. Select Account. After reaching your account details, click on Modify Details. Here you can create your own password. This should make the site more convenient for you to use. (You can also enter your name, so that you are listed by name rather than email address in the roster).
For Virginia Tech users, your name is automatically generated, and your password continues to be your VT password.
I hope this helps!
More later,
Doug