A small fruit fly (Drosophila suzukii) native to East Asia that, unlike most fruit flies, lays eggs in ripening rather than overripe or damaged fruit, using a serrated ovipositor to cut into the skin of cherries, berries and other soft fruit. Since its detection in California and southern Europe in 2008, it has spread across most fruit-growing regions of North America, Europe and South America, forcing growers into far more intensive insecticide spray schedules to protect otherwise marketable fruit.
Facts
Connections
Associated With
Strawberry, Crops Spotted wing drosophila is a major invasive pest of ripening strawberry and other soft fruit.
Sources
1. Spotted Wing Drosophila (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationOpening definition paragraph
Drosophila suzukii, commonly called the spotted wing drosophila or SWD, is a fruit fly. D. suzukii, originally from southeast Asia, is becoming a major pest species in America and Europe because it infests fruit early during the ripening stage, in contrast with other Drosophila species that infest only rotting fruit.
lead description
A small fruit fly (Drosophila suzukii) native to East Asia that, unlike most fruit flies, lays eggs in ripening rather than overripe or damaged fruit, using a serrated ovipositor to cut into the skin of cherries, berries and other soft fruit.
View the Source Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.