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Voracious Asian fruit fly found in Michigan

By AP

EAST LANSING, MI – Officials say a voracious Asian fruit fly that appeared in California in 2008 and since has spread in the Pacific Northwest and other areas has been found for the first time in the Midwest.

Michigan State University Extension announced Friday that the spotted wing Drosophila was found in traps set by entomologists in southwestern Michigan. Male and female flies were found in late September and early October.

The flies target berry crops, cherries, grapes and tree fruit, with a preference for softer fleshed fruit.

Michigan has a spotted wing Drosophila response team that formed earlier this year to detect and combat the fly. Further monitoring is taking place this fall to determine where the fly is present in the state.

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