Dill, Handley discuss spotted wing drosophila that lay eggs in berries

UMaine Alert

Posted: April 19, 2024 - 1:32 PM

At approximately 9:24 a.m. on Friday, April 19, a University of Maine graduate student was struck by a university vehicle on Long Road at the University of Maine campus in Orono. The student reports that they are at a local hospital with minor injuries.

Emergency services, including the Orono Fire Department, University Volunteer Ambulance Corps, University of Maine Police Department, Orono Police Department and Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene.

The university vehicle involved in the incident was a Chevrolet Express van. It was being operated by a university employee.

Counseling services and support are available for students, faculty or staff who may have been affected. The Counseling Center can be reached at 207-581-1392 and the Dean of Students Office can be reached at 207-581-1406.

The scene has been cleared and Long Road is now accessible. An investigation is being conducted by the University of Maine Police Department with assistance from the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstruction Unit. Any witnesses to the incident are encouraged to contact Lt. Noel Santiago at noel.santiago@maine.edu.

August 13, 2020 Cooperative Extension, Outreach, UMaine in the News

Jim Dill and David Handley talked with the Bangor Daily News about this summer’s spotted wing drosophila population explosion. “This is a whole different species than the fruit fly people are used to if they leave bananas out too long on the counter and then start flitting around and driving you crazy,” said Dill, pest management specialist with University of Maine Cooperative Extension. “The spotted wing drosophila is out in the fields or in your garden laying eggs in your fruit.” Handley, vegetable and small fruit specialist with Cooperative Extension, said that “anybody who grows berries that ripen later in the season should be concerned.” Those berries include wild and highbush blueberries, late summer raspberries, everbearing raspberries and strawberries, he said. The best defense against the spotted wing drosophila is picking fruit earlier than normal, which will give flies less time to lay eggs. Once the fruit is picked, it should immediately be refrigerated to at least 34 F to halt development of eggs or larvae already in the berries, according to the article.