Although this was one of the coldest winters we have seen in years along with two major snowstorms, it was not cold enough for spotted wing drosophila (SWD). We identified our first SWD female of 2014 this past Monday (Feb 17) in a trap located in Clarke County. This means that the monster is around and in order to stay on top of the situation you should start trapping as soon as possible.
Female SWD Collected from Clarke County, Georgia (Feb 17, 2014)
Here is how you can make traps, bait, and use them in a trapping program:
Spotted Wing Drosophila Trap Making Instructions
Yeast and Sugar Bait Recipe:
1) 2 Tbsp (8 g) Yeast (Lesaffre Red Star Bakers Active Dry Yeast 1 lb. Vacuum Pack, The Webstaurant
Store, https://bit.ly/YqNPwq)
2) 8 Tbsp (40 g) Sugar (Great Value Pure Sugar, Walmart)
3) 24 fl oz (710 mL) water
4) .76 mL unscented soap (Seventh Generation Free & Clear Natural Dish Liquid, Walmart)
Materials for Traps:
1) 32 oz deli cup (32 oz clear deli cont 500, catalog #TRI-41032, PFS Sales Co.,
https://www.pfssales.com/catalog/p/TRI-41032/32-OZ-CLEAR-DELI-CONT-500/)
2) 32 oz deli lid (LID FOR DELI CONT. 8-32 OZ, catalog #TRI-410, PFS Sales Co., no website url)
3) 250 mL beaker
4) Sharpie
5) Soldering iron (Voltage Pro 30 watt soldering iron, Walmart)
6) 14 gauge insulated wire (Southwire 14 gauge insulated wire, Home Depot)
7) Measuring tape
8) Scissors
9) Protective gloves
10) Mesh cloth
Directions:
1. Add 150 mL water to 250 mL beaker.
2. Pour 150 mL water into 32 oz deli cup. Mark about 1″ line with the sharpie on the deli cup at the top of the water level.
3. Pour water from deli cup back into 250 mL beaker.
4. PUT ON PROTECTIVE GLOVES FOR THIS STEP!
SCALDING HOT PLASTIC FROM THE CUP CAN LAND ON HANDS AND ARMS!
Use soldering iron to make 10 – 12 evenly spaced holes roughly 2/3rds of the circumference around the top of the deli cup.
5. Cut 20 in of 14 gauge insulated wire.
6. Create the wire hanger for the trap. You will need to make knots on the inside of the deli cup. Ensure that the wire goes through holes that are as centered as possible so that the trap does not tilt when hung.
7. Add bait up to fill line marked on cup.
8. Place lid on tightly and hang the traps on blueberry bushes in the middle of fruiting zone.
9. Although there is no specific recommendation on how many traps should be used per acre, we suggest that you should place 3 traps in wild/natural vegetation and 3 traps at the edge of the field nearest to the wild/natural vegetation for each site for a total of 6 SWD traps per site or farm.
10. The traps need to be checked weekly and the liquid media changed out with fresh when checked each week.
11. In order to change the traps, pour contents of the traps into another container through the mesh cloth. The bait will flow through while insects will stay on top of the mesh cloth. Put all the insects in a separate vial containing ethyl alcohol (or water for short time) and identify them under a microscope (or a powerful hand lens).
12. While changing traps, do not spill the bait contents near the trap locations or the orchard because that will attract more flies away from the traps and into the orchard.
If you have more specific questions, please call your County Agent!
