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US: Asian pest lands in Maine, worries berry growers

A tiny, spotted-wing Asian fruit fly has made its way from the West Coast to the blueberry barrens and cranberry bogs of Down East Maine, where it’s raising concerns among growers. The Japanese pest lays its eggs in soft berries, which destroy the fruit. The Bangor Daily News says the pest destroyed the raspberry crop in Connecticut last year.

David Yarborough, the University of Maine Cooperative Extension’s blueberry expert, said it holds the potential "to be a major pest." He said there are pesticides that are effective, but spraying is both costly and time-consuming. Yarborough said the extension service will be stepping up its monitoring program to track the spread of the fruit fly, carries the scientific name Drosophila melanogaster.

Source: bostonherald.com