Automated aerosol puffers effectively deliver 1‐OCTEN‐3‐OL, an oviposition antagonist useful against spotted‐wing drosophila

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Automated aerosol puffers releasing behaviorally active volatile organic compounds can deter insect pests in crops. During 2016, we tested the efficacy of aerosol puffer arrays emitting 1-octen-3-ol at reducing Drosophila suzukii oviposition in fall-bearing raspberries in Western New York State. During 2017, we compared the performance of aerosol puffers with a passive diffusion release method (vial dispensers), as well as puffer timing and placement within the field. RESULTS: During 2016, we found that octenol application in the field via aerosol puffer systems resulted in a 20% decrease in D. suzukii oviposition compared to control plots. During 2017, we found that aerosol puffers releasing octenol were 42-55% more effective than vial dispensers at deterring oviposition. We also found that a discontinuous application of octenol during dawn and dusk was sufficient to deter D. suzukii oviposition equivalent to continuous applications throughout the day. Although we observed no differences in infestation depending on puffer placement, low fly populations at the time of the trial may have affected the data. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that automated aerosol puffer systems may reduce D. suzukii infestation to a greater extent than vial dispensers. If adopted, a discontinuous puffer release schedule may protect both economic and ecological interests by reducing the amount of material required to achieve efficacy. Further research on puffer placement is needed to determine whether perimeter applications are effective in larger scale field research and in combination with attractants as part of a push-pull management system.

2‐Pentylfuran: a novel repellent of Drosophila suzukii

“…We could achieve 2 days of constant relatively high release rate (~10 mg h −1 ) using a polyethylene sachet. Future effort will include use and evaluation of puffer technology for automated and programmable dispensing of 2‐pentylfuran as similarly conducted with 1‐octen‐3‐ol 29 …”

“…Future effort will include use and evaluation of puffer technology for automated and programmable dispensing of 2-pentylfuran as similarly conducted with 1-octen-3-ol. 29 The evolutionary relevance of 2-pentylfuran on SWD behavior is currently unknown. The compound seems to have at least several different origins, including as a fruit metabolite, 36 a fermentation by-product (current study), and microbial activity.…”

“…The industry needs alternative approaches for managing SWD to reduce reliance on insecticides. We believe 2-pentylfuran could be used as a basis for a novel management tactic, potentially in combination with other approaches such as attract and kill technology, 15,17 exclusion netting, 29,49,50 augmentative biological control, 51 and cultural methods such as use of weed fabric 52 to reduce SWD infestations and overall insecticide use in berries and other susceptible crops.…”

“…Importantly, the negative effect of three compounds (compound 2, compound 3, and 2-pentylfuran) were 66.7, 79.5, and 91.1% significantly stronger than 1-octen-3-ol, respectively, that was previously shown repellent to SWD in the field. 23,28,29…”

“…23 Studies have further tested several different methods to deploy 1-octen-3-ol, such as SPLAT® 27 and an automated mister system that have reduced infestation in the field at scales larger than a single cluster of fruit. 28,29 Despite these encouraging results with 1-octenol-3-ol, it has significant negative attributes such as an unpleasant odor at relevant concentrations and potential human health effects under long-term exposure. 30 As a result, further research is needed to develop an alternative, effective repellent if behavioral management is to become realized in this system.…”