CTV Winnipeg: Manitoba warns fruit growers about invasive pest

Whether you own a farm or have a backyard berry patch, the province is warning fruit growers about a tiny pest causing massive problems: the spotted wing drosophila (SWD).

The SWD is an invasive fruit fly or vinegar fly that has found its way into Manitoba crops, specifically strawberries, Saskatoon berries, raspberries, sour cherries and cherry plums.

“Spotted wing drosophila has been with us in Manitoba for over 10 years now,” said Philip Ronald, who owns and operates Riverbend Orchards in Portage la Prairie, Man. “It’s something we’ve learned to live with.”

The pesky critter is an invasive species from East Asia. According to experts, this year’s warm winter and soggy spring and summer created ideal conditions for the SWD to populate. But unlike the average fruit fly, the SWD can do more damage by penetrating fruits before they ripen.

“These get in really early and so their larvae start developing inside the fruit before it’s time to harvest them,” said Jason Gibbs, an associate professor in the department of entomology at the University of Manitoba.

To read the full story, please visit CTV Winnipeg.