Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD)

Information and resources about monitoring, identification, and management of spotted wing drosophila (SWD), an invasive fruit fly.

Video series

How to Identify the Spotted Wing Drosophila Fly

Learn how to identify the spotted wing drosophila fly.

Tiffany Woods, Amy J. Dreves | Mar 2011 | Video

How to make a trap to catch the Spotted Wing Drosophila Fly

Amy Dreves, an entomologist with the Oregon State University Extension Service, demonstrates how to make traps out of plastic cups to catch the spotted wing drosophila fly. Filmed and edited by Tiffany Woods.

Tiffany Woods, Amy J. Dreves | Mar 2011 | Video

How to place traps to catch the spotted wing drosophila fly

This video demonstrates how to hang traps and place them on the ground to catch the spotted wing drosophila fly.

Tiffany Woods, Amy J. Dreves | Mar 2011 | Video

How to set multiple traps to catch the Spotted Drosophila Fly

Learn how to place a series of closely spaced vinegar traps along the perimeter of your yard early in the season to catch spotted wing drosophila flies.

Tiffany Woods, Amy J. Dreves | Mar 2011 | Video

How to check traps to catch the Spotted Wing Drosophila Fly

See how to check vinegar traps for spotted wing drosophila flies.

Tiffany Woods, Amy J. Dreves | Mar 2011 | Video

How to use netting to keep the Spotted Wing Drosophila Fly off plants

Amy Dreves, an entomologist with the Oregon State University Extension Service, demonstrates how to drape plants with netting to keep out spotted wing drosophila flies. Filmed and edited by Tiffany Woods.

Amy J. Dreves, Tiffany Woods | Mar 2011 | Video

How to clean up fallen fruit to prevent the Spotted Wing Drosophila fly

See how to clean up fallen fruit so spotted wing drosophila flies don't have a place to lay eggs and so any possible larvae already in the fruit will die.

Tiffany Woods, Amy J. Dreves | Mar 2011 | Video

Catalog fact sheet series

How Seasons Affect Population Structure, Behavior and Risk on Spotted-wing Drosophila

Temperatures do affect how quickly SWD reproduce, see how temperatures affect their life cycle.

Vaughn Walton, Linda Brewer, Daniel Dalton, Rachael Nieri, Kyoo Park, Ferdinand Pfab, Dalila Rendon, Gabriella Tait, Nik Wiman, Marco Rossi-Stacconi | Dec 2019 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Cultural Control Strategies to Manage Spotted-wing Drosophila

Cultural controls can reduce spotted-wing drosophila population pressure by modifying the microclimate within the crop so that the environment does not promote SWD reproduction and survival.

Dalila Rendon, Serhan Mermer, Linda Brewer, Daniel Dalton, Cherre Bezerra Da Silva, Jana Lee, Rachael Nieri, Kyoo Park, Ferdinand Pfab, Gabriella Tait, Marco Rossi-Stacconi, Nik Wiman, Vaughn Walton | Dec 2019 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Optimizing Chemical Control of Spotted-wing Drosophila

Crop canopy and structure and the type of pesticide spray equipment help determine the effectiveness of pesticide applications.

Serhan Mermer, Gwen-Alyn Hoheisel, Haitham Bahlol, Lav Khot, Dalila Rendon, Linda Brewer, Daniel Dalton, Rachael Nieri, Kyoo Park, Ferdinand Pfab, Marco Rossi-Stacconi, Vaughn Walton | Dec 2019 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Improved Chemical Control Strategies for Spotted-wing Drosophila

Several factors should be considered when designing the best insecticide application strategy against spotted-wing drosophila (SWD). The level of control achieved will depend on the life-stage makeup of the SWD ...

Serhan Mermer, Linda Brewer, Daniel Dalton, Rachael Nieri, Kyoo Park, Ferdinand Pfab, Marco Rossi-Stacconi, Vaughn Walton | Dec 2019 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Potential Impacts of Irrigation on Biocontrol of Spotted-Wing Drosophila

A naturally occurring parasitic wasp in Oregon can help control SWD in the state’s blueberry farms.

Cherre Bezerra Da Silva, Brianna F. Price, Daniel Dalton, Dalila Rendon, Kyoo Park, Linda Brewer, Vaughn Walton, Marco Rossi-Stacconi | Dec 2019 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Biocontrol of Spotted-wing Drosophila

Multiple biological control agents target SWD, including predators, parasitoids, nematodes and microorganisms such as fungi and bacteria. Predators ambush and eat SWD, removing a substantial portion of them from the production system.

Marco Rossi-Stacconi, Linda Brewer, Elizabeth Miller, Daniel Dalton, Jana Lee, Kyoo Park, Ferdinand Pfab, Vaughn Walton, Cherre Bezerra Da Silva | Dec 2019 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Other resources

A Detailed Guide for Testing Fruit for the Presence of Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD) Larvae

This detailed guide illustrates how to test fruit for the presence of the Spotted Wing Drosophila larvae by crushing the fruit, immersing it into a salt or sugar solution, and examining the fruit debris for larvae and pupae.

Amy J. Dreves, Adam Cave, Jana Lee | Oct 2014 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Spotted Wing Drosophila: A Quick, 7-Step Guide to Detecting SWD Larvae in Fruit

This brief guide illustrates how to test fruit for the presence of larvae from the Spotted Wing Drosophila.

Amy J. Dreves, Adam Cave, Jana Lee | Oct 2014 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

For more research information, please visit OSU's Spotted Wing Drosophila site.

Published Dec 2018, Reviewed 2024

Authors

Vaughn Walton

Entomologist

Linda Brewer

Senior Faculty Research Assistant II, Department of Horticulture

Bernadine Strik

(Retired)

Dr. Patty Skinkis standing in OSU's research vineyard

Patricia A. Skinkis

Viticulture Extension Specialist

Peter Shearer

Research Entomologist

Oregon State University

Jana Lee

Research Entomologist

USDA-ARS-HCRL

Man-Yeon Choi

Research Entomologist

USDA-ARS-HCRL

Want to learn more about this topic? Explore more resources from OSU Extension: Insects

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