Spotted wing Drosophila (SWD) (Drosophila suzukii) is an invasive vinegar fly that attacks otherwise healthy, ripening soft-bodied fruits. SWD is native to southeastern Asia and arrived in other countries via overseas trade of infested fruit (Rota-Stabelli et al., 2013).
The first U.S. detection occurred in Hawaii in 1980, and in 2008, it was found in the continental United States in California (Lee et al., 2011). This pest had spread rapidly to all states except Nevada and Arizona by 2016. It was detected in Ohio raspberries in 2011 and in a variety of small fruit and grapes in 2012 (Welty, 2013). Given that SWD is well adapted to temperate climates, is capable of overwintering in many regions—including those where freezing temperatures are common—and has no natural enemies in North America, it has quickly become a prolific pest of the small fruit industry (Werner et al., 2018).
SWD Distribution in Ohio The initial detection of SWD in Ohio occurred in Van Wert County, in northwestern Ohio, in September 2011. Since 2012, a statewide SWD monitoring network consisting of baited traps has been established to detect adults in raspberries, blackberry, blueberry, grape, peach, and strawberry plantings. The network ranges between 12 and 20 counties per year, with one to several monitoring sites inside each county. The network relies on Extension educators, state specialists, and research station managers to supply trap catch data collected from growers’ fields.
During 2013, in addition to the data from the 20 counties monitoring this pest, unofficial confirmations from 15 other counties showed SWD was present in a much larger area of Ohio. A 2018 map including positive detections and suspected but unconfirmed detections is shown in Figure 1. In 2024, it is likely that SWD can be detected in all 88 Ohio counties.
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Categories: Ohio, Crops, Fruits and Vegetables