North Carolina & USDA to support SWD research

Female (left) and male (right) spotted wing drosophila flies on a raspberry at the Upper Mountain Research Station, Laurel Springs, NC.

We recently received word that the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission and the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program have funded our spotted wing drosophila (SWD) research for 2012.  Our work will focus on identifying preferred crop and non crop hosts, developing non chemical management tools, and determining the best strategy for using chemical management tools when necessary.  SWD is emerging as a significant pest of fruit in North Carolina and many other eastern states, so this research support comes at an important time.

We are also recruiting a graduate student to who will lead much of our work on SWD in the southeast.  Interest students are encouraged to contact Hannah.

More information
Fiscal Year 2011 Funded Projects - USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program
2011 Grant Awards - North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission