Spotted wing Drosophila workshop tomorrow, May 15

Attendees will learn how to monitor and manage spotted wing Drosophila.

MSU Extension will provide an in-depth workshop on spotted wing Drosophila (SWD) biology and management on May 15 from 1 to 4 p.m. Spotted wing Drosophila is an invasive insect that was first detected in Michigan in late 2010 and in many other eastern U.S. states in 2011 and is now found in most major fruit producing regions of the country. Spotted wing Drosophila is a pest of berries and other soft fruits, and will require active management by growers to minimize its economic impact.

This workshop will include the latest research information as well as hands-on training in monitoring, identification, and fruit sampling. It will be led by members of the MSU Department of Entomology who have been studying this insect since its arrival in Michigan. The workshop has been developed for fruit growers, scouts and crop consultants to help them integrate SWD management into their IPM programs.

There is a registration fee of $30 for the workshop. This covers the workshop plus attendance at the hands-on training on the afternoon of June 12. Space is limited to 25 attendees per workshop, so please sign up in advance. Call or email Judy Hanson at 616-994-4548 to register for this event. The workshop will be held at the Trevor Nichols Research Center, 6237 124th Avenue, Fennville, Mich., from 1 to 4 p.m.

For attendees at the workshops, a follow-up hands-on field training will be held on June 12 at 1 to 3 p.m. These workshops are made possible by funding from Project GREEEN and the U.S.EPA.

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