Methods for rearing the parasitoid Ganaspis brasiliensis, a promising biological control agent for invasive Drosophila suzukii

Authors: ROSSI-STACCONI, MARCO VALERIO - Fondazione Edmund Mach; Wang, Xingeng; Stout, Amanda; FELLIN, LORENZO - University Of Trento, Italy; DAANE, KENT - University Of California; BIONDI, ANTONIO - University Of Catania; STAHL, JUDITH - University Of California; Buffington, Matthew; ANFORA, GIANFRANCO - University Of Trento, Italy; Hoelmer, Kim

Submitted to: Journal of Visualized Experiments
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/19/2022
Publication Date: 6/2/2022
Citation: Rossi-Stacconi, M., Wang, X., Stout, A.R., Fellin, L., Daane, K.M., Biondi, A., Stahl, J., Buffington, M.L., Anfora, G., Hoelmer, K.A. 2022. Methods for rearing the parasitoid Ganaspis brasiliensis, a promising biological control agent for invasive Drosophila suzukii. Journal of Visualized Experiments. https://doi.org/10.3791/63898.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3791/63898

Interpretive Summary: The spotted-wing drosophila fly is native to eastern Asia but has also become widely established in the Americas and Europe, and part of Africa, where it has become the most serious pest of berries and other small fruits. A parasitic wasp that is the fly’s major natural enemy in Asia has been approved for introduction and field release in the US after quarantine evaluations. We provide protocols for both small-scale and large-scale raring for its studies or field release. These methods may benefit further long-term research and use of this Asian-native parasitic wasp as a promising biological control agent for this global invasive pest.

Technical Abstract: Native to East Asia, the spotted-wing drosophila Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (Diptera: Drosophilidae) has spread and established widely in the Americas and Europe, and part of Africa over the last decade, becoming a devastating pest of various soft-skinned fruits in its invaded regions. Biological control, especially by means of self-perpetuating and specialized parasitoids, could be a viable option for sustainable and area-wide management of this highly mobile and polyphagous pest. Ganaspis brasiliensis Ihering (Hymenoptera: Figitidae) is a larval parasitoid that is distributed widely in East Asia and has been found to be one of the most effective parasitoids of D. suzukii. One most host-specific strain of this species (G1 G. brasiliensis) has been approved recently for introduction and field release in both Europe and North America, after rigorous pre-introduction evaluations of its efficacy and potential non-target risk. Another strain (G3 G. brasiliensis), which was also commonly found to attack D. suzukii in East Asia, has the potential to be petitioned for introduction in near future. There is currently enormous interest in the rearing of G. brasiliensis for research or in mass-rearing for field release against D. suzukii. In this protocol and associated video article, we describe effective rearing methods for this parasitoid, both on a small scale for research or a large scale for mass rearing and field release. These methods may benefit further long-term research and use of this Asian-native parasitoid as a promising biological control agent for this global invasive pest.