Spotted wing drosophila (SWD) is a fruit fly that over the past two years has become a significant pest of fruit crops such as raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, grapes, peaches and plums. This insect causes damage when its larva - tiny white worms - feed on ripening fruit.

The first SWD in Ohio for this year have now been captured and identified in two counties. The first detect was one female in Clinton county on Wednesday June 17th and the second detect was a single female in Richland County on Friday, June 19th. For all small fruit growers (raspberries, blackberries, blueberries), growers of ever bearing strawberries or grapes, if you have fruit that is ripe or ripening, be advised you should be monitoring for this pest. If growers are not able to trap for this pest, they should conduct a salt water test on healthy berries every 5-7 days to determine if they have an infestation. If adults or larvae of this pest are detected, the recommendation is to begin a weekly insecticide spray program until harvest is complete.

This brief fact sheet offers suggestions on how to scout for this pest and also how to treat for it before it becomes a problem. Spotted Wing Drosophila: A new pest in Ohio's fruit crops

Below is a brief video explaining the Salt Water Test for SWD Larvae in Fruit