Updated factsheet on managing spotted wing drosophila in Michigan cherry

Julianna Wilson<jkwilson@msu.edu> and Heather Leach<leachhea@msu.edu>, Michigan State University, Department of Entomology - June 25, 2026

New factsheet covers best practices for managing spotted wing drosophila in Michigan cherry orchards.

Illustration of a cherry orchard bordered by forest and a lake, highlighting spotted wing drosophila movement from wooded areas into the orchard. White dotted paths and fly icons indicate likely migration routes and recommended trap placement along orchard edges. — Spotted wing drosophila is a landscape level pest that can quickly move in from outside the orchard, traveling 200+ feet in just hours.

Spotted wing drosophila (SWD) (Drosophila suzukii) is an invasive species that was first detected in Michigan in 2010. It is now a key pest of ripening cherries and berries. An updated 6-page factsheet from Michigan State University Extension describes current best practices for this pest to prevent fruit infestation in cherry orchards, including details on monitoring methods, management timing, risk assessment, biological control, and insecticide resistance prevention.

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).