Feared Berry Pest Found In California

A University of California Cooperative Extension farm advisor reports finding spotted wing drosophila in Santa Maria strawberries.

Surendra Dara, who is based in San Luis Obispo, says a grower brought in specimens he had found in field traps. There were no males with their obvious characteristic of spotted wings, but according to Dara’s blog, the following and other characters of the females suggest these were SWD:

– Hard and dark (sclerotized) ovipositor with prominent serrations or saw-teeth that enable the fly to lay eggs in intact ripening fruit.

– Antennae with branched bristle-like part called arista.

Dara says that according to Brian Cabrera, Santa Barbara County Ag Commissioner entomologist, there haven’t been any other SWD infestations that were brought to his attention. For more information, check out Dara’s blog.