Spotted Wing Drosophila: How land grant universities combat invasive pests and protect industry

Monday, October 16, 2017 - 4:10pm
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Dr. Christelle Guedot, University of Wisconsin, Department of Entomology

Abstract: The Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD) is a recent invasive pest of commercial and home garden fruits, especially, raspberry, blackberry, and blueberry. Oviposition into intact, ripening, soft-skinned fruit leads to small larvae inside the fruit that cause rapid deterioration and loss of marketability. SWD has been an industry “game-changer” as the pest has caused some growers to go out of business or to use more insecticide than consumers expect. I will trace the history of SWD in the U.S. and provide an update on what we have learned about this devastating pest.

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