Insects & Pests

To: Grape Growers From: Doug Pfeiffer, Fruit Entomologist Sent: July 1, 2011 Hello, everyone: A new invasive fruit insect pest has been detected in Virginia.  I am presenting some general information here, with a link to further information. Spotted wing drosophila: Spotted wing drosophila (SWD) is quite different from the familiar vinegar flies, other Drosophila species, that are attracted to overripe or rotting fruit material.   Drosophila suzukii prefers to lay eggs in ripening fruit – the ability to do this results from the presence of a long, serrated and hardened ovipositor, unlike the small, weak ovipositor in other Drosophila spp.  SWD [...]