Media share UMaine research to control spotted wing drosophila
News Center Maine, the Bangor Daily News, Morning Ag Clips, Portland Press Herald and WVFX (Fox 22/ABC 7) reported that Phillip Fanning, assistant professor of agricultural entomology at UMaine, and his collaborators are studying whether Ganaspis brasiliensis, commonly referred to as the samba wasps, can naturally control populations of the spotted wing drosophila, an invasive fly that has plagued soft-fruit crops like Maine’s wild blueberries. “Samba wasps have the potential to be a new tool in growers’ fight against spotted wing drosophila. This release finally brings biological control options for a true, integrated pest management approach to this pest,” Fanning said.