Identifying IPM compatible control measures for Spotted Winged Drosophila

Client: The Victorian Strawberry Industry Development Committee

Project partner: Nina Jørgensen, Borregaard BioPlant ApS, Denmark

Project delivery period: 2017

Spotted Winged Drosophila (Drosophila suzukii) is an extremely serious pest of soft fruits in Europe and North America, especially strawberries and raspberries.  It has greatly expanded its geographic range in the last few years and has been devastating to many regions and crops.  It poses a great threat to berry production in Australia if it reaches this country.

Dr Paul Horne and Jessica Page from IPM Technologies will travel to Europe to see first-hand the problems caused by Spotted Winged Drosophila and attempt to formulate an IPM compatible set of control options.  The methods that we develop will be tested by collaborating entomologists and farmers in Europe.