Laboratory evaluation of effects of powdered sulphur on the oviposition, fruit detection and behaviour of Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) on strawberry

Abstract

http://www.eje.cz peaches) are the crops most susceptible to infestation. In Andalusia (southern Spain), D. suzukii was fi rst detected in 2012 in the province of Huelva. As over 80% of the berries in Spain are produced in Huelva, they are an important socio-economic driver in this region. Damage of around 80% of the strawberry crop, 100% of the cherry crop and 100% of organic crops were detected relatively shortly after D. suzukii arrived in Spain (Sorribas, 2013).In conventional farming D. suzukii is mainly chemically controlled in Europe using organophosphorates, pyrethroids and spinosyns. However, using these insecticides has consequences in terms of resistance (Bruck et al., 2011;Smirle et al., 2017; Gress & Zalom, 2019) and environmental pollution, is detrimental to benefi cial arthropods, incompatible with organic management and violates the MRL (maximum residue limit) zero tolerance policy in

Compatibility of powdered sulphur and natural enemies for the control of Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae): Effects on Anthocoris nemoralis (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) and Trichopria drosophilae (Hymenoptera: Diapriidae) activity

“…Conversely, powdered sulphur caused a significant reduction in fruit infestation. This result is in accordance with previous research in strawberries and blueberries (Pérez‐Guerrero et al., 2020; Pérez‐Guerrero & Molina, 2016). Powdered sulphur is currently authorised as a fungicide for organic production of strawberries in some areas of Europe (e.g.…”

“…For instance, in southwestern Spain, powdered sulphur is currently authorised as a fungicide for organic production of strawberries, and farmers use it at least once or twice a year at a rate of 20–30 kg per hectare. In previous works, some sulphur‐based formulations significantly reduced SWD oviposition on blueberries and strawberries (Andreazza et al., 2017; Pérez‐Guerrero et al., 2020; Pérez‐Guerrero & Molina, 2016).…”

“…The powdered sulphur dose was estimated by extrapolating field‐recommended dose (30 kg/ha) to the cage surface (63.62 cm 2 ): 0.019 g. Powdered sulphur was uniformly distributed throughout the cage and applied directly to the fruits using a metal sieve with a mesh of 0.5 mm. The strawberry was gently rolled by tilting the cage to prevent damage and to ensure that the entire surface of each fruit was covered (Pérez‐Guerrero et al., 2020; Pérez‐Guerrero & Molina, 2016). For treatments 1 and 3, four A. nemoralis adults were introduced into the cage, always originally positioned at the same distance from the fruit (5 cm).…”

Wettable sulphur application for Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) management: laboratory and semi‐field experiments

“…Sulphur-based products can cause direct insect mortality 33,[35][36][37] or oviposition repellence on multiple pests where it also affects larval and adult development 38,39 or the ability of the pest to detect the fruit host. 40 The mechanism of action of sulphur on pathogens and arthropods is still unknown. When applied to plants, sulphur can have local effects or produce toxic vapor that act at a distance from the application site.…”

“…31,34 Overall, sulphur-based products can cause direct mortality to many pests like mites and scales, [35][36][37] while also acting as oviposition deterrents, influencing insect development, altering egg-laying preferences, and affecting the ability of insects to detect fruit. [38][39][40] Besides, sulphur-based compounds used against food storage pests have shown to decrease insect feeding activity on the treated substrates. 41 Botanicals containing sulphur, like glucosinolates, can act as feeding deterrents and natural insecticides against invertebrates, both directly or through their metabolites.…”