NC State Extension Master Gardener℠ volunteers aren’t just growing plants—they’re growing knowledge, too! One way they do this is by participating in research and citizen science projects that contribute to sustainable gardening solutions.
In an exciting ongoing study, volunteers are helping researchers investigate an invasive pest—spotted wing drosophila(SWD)—and the potential for tiny, beneficial wasps to serve as its natural enemies. Led by Dr. Hannah Levenson of NC State University, this project is working to better understand the population dynamics of SWD and the parasitoid wasps that may help control it.
SWD has wreaked havoc on small fruit production across the country, causing a major shift in agricultural practices and a dramatic increase in pesticide use. Until recently, research in North Carolina has focused solely on commercial farms—but SWD is just as likely to show up in urban landscapes, community gardens, and backyards.
That’s where Extension Master Gardener volunteers come in. They’re helping fill a crucial research gap by collecting fruit samples once a month from urban areas across the state. These samples are sent to Dr. Levenson’s lab, where they’re examined for signs of SWD and its parasitoid predators.
The data volunteers collect will shed light on where and when these insects are most active—information that will ultimately help gardeners and growers reduce pesticide use and adopt more sustainable, science-based pest management strategies.
This collaborative project brings together faculty from NC State’s Departments of Horticultural Science and Entomology & Plant Pathology, along with N.C. Cooperative Extension agents and Master Gardener volunteers.
We extend our sincere thanks to Dr. Hannah Levenson for her leadership in guiding Master Gardener volunteer involvement in this research, and to Leslie Rose, Extension horticulture agent in Forsyth County, for her outstanding work coordinating project communications.Want to learn more?
Check out how volunteers have contributed to other research efforts, including the pollinator stem habitat project and basil downy mildew variety trial.Ready to dig in?
Join, support, or connect with Extension Master Gardener volunteers and help grow a more sustainable future!
Funding was provided by NC State Extension’s Consumer and Youth Horticulture Working Group.
