scholarly journals Explorative Data Analysis of Drosophila suzukii Trap Catches from a Seven-Year Monitoring Program in Southwest Germany

Insects ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felix Briem ◽  
Anto Dominic ◽  
Burkhard Golla ◽  
Christoph Hoffmann ◽  
Camilla Englert ◽  
...  

Over the last decade, Drosophila suzukii Matsumura, an invasive pest of soft-skinned fruits, gradually established itself in Europe, often resulting in significant economic losses. In 2011, when D. suzukii was first described for Germany, the Julius Kühn Institut (JKI) started a monitoring program in southwest Germany to study the occurrence and activity of the fly. Capture data from late 2011–early 2018 from 100 traps were analyzed for the effect of weather and immediate habitat on trap captures at different times of the year. We identified five phases in the annual population development cycle of D. suzukii. We found that the mild winter of 2013/2014 helped the thorough establishment of D. suzukii in Germany. Habitat types in the immediate vicinity of the trap and local weather conditions had a strong influence on trap captures. Forest borders and hedges were found to provide adequate overwintering shelter for the flies. Trap captures in forests and hedges were generally higher than those of vineyards and orchards, even during the fruiting seasons. Summer capture rates were correlated with the number of heat days and precipitation. We also discuss briefly the limitations of using trap captures as representative of fly density in the field.

2016 ◽  
Vol 51 (5) ◽  
pp. 571-578 ◽  
Author(s):  
Norton Polo Benito ◽  
Marcelo Lopes-da-Silva ◽  
Régis Sivori Silva dos Santos

Abstract: The objective of this work was to outline the potential distribution and economic impact of Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae), a recent invasive pest, in Brazil. Two maps of the potential establishment of the species were drawn based on the ecoclimatic index (EI), which uses the following thermal requirements for the species: with thermal stress, most restrictive scenario for spread; and without thermal stress. The EI was classified into four ranges: unfavorable, ≤25%; less favorable, >25 to ≤50%; favorable, >50 to ≤75%; and highly favorable, >75%. Economic losses were estimated based on the most restrictive map. The highly favorable areas were overlapped with those of the maps of production data for each possible host (apple, grape, peach, persimmon, fig, and pear). Considering these six hosts, the overlap between the highly favorable and the production areas varied from 45.5% (grape) to 98.3% (apple). However, the monetary estimation of the potential losses in the worst case scenario (no control measures) was possible only for figs and peaches. Southern Brazil is the most climatically favorable area for D. suzukii development and where potential economic losses are expected to be the greatest. Maximum average temperatures (>30°C) are the main ecological factor to limit D. suzukii spread in Brazil.


Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 740
Author(s):  
Tessa Carrau ◽  
Benjamin Lamp ◽  
Carina M. Reuscher ◽  
Andreas Vilcinsksas ◽  
Kwang-Zin Lee

Drosophila suzukii (Ds) is an invasive pest insect that infests ripening fruit, causing severe economic losses. Control measures based on chemical pesticides are inefficient and undesirable, so biological alternatives have been considered, including native Ds viruses. We previously isolated a strain of La Jolla virus (LJV-Ds-OS20) from Ds in Germany as a candidate biopesticide. Here we characterized the new strain in detail, focusing on the processing of its capsid proteins. We tested LJV growth during Ds development to optimize virus production, and established a laboratory production system using adult flies. This system was suitable for the preparation of virions for detailed analysis. The LJV-Ds-OS20 isolate was cloned by limiting dilution and the complete nucleotide sequence was determined as a basis for protein analysis. The terminal segments of the virus genome were completed by RACE-PCR. LJV virions were also purified by CsCl gradient centrifugation and analyzed by SDS-PAGE and electron microscopy. The capsid proteins of purified LJV virions were resolved by two-dimensional SDS-PAGE for N-terminal sequencing and peptide mass fingerprinting. The N-terminal sequences of VP1 and VP2, together with MS data representing several capsid proteins, allowed us to develop a model for the organization of the LJV structural protein region. This may facilitate the development of new viral strains as biopesticides.


