1. Insect
  2. Small Fruit Crops
  3. Currant and Gooseberry Pests

Currant and gooseberry-Spotted-wing drosophila

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Drosophila suzukii

For pest description, crop damage, biology, life history, sampling and cultural management

See:

Spotted-Wing Drosophila: An Emerging Berry and Stone Fruit Pest

Note: Do not assume a small white larva found in the fruit is SWD; it may be the commonly found gooseberry maggot (see currant fruit fly, above). Properly identify the insect pest before undertaking management practices.

Management-chemical control: HOME USE

  • bifenthrin
  • plant essential oils (rosemary, thyme)-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • spinosad-This product generally provides 100% control and 5-7 days residual activity. Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.

Management-chemical control: COMMERCIAL USE

Laboratory tests and field experiments indicate that many of the pesticides registered for use in currants and gooseberries are effective in controlling the adult SWD. Although SWD may not be listed on a label, it is legal to use for SWD management. The products listed below target the adult stage of SWD.

  • azadirachtin (Neemix and other brands)-Consult label for rate. PHI 0 days. Achieves only about 25% control of SWD. Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • bifenthrin (Brigade 2EC and other brands) at 0.33 to 0.1 lb ai/A. PHI 1 day. Toxic to bees; do not use when bees are foraging. Also toxic to fish and other aquatic invertebrates. Synthetic pyrethroids achieved 100% mortality of SWD and provide about 10 to 14 days residual control in the field.
  • carbaryl (Sevin and other brands) at 1.5 to 2.0 lb ai/A. PHI 7 days. Use post-bloom only. May provide 100% control of SWD. Toxic to bees; do not apply when bees are foraging. Latex-based formulations such as Sevin XLR Plus are less hazardous to bees. Also toxic to fish and other aquatic invertebrates.
  • cyantraniliprole (Exirel) at 0.088 to 0.133 lb ai/A. PHI 3 days. Toxic to bees; do not use when bees are foraging. Note "Bee Advisory Box" and restrictions on the label. Also toxic to fish and other aquatic invertebrates. Provides from 75-100% control, and 7 to 10 days residual control in the field.
  • cyclaniliprole (Verdepryn) at 0.054 to 0.072 lb ai/A. PHI 1 day. Highly toxic to bees.
  • fenpropathrin (Danitol 2.4EC) at 0.2 to 0.3 lb ai/A. PHI 3 days. Do not exceed two applications per season. Toxic to bees; do not use when bees are foraging. Also toxic to fish and other aquatic invertebrates. Synthetic pyrethroids achieved 100% mortality of SWD and provide about 10 to 14 days residual control in the field. Restricted use pesticide.
  • horticultural oil (several brands)-Consult label for rate. Provides some control of SWD but has no residual activity. May cause spotting on fruit. Some formulations OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • malathion (several brands)-Consult label for rate. PHI 1 day. Toxic to bees and most aquatic invertebrates, and carry the risk of mammalian toxicity. Toxic to bees; do not apply when bees are foraging. Also toxic to fish and other aquatic invertebrates. May achieve 100% mortality of SWD and provide about 7 to 10 days residual control in the field. Of the organophosphates tested, malathion had the longest residual activity (10 days).
  • novaluron (Rimon) at 0.13 to 0.19 lb ai/A. PHI 1 day.
  • pyrethrin (several brands)-Consult label for rate and use directions. PHI 0 days. Toxic to bees; do not apply when bees are foraging. Also toxic to fish and other aquatic invertebrates. Provides about 80% control of SWD but has no residual activity. Many brands, such as Pyganic, are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • spinetoram (Delegate WG) at 0.05 to 0.010 lb ai/A. PHI 3 days. Toxic to bees exposed to treatment for 3 hr following treatment. Do not use when bees are foraging. Also toxic to fish and other aquatic invertebrates. May achieve 100% mortality of SWD and provide about 5 to 7 days residual control in the field. Spinosyn insecticide.
  • spinosad (Entrust) at 0.06 to 0.10 lb ai/A. PHI 3 days. Entrust is OMRI-listed for organic use. Toxic to bees exposed to treatment for 3 hours following treatment. Do not use when bees are foraging. Also toxic to fish and other aquatic invertebrates. May achieve 100% mortality of SWD and provide about 5 to 7 days residual control in the field. The bait formulation of spinosad (GF-120) is not effective against SWD. Spinosyn insecticide.
  • zeta-cypermethrin (Mustang) at 0.05 lb ai/A. PHI 1 day. Toxic to bees; do not apply when bees are foraging. Also toxic to fish and other aquatic invertebrates. Synthetic pyrethroids achieved 100% mortality of SWD and provide about 10 to 14 days residual control in the field. Restricted use pesticide.