If you grow fruit and haven’t heard of it…you will. It looks and acts a lot like our common fruit flies, but this one is a whole lot worse. Yet another Asian invasive, this insect is slowly establishing itself throughout North America.
This little creature was virtually unheard of 10 years ago, but has over the last few become one of the worst scourges of soft fruit growing in the United States. It is particularly problematic because of its high reproductive rate, up there with bacteria and bunny rabbits. It chews, lays fruit it and otherwise destroys berries, softer skinned grapes and the softer tree fruits like cherry. It can be managed organically, but it means paying attention and making any treatments at the proper time. Another reason why successful organic growing means having an interest in entomology.