Comparison of Commercial Lures for Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in Florida berry plantings

Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (Diptera: Drosophilidae) is a vinegar fruit fly that has invaded the Americas, Europe and Africa. It is a major insect pest of soft fruit including small fruit and stone fruit. To better manage this pest, it is important for farmers to effectively monitor its population within a cropping system. We compared wet and dry traps in southern highbush blueberry cultivars using a randomized complete block design with 4 treatments and 4 replicates. Treatments consisted of Trécé lure and trap, Scentry lure and trap, red sticky card with Trécé lure, and unbaited red sticky card, for detecting D. suzukii in southern highbush varieties. Captures of D. suzukii varied according to treatments with Trécé lure and jar being the most effective. Data was taken in 7 trapping periods from early to late season. Berries were harvested in 4 periods and monitored for D. suzukii larvae. Several non-target Drosophila species were captured in traps. Both Sentry and Trécé traps and lures were effective at capturing Drosophila, but the Trécé trap and lure was more effective at targeting specifically D. suzukii. The redsticky card with the Trécé lure was more effective at targeting D. suzukii, however, the Trécé trap and lure was the best at capturing D. suzukii. This would make it easier for a farmer to monitor D. suzukii populations. Also, the Trécé trap were simpler to set up and handle than the Scentry trap.