Exploration and study of the native parasitoids for biological control of invasive spotted-wing drosophila

Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (Diptera: Drosophilidae) commonly recognized as spotted-wing drosophila (SWD), is an economically important pest that originated from Southeastern Asia, is now invading the fruit and berry growing regions worldwide. This pest damages fruits by using the serrated ovipositor of females that causes serious damage to the ripe and ripening fruits. Repeated applications of broad-spectrum insecticides are the primary means to control SWD in fruits. Using biological control and other sustainable insect management tactics can reduce such reliance on insecticides. We surveyed the major fruit-growing areas, primarily near the blueberry orchards in the Southeastern U.S. that represent different agricultural systems, geography, management practices, and habitats types to collect the native parasitoids of D. suzukii. The parasitoids collected were reared in the laboratory at the University of Georgia. Preliminary identification shows that the collected parasitoids mostly belong to the larval parasitoids of Drosophila from the family Figitidae and Pteromalidae. These parasitoids were found in the wild habitats located near the blueberry fields most commonly after the harvest of blueberry. Further experiments are going on to determine the efficiency of their parasitism on SWD. The promising parasitoids tested in this study can be used in augmentation biocontrol of SWD in the future and protect blueberry and other fruit industries on a wide geographical and economic scale.
Key Words: Biological control, Drosophila suzukii, Parasitoids