Asian Fruit Fly Destroying Fruit Crops

Recent warm weather signals frantic race for researchers to control a potentially devastating Asian fruit fly.
Asian Fruit Fly Destroying Fruit Crops
Winery worker Christine Mercnik (R) sorts zinfandel grapes at Tres Sabores Winery Sept. 25, 2009 in St. Helena, California. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
3/15/2010
Updated:
10/1/2015
<a><img src="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/09/grapes92393989.jpg" alt="Winery worker Christine Mercnik (R) sorts zinfandel grapes at Tres Sabores Winery Sept. 25, 2009 in St. Helena, California.  (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)" title="Winery worker Christine Mercnik (R) sorts zinfandel grapes at Tres Sabores Winery Sept. 25, 2009 in St. Helena, California.  (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)" width="320" class="size-medium wp-image-1822060"/></a>
Winery worker Christine Mercnik (R) sorts zinfandel grapes at Tres Sabores Winery Sept. 25, 2009 in St. Helena, California.  (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
The recent warm weather not only signals spring but also a frantic race for researchers to control a potentially devastating Asian fruit fly.

The fly flew on to the radar of fruit growers from California to British Columbia last year after causing intense damage to crops. Over one-third of California’s cherry crop was lost. Growers in northwest Oregon lost 20 percent of blueberry and raspberry crops. The late season peach crop in Oregon was devastated by an 80 percent loss.

Smaller than the average fruit fly, the spotted wing Drosophila appeared in 2008 in California and has since migrated north along the west coast. In 2009, the fly was reportedly spotted in parts of Florida.

Native to Japan and parts of Southeast Asia, the spotted wing Drosophila is similar to vinegar flies found on over-ripe fruit. However, unlike other vinegar fly species, the spotted wing drosophila prefers ripe ready-to-harvest fruit.

The female flies are equipped with a saw-tooth ovipositor used to cut the fruit skin and lay eggs just below the surface. The damage goes undetected until the larvae hatch and begin feeding, which causes the fruit to collapse.

According to researchers, the fly will feed on a variety of grapes, berries, cherries, peaches, pears, and plums grown commercially in Oregon, California, and Washington. A wide scale infestation of the spotted wing Drosophila can potentially cause millions in damage.

The farm gate value of wine grapes in Oregon was reported by the Oregon Department of Agriculture to be worth about $68 million. Berries stand at $100 million and pears at $80 million.

According to researchers at Oregon State University, the flies produce as many as 10 to 13 generations per growing season, which can help them adjust to pesticides.