Spotted wing Drosophila (Drosophila suzukii) utilization and dispersal from the wild host, Asian bush honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.)

Authors: LEACH, HEATHER - Michigan State University; Hagler, James; Machtley, Scott; ISAACS, RUFUS - Michigan State University

Submitted to: Agricultural and Forest Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/29/2018
Publication Date: 11/23/2018
Citation: Leach, H., Hagler, J.R., Machtley, S.A., Isaacs, R. 2018. Spotted wing Drosophila (Drosophila suzukii) utilization and dispersal from the wild host, Asian bush honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.). Agricultural and Forest Entomology. 21:149-158.

Interpretive Summary: The spotted wing drosophila (SWD) fly is one of the worst invasive pest species in the U.S. It is a pest, in part, because it feeds on the fruit of many different types of economically important crops (e.g., blueberry, strawberry, cherry, etc.). Knowledge of its host preference and dispersal ability are important for effective control. ARS researchers at Maricopa, AZ and Michigan State University used protein marking methodology to examine the movement of SWD from wild host plants in the landscape surrounding blueberry farms. Results from the study identified five commonly infested wild fruits; honeysuckle, wild blackberry, wild raspberry, autumn olive, and American pokeweed. The protein-mark dispersal study revealed that SWD disperses at an even rate throughout the blueberry farms. Moreover, early season flies were less likely to remain in the marked host compared to late season flies. These findings highlight the importance of wild hosts on local pest pressure from SWD and suggest that wild host management should be considered as part of integrated strategies for reducing the economic impacts of this pest.

Technical Abstract: 1) Wild host plants in the landscape surrounding fruit farms may significantly influence the movement and population of the polyphagous and invasive pest, Drosophila suzukii. 2) Across two years, we sampled wild hosts directly adjacent to 10 blueberry farms in Michigan, USA. We found five commonly infested wild fruits, including honeysuckle, wild blackberry, wild raspberry, autumn olive, and American pokeweed. 3) Honeysuckle was a particularly abundant early season reproductive host. Consequently, six blueberry farms with honeysuckle at the margin were evaluated further. At each farm, non-host plants and honeysuckle bushes were monitored for larval and adult D. suzukii. In both years, the season-long abundance of D. suzukii adults was highest within the honeysuckle. Early-season infestation was higher in blueberries near honeysuckle compared to those in the crop interior, but by late-season, larval infestation was similar across all locations. 4) In 2017, we tracked movement of D. suzukii populations between honeysuckle and blueberries in early and late season using a protein immunomarking technique. Of the 1,881 flies captured in our study, 7.1% were marked and their distribution pattern indicated that they move evenly throughout the farm. Moreover, early season flies were less likely to remain in the marked host compared to late season flies. 5) Our findings highlight the importance of wild hosts on local pest pressure from D. suzukii and suggest that wild host management should be considered as part of integrated strategies for reducing the economic impacts of this pest.