Market Farming

[Marlin Burkholder <burkholders AT glenecofarm.com>]

Title: Re: [Market-farming] Fly Pests in VA

Well, the entomologist and a graduate student, came to our farm and verified that we have 100% infestation of drosophila larvae and flies.  Please read the note below which Dr. Pfeiffer, just sent, since his visit here on Thursday.
Burkholders

From: Doug Pfeiffer
To: Berry Growers From: Doug Pfeiffer, Fruit Entomologist Sent: September 1, 2012 Hello, everyone: Another new invasive drosophilid?: While investigating what was suspected to be an infestation of spotted wing drosophila in an Albemarle County vineyard, we found a block with high numbers of adults of a different species, Zaprionus indianus, commonly called the fig fruit fly.  While we are just starting to investigate this species, as far as I can tell it is new to the state.  It is of African origin, but has become established in Brazil.  In 2005 it was detected in Florida, and in South Carolina in 2007.  Apparently most fruit attacked have already fallen to the ground, but some fruits are attacked while still on the tree.  The Albemarle infestation was in a block of Petit Verdot, still on the vine.  When clusters were examined, many adult fruit flies.  These adults are very characteristically colored, with silver stripes running along the back, against a reddish-yellow background. To date, these flies have only been collected in grape; the host range among other fruit crops grown in Virginia is unknown, but since there is a strong possibility that other berry crops may be attacked, I am sending this message.  I will attach a PDF version of the Pest Alert fact sheet with this message (you will likely have to log into Scholar in order to find that attachment. Related to our new project on spotted wing drosophila, we are interested in ANY fruit infestation by drosophilids, and would be interested in infestations during the harvest period.  We also need to get a handle on the distribution of this new species, the fig fruit fly.  If fruit flies are common in the berries, hold a sticky card near the fruit and tap lightly; flies may be collected in this way.  Berries with small maggots may also be held in order to rear adults.  Time is of the essence as we approach harvest of this cultivar. More later, Doug

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