Spotted Wing Drosphila Research in High Tunnels

Rufus Isaacs and graduate student Heather Leach are using small cages covered with UV-opaque and UV-transparent plastic to determine if spotted wing Drosophila (SWD) egg-laying and other important behavior is reduced under UV-opaque plastics. Many insects use UV light to see and navigate, so blocking this light with specialty plastics may decrease pest pressure from key berry pests, including SWD, under high tunnels.