Today Ventura County Cooperative Extension Staff Research Associate Maren Mochizuki shares with us site considerations for local spotted wing drosophila research. As you will see much preparation, thought and cooperation is involved in research planning.
Because we are interested in the movement of spotted wing drosophila to/from host crops, we selected locations with one or more host crops (e.g. blueberries, raspberries, strawberries) adjacent to one another. Growers are very cooperative in allowing us monitor on their properties every week.
In early June, we installed traps in Oxnard and Camarillo (blueberries next to strawberries, blueberries next to raspberries and blueberries next to blueberries). In July, we added one location in Santa Paula (blackberries adjacent to nectarines, peaches, plums, apples and strawberries).
For this monitoring project, we had several considerations for trap locations:
1) Proximity to host crops. For example, for a blueberry field with strawberries on its north and west sides, we installed two traps each along those two edges but none to the south and east.
2) Crop cultural practices and maintenance. Normal activities in the field such as harvesting and watering adjacent farm roads to keep dust down (thanks to the grower who reminded us of this) could disrupt the traps. We tried to place them securely and several feet away from roads.
3) Wind direction. Because insects can be carried by wind, they may first appear in downwind areas.
4) Shading. Traps were placed in the shade of the plant canopy and partially buried in the case of blueberries or strawberries or hung under the canopy in the case of nectarines and blackberries to maintain a cooler bait temperature.
5) Replication. Multiple traps at the same property provide a more thorough survey.
For more information about this pest, please read previous posts or visit UC ANR’s intergrated pest management website.
Blueberries adjacent to strawberries in Ventura County.