Department of Horticulture, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, Italy.
Technology Transfer Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all'Adige (TN), Italy.
J Econ Entomol. 2020 Aug 13;113(4):1872-1880. doi: 10.1093/jee/toaa072.
Drosophila suzukii Matsumura is an economically important pest of small and stone fruits. Its establishment in the Americas and Europe marked an important turning point in crop management programs. Ten years after its first detection, an effective integrated pest management program has yet to be developed and pesticides are mainly used to control this pest. Here we test a new behavioral control tool, with the aim to develop an alternative pest control strategy. A food-grade gum matrix, was evaluated under controlled and open field conditions for its ability to attract the pest and protect the ripening fruit. Here, we report that the gum effectively reduces fruit infestation when used under managed conditions. We show that a single point source can affect D. suzukii behavior over a 3.6 m radius and last for up to 21 d. Open field data reveal that the efficacy of the gum is significantly impacted by water content. We discuss these results in respect to the future implications for D. suzukii management, along with important considerations on gum mechanism of action, possible application strategies and economic suitability for growers.
草莓实蝇是一种重要的小型和核果类作物害虫。它在美洲和欧洲的定殖标志着作物管理计划的一个重要转折点。在首次发现后的十年里，尚未开发出有效的综合虫害管理方案，主要还是使用杀虫剂来控制这种害虫。在这里，我们测试了一种新的行为控制工具，旨在开发一种替代害虫控制策略。一种食品级胶基质，在控制和开放田间条件下，评估其吸引害虫和保护成熟果实的能力。在这里，我们报告说，当在受控条件下使用时，该胶有效地减少了果实的侵染。我们表明，一个单点源可以影响 3.6 米半径内的草莓实蝇行为，并持续长达 21 天。田间数据表明，胶的功效显著受含水量的影响。我们结合胶的作用机制、可能的应用策略以及种植者的经济适用性等方面，讨论了这些结果对草莓实蝇管理的未来意义。
