Larval sampling for detecting spotted-wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii, in multiple fruit crops and integration into blueberry IPM programs

Spotted-wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii, continues to be a challenge for fruit growers, with control focused primarily on insecticide applications. Monitoring for D. suzukii has focused on trapping of adults, but its use in IPM programs is limited due to the unreliable relationship between capture of adults and fruit infestation. Previously we have described and optimized a larval monitoring technique that is easy to use and provides real-time infestation information that can be used to make management decisions. This method has been optimized for blueberries but has not yet been developed for other types of fruit. In this presentation, we report on laboratory experiments to determine the optimal conditions for sampling SWD larvae in other fruit types, including cherries and raspberries. In addition, larval sampling was integrated into monitoring programs on commercial blueberry farms and we report on how best to use larval sampling to guide decisions within blueberry IPM programs.