Spotted Wing Drosophila

Small fruit fly; males have a distinctive dark spot near the wing tip; larvae are tiny white maggots found inside soft fruit.

Many generations per year in warm conditions; rapid breeding cycle allows populations to explode during fruit ripening season.

Unlike common fruit flies, females cut into ripening, undamaged fruit to lay eggs, causing larvae to feed inside and fruit to collapse and leak.

Use vinegar or wine traps to monitor and reduce adult numbers. Harvest fruit frequently and remove overripe or fallen fruit.

Net soft fruit crops with fine mesh and maintain good garden hygiene to reduce breeding sites.