Spotted wing drosophila (SWD) is an established pest of a wide range of berry and other soft-fleshed crops, including haskap.  While most flies will only attack damaged or rotting fruit, SWD can lay its eggs in healthy, ripe fruit, leading to berry damage and insect contamination at harvest. In many years, haskap harvest is completed before SWD activity begins to peak. However, in years where sustained catch of SWD (adults found in traps 2 weeks in a row) occurs more than one week before haskap harvest is complete, berries are at risk of damage from this insect.

Traps have been set up to monitor for SWD at some fruit crop sites in Ontario this year: Norfolk, Elgin, Halton, Haldimand and Hamilton. The first SWD were found in traps in early June, however sustained catch did not occur at any site until this week. This week, SWD numbers increased significantly at multiple sites. Ripe and ripening berry crops in southern Ontario, including haskap, are now at risk of damage.

Summary of SWD trap catches in southern Ontario:

Haskap growers in these areas who have more than 1 week before harvest is complete should be considering control options. A list of management strategies and registered pest control products for use on haskap, can be found below. Salt water tests can be used to evaluate fruit quality and presence of larvae in berries. Watch for soft, juicy fruit as an early warning of SWD problems. At the Simcoe Research Station haskap plot, we anticipate another 2 weeks to complete harvest of all varieties, so we will be applying an insecticide this week.

Traps have not been placed in northern Ontario this year, however haskap growers in these areas should also be watching for signs of berry damage because SWD can emerge in these areas soon after they appear in southern Ontario. Growers should also consider monitoring on their own farms using sticky cards or salt water tests to monitor for larvae. For more information on SWD and haskap, see below.

Management strategies for SWD involve a combination of cultural and chemical controls. Spray every 5-7 days if any berries (haskap or other species) will remain unharvested for more than a week. A list of pest control products registered for use on haskap and other specialty bushberries can be found below:

Other management practices are also important.

• Harvest fruit early, clean and often.
• Cool fruit as quickly as possible after harvest
• Keep alleys and bases of plants clean – either remove unmarketable fruit or crush it
• If unmarketable fruit is being removed, it should be destroyed (dispose of it or leave in plastic bags in the sun)
• Make the environment less favourable to SWD – prune the canopy and/or manage water to reduce humidity (e.g. repair leaking drip lines)