Crops vulnerable to Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD)

Experience from other countries where SWD is prevalent indicates that the following fruit crops are particularly vulnerable: blackberry, blackcurrant, blueberry, cherry, fig, kiwi fruit, nectarine, peach, plum, raspberry, redcurrant, strawberry and table grapes.

Other crops at risk include: apple (damaged), apricot, elderberry, gooseberry, pear (damaged), tomato (damaged) and wine grapes (damaged).

The pest has been found in a wide range of habitats, including: suburban areas, gardens, hedgerows, forests and woodlands.

Apart from fruit crops, other hosts include: wild blackberry, wild cherry, dogwood, elderberry, hawthorn, honeysuckle, mahonia, mountain ash (rowan), mulberry, nightshade, wild raspberry, rose and snowberry. Early and late sugar sources include: holly, insect honeydew and ivy.

Wild blackberry is an important host in the UK.