First report of spotted-wing drosophila (Diptera: Drosophilidae) associated with Actinidia kolomikta

Drosophila suzukii Matsumura, commonly known as spotted-wing drosophila (SWD), is a highly polyphagous invasive pest that was first detected in Minnesota in 2012. Studies have documented and listed the numerous host plants SWD is able to utilize and we report here the first observation of SWD infesting Actinidia kolomikta Maxim. In addition, we performed a preliminary study to determine whether kiwiberry cultivars differ in susceptibility at different harvest intervals. We sampled six kiwiberry varieties of A. kolomikta at two different harvest dates in 2019. Results showed no significant differences among cultivars, but early harvest of kiwiberries may reduce infestation levels. SWD continues to be of economic concern for soft-skinned fruits and stone fruits, and kiwiberries should be added to the catalog of crops vulnerable to infestation.