From: Doug Pfeiffer, Fruit Entomologist |

While investigating what was suspected to be an infestation of spotted wing drosophila in an Albemarle County vineyard on Thursday, we found a block with high numbers of adults of a different species, Zaprionus indianus, commonly called the fig fruit fly.  While we are just starting to investigate this species, as far as I can tell it is new to the state.  It is of African origin, but has become established in Brazil.  In 2005 it was detected in Florida, and in South Carolina in 2007.  Apparently most fruit attacked have already fallen to the ground, but some fruits are attacked while still on the tree.  The Albemarle infestation was in a block of Petit Verdot, still on the vine.  When clusters were examined, many adult fruit flies flew out from between berries.  These adults are very characteristically colored, with silver stripes running along the back, against a reddish-yellow background.

In the Resources folder in the Vineyard Scholar site, I have created a folder entitled Pest Information, with one folder within so far, dedicated to this species.  There are links to University of Florida pages there, with color images of this fly.  I will attach a PDF version of the Pest Alert fact sheet with this message (you will likely have to log into Scholar in order to find that attachment).  These are also linked in the pest management section of the Virginia Vineyards web site.

Related to our new project on spotted wing drosophila, funded by Virginia Vineyards Association/Virginia Wine Board, we are interested in ANY fruit infestation by drosophilids, and would be interested in infestations during the harvest period.  We also need to get a handle on the distribution of the new species, fig fruit fly.  If fruit flies are common in the clusters, hold a sticky card near the clusters and tap lightly; flies may be collected in this way.  Clusters with small maggots may also be held in order to rear adults.

We have no knowledge on varietal preferences, if any.  Since the single heavy infestation we found to date was in Petit Verdot, I would be interested in hearing from any growers with this variety.  Time is of the essence as we approach harvest of this cultivar.

More later,

Doug