Evaluating a push–pull strategy for management of Drosophila suzukii Matsumura in red raspberry

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Drosophila suzukii Matsumura is a serious pest of small fruits that lays its eggs in growing fruit. Current management strategies rely on an unsustainable schedule of foliar applications of chemical insecticides. Alternative approaches to suppressing oviposition are under investigation, such as attract-and-kill and the use of oviposition deterrents. Here, we evaluated two behavioral control approaches in combination as a push-pull strategy using laboratory and field assays. RESULTS:In laboratory caged assays, both an attractive mass trapping device (pull) and an oviposition deterrent (push: 1-octen-3-ol) reduced oviposition by D. suzukii, and the combination of the two (push-pull) resulted in significantly greater reduction than either treatment alone. In field experiments, oviposition reduction was observed in fruit from plots treated with oviposition deterrent (push) or a combination of mass trapping devices and deterrent (push-pull) compared with fruit from control plots. However, oviposition in plots with mass trapping devices (pull) was higher than observed in all other treatments. Additionally, the protection provided by the deterrent in push plots extended to the entire plot rather than just in fruit closest to deterrent dispensers. CONCLUSION: Push-pull treatments negatively affected D. suzukii infestation in both laboratory and field experiments. The reduction in oviposition observed in laboratory experiments was based on the additive effect of push and pull components acting on a finite population, while the reduction observed in field experiments appeared to be mainly based on the effect of pull components. We discuss potential underlying reasons for the discrepancy results and suggest potential improvements.

Deterrent Effects of Essential Oils on Spotted-Wing Drosophila (Drosophila suzukii): Implications for Organic Management in Berry Crops

“…In the blueberry field experiment, the lack of observed differences between essential oil treatments could be due to the low levels of overall SWD infestation until the last two weeks of the harvest season, effectively reducing our experimental sample size. Wallingford et al [40] coupled 1-octen-3-ol, an aversive botanical VOC to SWDs, with a baited trap to create a push-pull treatment that was more effective than either the deterrent or the attractive bait alone.…”

“…Methyl anthranilate is a VOC that occurs naturally in woodland strawberry (Fragaria vesca L.), and cultivars that produce high levels of methyl anthranilate resulting in decreased larval development and egg viability in SWDs, while simultaneously increasing female oviposition preference [42]. Identifying effective volatile chemical attractants and repellents for SWDs can contribute to more effective push-pull management strategies for this pest and decrease applications of broad-spectrum insecticides [40].…”

Spotted wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii) utilization and dispersal from the wild host Asian bush honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.)

“…Using cultural control techniques on farms in combination with chemical control represents a realistic way of reducing the expansive population pressure on a local scale (Prokopy & Kogan, ). Increasingly, research and management techniques for this pest are focused in this direction (Iglesias & Liburd, ; Leach et al ., ; Wallingford et al ., ) with recognition that successful control of this pest will require use of diverse approaches (Asplen et al ., ).…”

The use of light spectrum blocking films to reduce populations of Drosophila suzukii Matsumura in fruit crops

“…Potentially a more effective strategy would be to incorporate the claddings as part of an integrated pest management approach including repellents, to further inhibit D. suzukii entering crops 56 , 57 , and attractants where semiochemical based baits are placed outside the crop to intercept and further reduce immigration into the cropping area 58 . This could have significant consequences for reducing the need for chemical plant protection products in fruit crops and the reduction of future insecticide resistance 59 , 60 .…”