Updated: June 7, 2025
By Shea Ill , Arthur Young , Chia-Hua Lue , and Dr. Kelly Hamby

Spotted Wing Drosophila Active: Consider Management in Cherries and Blueberries

By Shea Ill, Research Associate, UMD, Arthur Young, Research Associate, UMD, Chia-Hua Lue, Assistant Professor of Biology, Hood College, Kelly Hamby, Associate Professor/Extension Specialist, UMD

Male (black circle) and female (red circle) spotted wing drosophila surrounded by other drosophila species that were captured in a Scentry SWD trap.
Figure 1. Male (black circle) and female (red circle) spotted wing drosophila surrounded by other drosophila species that were captured in a Scentry SWD trap. Photo: Shea Ill

We have detected spotted wing drosophila adults in our traps at the Western Maryland Research and Education Center; therefore, spotted wing drosophila are likely active around the state.

On farm monitoring can help track activity and population trends but thresholds are still complicated for spotted wing drosophila. In cherries, initiate management programs when 5-10% of regional traps are capturing adults and fruit are at a susceptible stage.1 In blueberries, in many cases early season cultivars will be ok even without management.2 You can increase confidence in skipping early season sprays by sampling fruit for larvae.2

More conservatively, you can initiate management programs in cherries or blueberries as soon as fruit are susceptible, and adults are being captured. Both cherries and blueberries become susceptible as soon as the fruit color begins to change and become increasingly at risk the further ripe they become.

In terms of insecticide products, Insecticide Resistance Action Committee (IRAC) modes of action groups 28, 5, 3A, 1A, and 1B all provide good to excellent control depending on the specific active ingredient used.3 Products and rankings for small fruit can be found in Demchak and Hamby 2023.3 Remember to rotate modes of action to reduce the risk of insecticide resistance developing and to follow all label instructions. The label is the law.

References and other recommended resources: 

  1. Perkins, J., and J. Wilson. 2024. The 2024 Outlook for spotted wing drosophila in Michigan cherry orchards. Michigan State University News. https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/the-outlook-for-spotted-wing-drosophila-in-michigan-cherry-orchards
  2. Isaacs, R., Wise, J., and C. Garcia-Salazar. 2022. Insecticide options for spotted wing drosophila control in blueberry. Michigan State University News. https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/insecticide-options-for-spotted-wing-drosophila-control-in-blueberry
  3. Demchak, K., and K. Hamby. 2023. Unusually high spotted wing drosophila pressure. Vegetable and Fruit News. Volume 14, Issue 6. https://extension.umd.edu/resource/unusually-high-spotted-wing-drosophila-pressure/

This article is featured in the Vegetable and Fruit News, Vol. 16, Issue 3.

Vegetable & Fruit News is a research-based publication for the commercial vegetable and fruit industry available electronically from April through October.  Published by the University of Maryland Extension Agriculture and Food Systems team.

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