New Spotted Wing Drosophila Website Launched

Fruit growers concerned about the threat and impact of Spotted Wing Drosophila have a new, one-stop shop for information with the creation of a Washington State University website dedicated to the pest.

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First detected in the U.S. in California in 2008, SWD is a “vinegar fly” or “fruit fly” that attacks ripening fruit as well as rotting fruit. It is considered a serious threat to Pacific Coast fruit crops such as cherry, peaches, nectarines, plums, pluots, raspberry, blackberry, blueberry and strawberry.

The new website is designed to serve as a resource for commercial tree fruit growers in eastern Washington potentially impacted by SWD. It includes regularly updated, region-specific trap capture data, biological background about the pest, integrated pest management strategies and popular press coverage of SWD. The site also gives users an opportunity to subscribe to receive alerts by text or e-mail about emerging SWD news and updates.

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