Automated aerosol puffers effectively deliver 1-octen-3-ol, an oviposition antagonist useful against spotted-wing drosophila

Authors: STOCKTON, DARA - Cornell University; WALLINGFORD, ANNA - University Of New Hampshire; Cha, Dong; LOEB, GREGORY - Cornell University

Submitted to: Pest Management Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/1/2020
Publication Date: 8/25/2020
Citation: Stockton, D.G., Wallingford, A.K., Cha, D.H., Loeb, G.M. 2020. Automated aerosol puffers effectively deliver 1-octen-3-ol, an oviposition antagonist useful against spotted-wing drosophila. Pest Management Science. 77(1):389-396. https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.6028.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.6028

Interpretive Summary: Spotted wing drosophila (SWD) is a serious invasive pest of berries and cherries worldwide. Currently calendar based application of insecticides is the primary strategy for managing SWD damage. It is imperative to develop alternative management approaches such as behavioral control. Researchers at USDA-ARS in Hilo, Hawaii, Cornell University, and University of New Hampshire tested whether puffer technology can be used for the controlled dispensing of 1-octen-3-ol (octenol), a previously known SWD repellent. Compared to a previously used vial release method, releasing octenol using puffers resulted in greater reduction of SWD infestation in raspberries in field. This may be due to greater and more constant and controlled release rate of octenol from puffers than from vials. Moreover, programming puffers to dispense octenol only during the SWD oviposition period (around dawn and dusk) resulted in similar reduction in SWD infestation compared to releasing octenol throughout the day, suggesting that puffer technology is a viable option to release repellent for the behavioral control of SWD.

Technical Abstract: BACKGROUND: Automated aerosol puffers that release behaviorally active volatile organic compounds can be used to deter insect pests in crops. During 2016, we tested the efficacy of aerosol puffer arrays emitting 1-octen-3-ol (octenol), at reducing Drosophila suzukii oviposition in fall-bearing primocane raspberries in Western New York State. During 2017, we assessed differences in the implementation of the aerosol puffers and compared puffer performance with a passive diffusion release method (vial dispensers), as well as puffer timing and placement within the field. RESULTS: During 2016, we found that octenol application in the field via aerosol puffer systems resulted in a 20 % decrease in D. suzukii oviposition compared to control plots. During 2017, we found that aerosol puffers releasing octenol were 42-55% more effective than a vial dispenser at deterring oviposition. We also found that a discontinuous application of octenol during dawn and dusk was sufficient to deter D. suzukii oviposition equivalent to continuous applications throughout the day. Although we observed no differences in infestation depending on puffer placement, reduced fly populations at the time of the trial may have affected the data. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that automated aerosol puffer systems may reduce D. suzukii infestation to a greater extent than previously evaluated static release methods. If adopted, a discontinuous release schedule may protect both economic and ecological interests by reducing the amount of material required to achieve efficacy. Further research on puffer placement is needed to determine whether perimeter applications are effective in larger scale field research and in combination with attractants as part of a push-pull management system.