Evaluation of monitoring traps for Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in North America

Authors: Lee, Jana; BURRACK, HANNAH - North Carolina State University; BARRANTES, LUZ - Washington State University; BEERS, ELIZABETH - Washington State University; DREVES, AMY - Oregon State University; HAMBY, KELLY - University Of California; HAVILAND, DAVID - University Of California - Cooperative Extension Service; ISAACS, RUFUS - Michigan State University; RICHARDSON, TAMARA - University Of North British Columbia; SHEARER, PETER - Oregon State University; STANLEY, CORY - Utah State University; WALSH, DOUG - Washington State University; WALTON, VAUGHN - Oregon State University; ZALOM, FRANK - University Of California; Bruck, Denny

Submitted to: Journal of Economic Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/2/2012
Publication Date: 8/1/2012
Citation: Lee, J.C., Burrack, H.J., Barrantes, L.D., Beers, E.H., Dreves, A.J., Hamby, K., Haviland, D.R., Isaacs, R., Richardson, T., Shearer, P., Stanley, C.A., Walsh, D.B., Walton, V.M., Zalom, F.G., Bruck, D.J. 2012. Evaluation of monitoring traps for Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in North America. Journal of Economic Entomology. 105:1350-1357.

Interpretive Summary: The spotted wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii, is a recent invasive pest of small and stone fruits, and has been detected in about half of the United States, and in Canada, Mexico and Europe. Several different trap designs have been recommended for monitoring. A group of researchers compared popular traps across seven states/provinces in North America and nine crop types between May and November 2011. There was a clear cup with ten side holes (clear), a commercial trap with two side holes (commercial), a Rubbermaid container with mesh lid and rain tent (Haviland) and with ten side holes and no tent (modified Haviland), a red cup with ten side holes (red), and a white container with mesh lid and rain tent (Van Steenwyk). While fly catches among traps varied per site, overall, the Haviland trap caught the most flies, followed by the red, Van Steenwyk and clear trap. The modified Haviland and commercial trap had low captures. Traps with greater entry areas that were found in mesh traps, caught more flies than traps with smaller entry areas. In terms of sensitivity and selectivity, traps that caught more flies likewise caught flies earlier, and all traps caught spotted wing drosophila at 26-31% of the total Drosophila captured. Future trap improvements should incorporate more entry points, and focus on selective baits to improve efficiency and selectivity.

Technical Abstract: Drosophila suzukii Matsumura, a recent invasive pest of small and stone fruits, has been detected in about half of the United States, and in Canada, Mexico and Europe. Upon discovery, several different trap designs were recommended for monitoring. The objective of this study was to compare traps across seven states/provinces in North America and nine crop types. Between May and November 2011, we compared: a clear cup with ten side holes (clear), a commercial trap with two side holes (commercial), a Rubbermaid container with mesh lid and rain tent (Haviland) and with ten side holes and no tent (modified Haviland), a red cup with ten side holes (red), and a white container with mesh lid and rain tent (Van Steenwyk). While fly catches among traps varied per site, overall, the Haviland trap caught the most D. suzukii, followed by the red, Van Steenwyk and clear trap. The modified Haviland and commercial trap had low captures. Among five crop types in Oregon, a clear cup with mesh sides (Dreves) was also tested and caught the most flies. Traps with greater entry areas, found in mesh traps, caught more flies than traps with smaller entry areas. In terms of sensitivity and selectivity, traps that caught more flies likewise caught flies earlier, and all traps caught 26-31% D. suzukii out of the total Drosophila captured. Future trap improvements should incorporate more entry points, and focus on selective baits to improve efficiency and selectivity with regard to the seasonal behavior of D. suzukii.