To review confusion between fruit flies,
(from above) "It's not like the recent Oriental fruit fly that attacks blackberries in the summer."
I cannot find any reference to this common-name insect (Bactrocera) hosting on any Rubus species, unlike
the Spotted-Wing Drosophila that is referred to commonly as an Asiatic Fruit Fly, and torments our caneberries in the summer.
Thanks for reminding me of the name, Spotted Wind Drosophila. I assumed that SWD was the culprit on my blackberries. I have read about it attacking blackberries from others, but I have no way of absolutely confirming that it was the SWD instead of a different fruit fly.
John S
PDX OR
Your assumption is very likely correct. the Oriental Fruit Fly (OFF) is large (housefly-size+) and showy like a hover fly.
SWD are tiny and brownish. I do infrequently get fruit flies in my vinegar traps that are not SWD, like one other fly per 1,000 SWD.
Getting back to orchard pests and Mr. McMillen, turns out he was a prominent Indian fighter of the times, and the Natives would have considered him
a pest with an orchard.
Idyllwild
jafar
Marsha H
Viron
John S
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