Research Associate Oregon State University Corvallis, Oregon
Over the last decade, numerous strategies have been explored to control Drosophila suzukii. Currently, in commercial crops, multiple insecticide applications are needed to prevent economic losses, but this has led to increased management costs and to genetic resistance. The deployment of new techniques is therefore needed. Here we present results collected by testing three alternative approaches. The impact of a new behavioral disruptor, the food-grade gum, was investigated under controlled and open field conditions on blueberry, raspberry, blackberry, cherries, and grapes. Overall, the use of this technique, resulted in a reduction in crop damage ranging from 26.7% to 78%. A second new developed technology, a deterrent, sprayed at a rate of 0.075% v/v showed a reduction of D. suzukii damage by up to 75% over a period of 7 days on blueberry and cherry. In addition, in 2021 and 2022, the use of sentinel traps allowed us to detect and confirm the presence of Pachycrepoideus vindemiae across the US Pacific cost. The recording of Hymenopteran parasitic wasps suggests that local endoparasitoids can be involved in controlling D. suzukii. Overall, model analysis indicates that a synchronistic effect between multiple approaches can lead us to the reduction of insecticide applications.
