Spotted winged Drosophila (Drosophila suzukii), or SWD, is a pest of soft fruit that has spread rapidly through the USA and Europe over the last few years but has not yet been found in Australia. Crops affected include berries (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries), cherries, grapes and peaches. It is closely related to vinegar fly (Drosophila melanogaster) but the difference is that SWD attacks fruit before it is fully ripe. This means that the immature stages (maggots) will be present in ripe fruit.
The arrival of this pest has prompted massive changes in order to deal with it effectively. Initial losses were massive until growers learned what was required to combat the pest. Many growers deal with it by routine applications of insecticides. If Australian berry growers, particularly strawberry and raspberry growers, were to follow this approach then it is highly likely that two-spotted mite and western flower thrips would re-emerge as major pest problems and the industry would once again be in crisis.
Effective control in Australia will rely on cultural (management) methods rather than biological control – at least in the early years. Being aware of the pest and how to deal with it will involve preparing a strategy that is suited to Australian conditions. These controls include hygiene, screens and shorter picking intervals. IPM Technologies hopes to explore other suitable control options before the pest arrives.