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New
Trap Hits the Spots
(Spotted Wing Drosophila)
A trap that allows blueberry growers to monitor, and possibly even
mass-catch, spotted wing drosophila (SWD) flies has recently become
available through Contech Enterprises, Inc. out of British Columbia.
Last year researchers, including the science team at Contech, and
pest management specialists modified the company’s retail
kitchen trap of the same dimensions into a SWD trap and have since
found good results in Utah and Washington, reports John Borden,
chief scientific officer at Contech.
The trap has also proven itself to the British Columbia Ministry
of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (counterpart to USDA in the
States).
 Cylindrically
shaped, the 5-inch high trap hangs from blueberry branches. SWD
flies, both male and female, can be viewed in the trap by unscrewing
the lid. Captured flies are attracted away from the two entry ports
on either side of the trap by a liquid lure, which must be concocted
by users, and sun light shining through the trap’s see-through
wall at the bottom of the trap.
Unlike other traps that use pheromones to attract insects, the SWD
trap first found success with apple cider vinegar as bait. Later,
Contech found that apple cider vinegar and yeast in a 100 to1 ratio
proved better than cider alone.
Borden said that the USDA lab in Wapato, Washington found that wine
works “very well,” too. And, according to a student
on a budget doing graduate work in Illinois, cheap wine will do,
too.
Trap density per acre depends on whether or not the traps are being
used for monitoring or, in the case of organic applications, mass
trapping SWD. “The responsibility for developing recommendations
for use on various crops will lie with pest management researchers,
extension specialists and consultants,” Borden said. “You
have some very good ones in Oregon.”
Dr. Sheila Fitzpatrick of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada said
that traps are not competitive with ripe fruit, which means that
female Drosophila flies will be more attracted to ripe blueberries
and not the lure in the trap.
Spotted wing drosophila flies (pronounced droh-SOPH-uh-luh)), which
are native to Asia, were first found in North America in 2008. It
has since become a major problem in numerous small fruits along
the West Coast and other U.S. states. Only the male has spots on
its wings.
Female SWD, which have a serrated ovipositor and are attracted to
the traps more than males during early ripening, lay their eggs
in thin-skinned fruit. Infected fruits quickly develop soft spots
and rot.
A box of 12 traps costs $33, or $2.75 per trap. With an order of
four or more boxes there is a $3-per box discount.
For more information, go to www.contech-inc.com or call 1-800-767-8658.
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