Bev Gerdeman
Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD)
Drosophila suzukii
The Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD), Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura), is a pest of soft fruit native to Asia, but has become established in the Pacific Northwest starting in 2009. Most Drosophila species are attracted to overripe and rotting fruit for ovipositing sites, but SWD females have saw-like ovipositors which they use to lay eggs in ripening fruit, still on the plant.
Fruits targeted by this pest include strawberry, raspberry, blueberry, plum, peach, cherry, and grape. Damage is seen initially as tiny scar on the skin of the fruit, and then the skin collapses and may become moldy in the area where the egg was laid and the larva is developing. The larvae will feed inside the fruit for 5-7 days. Adult females can lay up to 350 eggs in a lifetime.
WSU Whatcom County Extension has scouted fields in Western Washington in 2010 and 2011 and will continue to scout fields in 2012. For information on this scouting program, see the: historical scouting page
WSU Whatcom County Extension has scouted fields in Western Washington from 2010 to 2012. Data from these scouting seasons can be found on the SWD scouting page.
In 2013, WSU Whatcom County Extension will be working on evaluating trap design and baits for effectively monitoring SWD throughout the season. More information and updates about this project can be found on the SWD Current Whatcom work page.
Photos of different life stages of SWD can be found on the Slides & Images page.
Research on SWD is being done around North America. Links to publications and research results from around the continent can be found on the Resources page.
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