Removing snow and ice is not an easy task.  It's important to carefully choose the right method and the right product to melt the ice on driveways, sidewalks, and especially the lawn due to the potential for damage to plants and the surrounding environment. 

Ice forms when the­ temperature of water reaches 32ºF, but it is possible to lower that freezing point by using salt (sodium chloride - NaCl), one of the best known ways for melting ice.  Depending upon the concentration, salt can lower the freezing point of the water to as low as 2ºF. Salt is cheap and easy to find, but should be handled with care due to its high corrosive power.  Excessive application can alter drinking water quality, influence soil pH, and kill nearby plants.

Other deicing options, like those containing calcium, magnesium or potassium chloride, work at even lower temperatures than salt.  Many of these options are plant-friendly and relatively harmless to the soil.

The effectiveness of chemical deicing products vary according to their formulation, but their threats to the landscape are the same. To minimize damage when applying deicing chemicals, treat small areas before snow or ice accumulates and follow label instructions. For extra traction, add sand while the product is melting the ice.   

Fig 1: SWD Male (left) and female (right).

Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD) is an invasive and aggressive pest of soft fruit (ex:  raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, and tomatoes). It was first reported in Maine by UMaine Cooperative Extension Pest Management Program specialists in the fall of 2011. Subsequent monitoring in 2012 showed that the pest has already become established and problematic in most of the state.

Identification

The SWD is small fruit fly, similar to they type that flies around the over-ripe bananas in your kitchen.  The features that help to distinguish this insect from similar pests are: males have a dark spot near the tip of each wing and females have a long, sharp, serrated ovipositor.  Click here for photos.

The Concern 

Female SWD puncture soft fruit with their serrated ovipositor and lay 1 to 3 eggs per insertion in healthy fruit that are still attached to the plants. A female may lay as many as 300 eggs during its lifetime. Early on, the fruits show no sign of damage.  Eggs hatch soon after being laid and the hungry maggots begin their devastating feeding. In addition to the feeding damage, the fruit can exude fluid which may attract secondary pests, bacteria, and fungi that accelerate decomposition. Pupae may leave the fruit, or remain inside it. Depending on location and optimum growth temperature (68 °F) this fly may have up to 13 generations per year.

Control 

The prolific SWD is very difficult to control. The first line of defense for home gardeners is to keep gardens/fields clean of over-ripe and rotten fruit.  Dispose of fruit by burying at least 2' deep.  If you have large stands of soft-fruited crops, you may want to consider using simple traps to monitor for the pests.  Once their presence is confirmed, contact your local Extension office to see if chemical control is a suitable option for your situation.  

Since this is a new pest for Maine, additional studies are needed to improve management practices that can be applied to our specific region and growing conditions.  For more information Click here or contact the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Office in your area.