Agroecology as a lens for managing the invasive spotted-wing drosophila using plastic mulches

The study and practice of agroecology provides a framework for building climate change resilient agricultural systems by creating diversified agroecosystems that emphasize biodiversity, nutrient cycling, soil health, water management, natural pest control, and resilience to
disturbances. Arthropod pests pose a continual threat to the sustainability of agroecosystems, and invasive pests can have disproportionate impacts. Spotted-wing drosophila infestations cause substantial damage to soft-skinned fruit crops; the fly has invaded nearly all fruit-producing regions of the world in under 15 years. Management relies heavily on frequent chemical control, raising concerns about threats to agroecosystem biodiversity. Development of management tactics for invasive pests often takes a ‘silver bullet’ approach to suppress pest outbreaks and reduce crop damage in the short-term without developing pest resilient agroecosystems. In contrast, an agroecological framework for pest management examines the web of interactions between a management practice and insect pests, natural enemies, soil, and plants. Here, we use this framework to evaluate how plastic mulches impact spotted-wing drosophila in raspberry agroecosystems in Wisconsin and Washington. Our previous work established that plastic mulches reduce spotted-wing drosophila adult and larval populations by up to 52% and 72%, respectively. We build on this work to examine how plastic mulches impact populations of beneficial arthropods and pollinators sampled using clear sticky cards, pitfall traps, and observations; end of season plant productivity; marketable yield; fruit quality and temperature; and soil temperature and moisture. This talk will give an overview of data collected in 2021 as the first year of this two-year project.