2015 ◽  
Vol 105 (3) ◽  
pp. 364-372 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.A. Murphy ◽  
T.R. Unruh ◽  
L.M. Zhou ◽  
F.G. Zalom ◽  
P.W. Shearer ◽  
...  

AbstractDrosophila suzukii (Spotted Wing Drosophila) has recently become a serious invasive pest of fruit crops in the USA, Canada, and Europe, leading to substantial economic losses. D. suzukii is a direct pest, ovipositing directly into ripe or ripening fruits; in contrast, other Drosophilids utilize decaying or blemished fruits and are nuisance pests at worst. Immature stages of D. suzukii are difficult to differentiate from other Drosophilids, posing problems for research and for meeting quarantine restrictions designed to prevent the spread of this pest in fruit exports. Here we used a combined phylogenetic and bioinformatic approach to discover genetic markers suitable for a species diagnostic protocol of this agricultural pest. We describe a molecular diagnostic for rapid identification of single D. suzukii larva using multiplex polymerase chain reaction. Our molecular diagnostic was validated using nine different species of Drosophila for specificity and 19 populations of D. suzukii from different geographical regions to ensure utility within species.


2017 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine Baroffio ◽  
Mélanie Dorsaz ◽  
Fabio Kuonen

Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura, 1931) (Diptera: Drosophilidae), the spotted wing Drosophila (SWD) is a concern for small fruit and stone fruit growers. This invasive pest lays eggs in healthy fruits with a serrated ovipositor, resulting in considerable economic losses, mainly in berry crops. In Europe, it was first recorded in Switzerland in 2011, causing considerable damage in all small fruit crops, especially in later-developing crops (autumn raspberries, blackberries, blueberries and elderberries). The pest was found in all regions of the country, from low altitudes to the timberline. The range of host plants is very broad, not only affecting crops, but also wild fruits. Switzerland has implemented a strategy at the national level by combining an effective monitoring system with hygiene measures and mass trapping. Insecticide applications, usually based on spinosyns, are only considered as a last resort. In addition to this already operative strategy, innovative alternatives are considered, in particular the use of repellents or masking substances.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas R. Larson ◽  
Jaime Strickland ◽  
Vonnie D. Shields ◽  
Cesar Rodriguez-Saona ◽  
Kevin Cloonan ◽  
...  

Drosophila suzukii, more commonly known as the spotted-wing drosophila (SWD), is an invasive pest of soft, thin-skinned fruit responsible for significant economic losses for growers worldwide. To detect and monitor this pest, several host attractants have been developed for use in trapping SWD; however, they lack selectivity. Therefore, there is a significant need for more selective monitoring devices to enable growers to make timely pest management decisions to properly protect vulnerable crops. Previous studies identified a quinary blend (QB), based on fermenting apple juice odors, which offers significantly higher selectivity by reducing non-target captures compared with the standard apple cider vinegar bait commonly used by growers in the orchards. In this study, the selectivity and efficacy of a home-made QB dispenser was compared to an industry formulated version of the QB components (ChemTica) and two commercially available (Scentry and Trécé) SWD dispensers across blueberry and raspberry fields in Maryland, West Virginia, and New Jersey in different seasons. Controlled-release dispensers of the QB (home-made and ChemTica) consistently had higher selectivity within the blueberry and raspberry field sites compared with the two commercial dispensers; although efficacy was compromised such that total SWD captures per trap tended to be lower. The selectivity ratio range of SWD to non-targets (all non-SWD) for a QB-based (ChemTica) dispenser averaged from 15 to 57% compared with other commercial dispensers that ranged from 1 to 30% based on location and year. Due to high selectivity of the controlled-release dispenser of the QB, the potential for this dispenser to be utilized by growers as a SWD detection and monitoring tool is high.


