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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » Horticultural Crops Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #305895

Title: Infestation of wild and ornamental non-crop fruits by Drosophila suzukii

Author
item Lee, Jana
item DREVES, AMY - Oregon State University
item Cave, Adam
item KAWAI, SHINJI - Oregon State University
item ISAACS, RUFUS - Michigan State University
item MILLER, JEFFREY - Oregon State University
item TIMMERAN, STEVEN - Michigan State University
item BRUCK, DENNY - Pioneer Hi-Bred International

Submitted to: Annals of the Entomological Society of America
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/5/2014
Publication Date: 2/5/2015
Citation: Lee, J.C., Dreves, A.J., Cave, A.M., Kawai, S., Isaacs, R., Miller, J.C., Timmeran, S.V., Bruck, D. 2015. Infestation of wild and ornamental non-crop fruits by Drosophila suzukii. Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 108:117-129.

Interpretive Summary: Spotted wing drosophila is a pest of small fruits and cherries, and has also been noted to infest a variety of wild, ornamental, and uncultivated hosts. Identifying alternative hosts is critical for pest management. In this study, we surveyed fruits in the field for natural infestation of D. suzukii, 2) determined the susceptibility of fruits in laboratory no-choice studies, and 3) evaluated short-range preference between simultaneously ripe alternative hosts and commercial fruits in laboratory choice studies. In the field, we found natural infestations to occur among milkflower cotoneaster;, cascara buckthorn, honeysuckle, Oregon grape, cherry laurel, Portugal laurel, elderberry, sweet box, climbing nightshade and common snowberry. Field surveys also confirmed previous host reports for dogwood, oleaster, mulberry, American pokeweed, wild cherry, and Himalaya blackberry. High fruit infestations were observed in sweet box during April-May and Himalaya blackberry during August-October. From both field and laboratory studies, there was no evidence of susceptibility during the estimated ripening period of ornamental fruits: Japanese aucuba, hawthorn, Chinese holly, Japanese holly, sacred bamboo, rhaphiolepis, rosehips, Japanese skimmia, and David's viburnum. Lastly, laboratory choice tests identified that several fall-ripening alternative hosts were more susceptible than Pinot noir or Pinot gris grapes. By understanding host use, growers can identify high risk areas where coordinated action may reduce infestation of D. suzukii in crops.

Technical Abstract: Drosophila suzukii is a pest of small fruits and cherries, and has also been noted to infest a variety of wild, ornamental, and uncultivated hosts. Identifying alternative hosts is critical for pest management. Research objectives were to: 1) survey fruits in fields for natural infestation of D. suzukii, 2) determine the susceptibility of fruits in laboratory no-choice studies, and 3) evaluate short-range preference between simultaneously ripe alternative hosts and commercial fruits in laboratory choice studies. Field surveys identified new hosts or confirmed previously reported hosts including: Cornus spp., dogwood; Cotoneaster lacteus Sm., milkflower cotoneaster; Elaeagnus sp., oleaster; Frangula purshiana (DC.) Gray, cascara buckthorn; Lonicera sp., honeysuckle; Mahonia aquifolium (Pursh) Nutt., Oregon grape; Morus sp., mulberry; Phytolacca americana L., American pokeweed; Prunus avium (L.) L., wild cherry; Prunus laurocerasus L., cherry laurel; Prunus lusitanica L., Portugal laurel; Rubus armeniacus Focke, Himalaya blackberry; Sambucus sp., elderberry; Sarcococca confusa Sealy, sweet box; Solanum dulcamara L., climbing nightshade; and Symphoricarpos albus (L.) Blake, common snowberry. High fruit infestations were observed in S. confusa during April-May before commercial fruits ripen. From both field and laboratory studies, there was no evidence of susceptibility during the estimated ripe period among Aucuba japonica Thunb., Japanese aucuba; Crataegus ‘Autumn Glory’, hawthorn; Ilex cornuta Lind., Chinese holly; Ilex crenata Thunb., Japanese holly; Nandina domestica Thunb., sacred bamboo; Rhaphiolepis umbellata Makino; Rosa acicularis Lindl., prickly rose (rosehips); Skimmia japonica Thunb., Japanese skimmia; and Viburnum davidii Franch, David’s viburnum. Laboratory choice tests identified that several fall-ripening alternative hosts were more susceptible than Pinot noir or Pinot gris wine grapes. By understanding host use, growers can identify high risk areas where coordinated action may reduce infestation of D. suzukii in crops.