News Insects
SWD found in several Ontario counties

Spotted wing drosophila (SWD), an invasive vinegar fly that’s a chronic pest of berries and tender fruit, has been found in Ontario’s Essex, Elgin, Norfolk, Middlesex, Oxford, Niagara, Halton, Hamilton, and Hastings counties. Cherry and berry farms with ripe fruit are at risk and should begin a regular spray program immediately.

Weather conditions over the next week are ideal for SWD populations to increase and decreased efficacy of chemical control, so growers should ensure pesticide coverage remains steady. Erica Pate, fruit crop specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), has created a list of tools for SWD management. |READ MORE