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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Newark, Delaware » Beneficial Insects Introduction Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #414500
Research Project: Biology, Ecology, Genetics, and Genomics of Introduced Species for Biological Control of Invasive and Other Insect Pests

Location: Beneficial Insects Introduction Research Unit

Title: Assessing native parasitoids of the invasive pest Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in the Southeastern USA

Author
item SUBIN, NEUPANE - University Of Georgia
item SCHMIDT, JASON - University Of Georgia
item SNYDER, WILLIAM - University Of Georgia
item HUDSON, WILLIAM - University Of Georgia
item Wang, Xingeng
item Buffington, Matthew
item DAANE, KENT - University Of California Berkeley
item SIAL, ASHFAQ - University Of Georgia

Submitted to: Environmental Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/1/2024
Publication Date: 10/24/2024
Citation: Subin, N.B., Schmidt, J.M., Snyder, W.E., Hudson, W.G., Wang, X., Buffington, M.L., Daane, K.M., Sial, A.A. 2024. Assessing native parasitoids of the invasive pest Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in the Southeastern USA. Environmental Entomology. https://doi.org/10.1093/ee/nvae086.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ee/nvae086

Interpretive Summary: The spotted-wing drosophila (SWD) 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. Biological control using parasitic wasps is a promising strategy to improve SWD management. Before initiating classical biological control, the presence and impact of regional resident natural enemies (including parasitic wasps) should be documented. We conducted a two-year (2021 and 2022) survey of resident parasitic wasps attacking SWD in or near eight commercial blueberry fields in southeast Georgia USA. This is the first survey of any Drosophila-related resident parasitoids in Georgia and indicates that the resident parasitic wasps do not provide adequate SWD suppression. Our findings serve as a baseline before the augmentative release of resident or introduced parasitic wasps.

Technical Abstract: Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (Diptera: Drosophilidae), commonly known as spotted-wing drosophila (SWD), is an invasive insect pest that threatens many small fruit industries in the Americas and Europe. Biological control using parasitoids is a promising strategy to improve SWD management. Before initiating classical biological control, the presence and impact of regional resident parasitoids should be documented. We conducted a two-year (2021 and 2022) survey of resident parasitoids attacking SWD in or near eight commercial blueberry fields in southeast Georgia USA. Fruit-baited sentinel traps, infested with SWD, were deployed during the growing season. From these, 371 parasitoids were collected, representing three families: Figitidae, Pteromalidae, and Diapriidae. Among them, Leptopilina boulardi (Hymenoptera: Figitidae) and Pachycrepoideus vindemiae (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) were the most abundant species. Field parasitism was low. There was a seasonal impact, with parasitoid captures peaking from blueberry ripening through harvest. More parasitoids were captured in adjacent wild habitats compared with blueberry fields, but there was no impact of organic and conventional management practices. Previously, only P. vindemiae was known to successfully parasitize SWD in the southeastern USA, but in a laboratory test we found L. boulardi attacked SWD larvae at a low rate of 7% although no offspring successfully developed. This is the first survey of any Drosophila-related resident parasitoids in Georgia and indicates that the resident parasitoids do not provide adequate SWD suppression. Our findings serve as a baseline before the augmentative of release of resident parasitoids or the classical biological control of exotic parasitoids.