The invasive vinegar fly, spotted-wing drosophila (SWD), encounters a diverse fungal community in fall-bearing raspberries and blackberries that includes the primary fruit rot pathogens Botrytis cinerea and Cladosporium cladosporioides. Previous surveys of raspberry fruit have found that SWD larvae co-occur with and feed on both Botrytis and Cladosporium at low rates, indicating that an association may exist between these pests. To better understand these interactions and their potential impacts on insect and pathogen management within caneberries, we conducted field and laboratory studies that assess SWD as a potential vector for fruit rot pathogens.
