Knowledgebase
SWD #874596
Asked June 25, 2024, 10:23 AM EDT
Jackson County Oregon
Expert Response
Making a trap for SWD. Take a large clear plastic cup with a cover. Make several holes, 3/16 in diameter, near the top on one side of the cup. Larger holes will allow larger flies and other insects such as sap beetles to enter the trap, making detection of the SWD more difficult. The easiest way to make the holes is to heat a small (8 or 10 penny) nail, which can melt the right size hole in the cup. Pour one to two inches of apple cider vinegar into the bottom of the cup. You can then either add a yellow sticky card slightly above the vinegar or a little bit of liquid soap such as dish soap. Hang traps on branches in a shaded location near fruit. Replace the sticky card and apple cider vinegar bait at least once a week for SWD, disposing of the apple cider vinegar away from the trap location. Checking traps more often can be beneficial for early detection of adult SWD, especially early in the growing season.
Apply insecticides as soon as adults are caught in a trap. Repeat applications will probably be necessary; continue to monitor the trap throughout the growing season. Insecticides should be applied in the evening to avoid killing honeybees and other pollinators. Spinosad and pyrethrin are approved for organic production. Always read and follow labels when spraying pesticides, and follow the pre-harvest interval for all products.
Here is a publication you will find useful.