Id. SWD Backyard Needs
Spotted winged Drosophila (SWD) can infest numerous fruit and ornamental plants in backyard settings. Further, it has ample refuge to successfully survive even harsh winter temperatures and lack of food. It can find cracks in building foundations to stay out of freezing temperatures, and emerge on warm afternoons even in the middle of winter, to feed on dew and other nutritious substances. Then in spring it can potentially lay eggs earlier (than expected fruit hosts) on certain ornamental fruits (such as Sarcococca or sweet box), and perhaps increase its population to then attack cherries or early berry crops.