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Funded Project |
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Funding Program:
IPM Enhancement Grants |
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Project Title:
Developing spotted wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii) integrated pest management program in blueberry and strawberry crops: Monitoring, management and outreach. |
Project Director (PD):
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Lead State: FL Lead Organization: University of Florida |
| Undesignated Funding: $29,895 |
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Start Date: May-01-2013 End Date: Apr-30-2014 |
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Pests Involved: Spotted wing drosophila |
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Site/Commodity: Blueberries and strawberries |
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Area of Emphasis: IPM |
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Summary:
Florida is the primary producer of winter strawberries and early-season blueberries in the US. Total acreage for strawberry in Florida during 2011 was 9,900 acres and was mainly concentrated in Hillsborough and Manatee County with revenue generation of 112 million USD (ERS-USDA 2011b) after California. The blueberry acreage is comparatively small as compared to other major producing states but the blueberry industry is highly valued because of its early-season production when prices are extremely high and can generate annual revenues exceeding 70 million USD (ERS-USDA 2011a).
Spotted wing drosophila (SWD), Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura), is a recently introduced serious pest of fruit crops that threatens the profits from blueberries and strawberries. This insect was first detected in California infesting strawberries and caneberries in August 2008. In Florida, it made its debut during the summer of 2009 in Hillsborough County and is now reported in 26 counties that include major strawberry and blueberry producing areas. Spotted wing drosophila females have a serrated ovipositor that is used to puncture ripening fruits. Eggs are deposited just below the surface of soft-skinned fruits and the larval stages develop inside the fruit rendering it unmarketable. Unlike other drosophila species that infest dead and decaying fruits, SWD infests ripening fruits. At present, the management strategies for SWD are still surfacing and knowledge of distribution and economic impacts are in preliminary stages. This project builds on previous research and extension activities with respect to management of SWD in Floridas berry crops. It will expand our current SWD surveys and provide more tools and training for blueberry growers. Secondly, it will initiate SWD surveys in strawberries, as well as providing strawberry growers with additional tools and training to effectively manage SWD populations in their fields. The goals of this project are to 1) initiate survey in strawberry and expand on current surveys in blueberries, 2) identify additional tools (reduced-risk pesticides) that growers can use in an IPM program against SWD and 3) train agricultural personnel, extension faculty, crop consultants and growers how to monitor and recognize SWD in strawberry fields and blueberry plantings. Objectives: 1. To initiate an SWD survey in strawberry fields and expand on the current SWD survey in blueberry plantings 2. To provide additional tools that growers can use for management of SWD by evaluating reduced-risk and conventional insecticides with short PHIs from various classes, 3. To educate extension faculty, crop consultants and growers on monitoring and correct identification of SWD |
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Final Report: |
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Non-technical summary and Results The Spotted wing drosophila (SWD), Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura), is a recently introduced serious pest of fruit crops that threatens the profits from blueberry and strawberry growers. It made its debut in Florida during the summer of 2009 in Hillsborough County and is now reported in more than 26 counties that include the major strawberry and blueberry producing areas. Spotted wing drosophila females have a serrated ovipositor that is used to puncture ripening fruits. Eggs are deposited just below the surface of soft-skinned fruits and the larval stages develop inside the fruit rendering it unmarketable. This project builds on previous research and extension activities with respect to management of SWD in Floridas berry crops. It will expand our current SWD surveys and provide more tools and training for blueberry growers. Secondly, it will initiate SWD surveys in strawberries, as well as providing strawberry growers with additional tools and training to effectively manage SWD populations in their fields. The goals of this project are to 1) initiate survey in strawberry and expand on current surveys in blueberries, 2) identify additional tools (reduced-risk pesticides) that growers can use in an IPM program against SWD and 3) train agricultural personnel, extension faculty, crop consultants and growers how to monitor and recognize SWD in strawberry fields and blueberry plantings. |
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Target audience Berry growers, crop consultants, berry marketers, agricultural extension agents, extension specialists, berry grower organizations |
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Activities / Events Fruit Grower workshop March 8th, 2014 in Alachua, County Florida,Fall Blueberry Short Course on September 19th 2013 in Plant City, Florida |
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Impacts We have been able to convince about 40% of the growers that we worked with to monitor for SWD on their farms as opposed to using a calendar spray program (every 10 days). This resulted in some growers reducing their spray program by almost 50% and a few not having to spray for the entire season. A reduced spray program save the grower money and conserve beneficial insects (pollinating agents), which is critical for high yield plants during the production season. Finally, less fruits are exposed to insecticide residues and workers are not exposed to toxic pesticides. |
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Publications Liburd, O. E. and L. E. Iglesias. 2013. Spotted wing drosophila: Pest management recommendations for southeastern blueberries. Publication #ENY-869. EDIS UF/IFAS Extension, Gainesville, FL 32611. |
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Outcomes We have changed the behavior of about 25 growers that we have worked with. These growers are more knowledgeable about SWD host range, biology and the insecticidal tactics that can be employed to manage the fly population. These growers has significantly reduce their spray program by as much as 50% and spend significantly less time trying to ID SWD in traps on their farms. The training that we provide have increase their general knowledge on SWD management. |
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Other Products / Outputs This grant assisted us in fostering collaborations with USDA scientists to work on SWD management. It has also assisted us in participating in a national project that is design to develop management tools for SWD. |
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Leveraged Funds State Block grant program to develop IPM program for SWD in berry crops $136,000 Walmart Foundation and administered by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Center for Agricultural and Rural Sustainability.$190,000 |
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