History of the Apple Maggot Washington State
The first detection in Washington State of the apple maggot was in 1980 in Vancouver. By 1982, it was detected in Spokane and by 1985, it was detected in King County near Seattle. The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) in 1982 initiated an apple maggot program to determine its distribution and to prevent its establishment in major apple-producing areas. By using insecticides and removing host plant species, apple maggot numbers dropped, but were not eliminated. In 1984, it was estimated that the impact of the apple maggot to Washington State’s economy, especially apple production, would be around 71 to 93 million dollars annually, which included loss in domestic and export markets and decreased fruit yield and quality. A major concern with agriculture is the expansion of hosts of the apple maggot from its primary hosts of hawthorn and apple. These new hosts include sour and sweet cherry, firethorn species, cotoneaster species, prune, pear, plum, and crabapple. Today, apple maggot is still a pest of concern in Washington State. This could be a reality for the Okanagan Region.
Information references:
Brunner, J.F. (1987). Apple maggot in Washington state: a review with special reference to its status in other western states. Melanderia, 45, 33-51.
Information references:
Brunner, J.F. (1987). Apple maggot in Washington state: a review with special reference to its status in other western states. Melanderia, 45, 33-51.