Earlier this year we shared info on the Spotted Wing Drosophila
SWD has now been reported in Powell River , Aldergrove and other areas in the Fraser Valley
The Ministry of Agriculture has a wealth of information including Monitoring Reports and downloadeable PDFs for Home Gardeners here
Damage
Females lay eggs under the skin of ripe fruit shortly before harvest. Larvae hatch and begin to feed within the fruit, causing softening in the area of feeding. There can be several larvae in a fruit, which hastens softening and fruit collapse. Holes the size of pin pricks are evident within the soft areas of infested fruit (figure 3). These holes result from egg laying and are used as breathing holes by larvae. In addition, these holes provide entry points for diseases such as brown rot and botrytis.
It is salient to note that good sanitation practices are of upmost importance as Adults are also attracted to dropped and decaying fruit and will feed on it. SWD will complete its development in dropped fruit.