Author(s):  
Sarah Petermann ◽  
Sabine Otto ◽  
Gerrit Eichner ◽  
Marc F. Schetelig

AbstractNative to Southeast Asia, the spotted wing drosophila (SWD), Drosophila suzukii Matsumura, rapidly invaded America and Europe in the past 20 years. As a crop pest of soft-skinned fruits with a wide range of host plants, it threatens the fruit industry worldwide, causing enormous economic losses. To control this invasive pest species, an understanding of its population dynamics and structure is necessary. Here, we report the population genetics and development of SWD in Germany from 2017–19 using microsatellite markers over 11 different sample sites. It is the first study that examines SWD’s genetic changes over 3 years compared to multiple international SWD laboratory strains. Results show that SWD populations in Germany are highly homogenous without differences between populations or years, which indicates that populations are well adapted, migrate freely, and multiple invasions from outside Germany either did not take place or are negligible. Such high genetic variability and migration between populations could allow for a fast establishment of the pest species. This is especially problematic with regard to the ongoing spread of this invasive species and could bear a potential for developing pesticide resistance, which could increase the impact of the SWD further in the future.


2016 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. e10SC01 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergio Pérez-Guerrero ◽  
José M. Molina

Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura, 1931) is an invasive pest from South East Asia that was detected for the first time in Southern Europe in 2008. This species can damage a wide range of soft-skinned fruits crops affecting ripening fruits and causing important economic losses. Since the exclusive use of chemical insecticides for controlling D. suzukii may prompt the appearance of resistance and environmental pollution, alternative methods compatible with sustainable management are required. In this study, commercial formulations of powdered sulphur and kaolin were tested as a preventive method applied to blueberry fruits under laboratory conditions. In no-choice assay, powdered sulphur had a significant effect on oviposition and adult emergency with reductions of 76% and 77%, respectively. In addition, sulphur displayed a significant toxicity on males and lethal effect with over 40% adult mortality seven days after exposure. The choice assay confirmed and improved the powdered sulphur effects, with reductions of 98% and 96% in oviposition and adult emergence, respectively. In contrast, kaolin produced no significant reduction in infestation and adult mortality during no-choice and choice assays. These outcomes suggest that preventive use of powdered sulphur could be considered for sustainable control of D. suzukii in some berry crops.


2021 ◽  
Vol 485 ◽  
pp. 118942
Author(s):  
Alberto Maceda-Veiga ◽  
Sergio Albacete ◽  
Miguel Carles-Tolrá ◽  
Juli Pujade-Villar ◽  
Jan Máca ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Jones ◽  
M. T. Fountain ◽  
C. S. Günther ◽  
P. E. Eady ◽  
M. R. Goddard

AbstractDrosophila suzukii flies cause economic losses to fruit crops globally. Previous work shows various Drosophila species are attracted to volatile metabolites produced by individual fruit associated yeast isolates, but fruits naturally harbour a rich diversity of yeast species. Here, we report the relative attractiveness of D. suzukii to yeasts presented individually or in combinations using laboratory preference tests and field trapping data. Laboratory trials revealed four of 12 single yeast isolates were attractive to D. suzukii, of which Metschnikowia pulcherrima and Hanseniaspora uvarum were also attractive in field trials. Four out of 10 yeast combinations involving Candida zemplinina, Pichia pijperi, M. pulcherrima and H. uvarum were attractive in the laboratory. Whilst a combination of M. pulcherrima + H. uvarum trapped the greatest number of D. suzukii in the field, the efficacy of the M. pulcherrima + H. uvarum combination to trap D. suzukii was not significantly greater than traps primed with volatiles from only H. uvarum. While volatiles from isolates of M. pulcherrima and H. uvarum show promise as baits for D. suzukii, further research is needed to ascertain how and why flies are attracted to certain baits to optimise control efficacy.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicky R. Faber ◽  
Gus R. McFarlane ◽  
R. Chris Gaynor ◽  
Ivan Pocrnic ◽  
C. Bruce A. Whitelaw ◽  
...  

AbstractInvasive species are among the major driving forces behind biodiversity loss. Gene drive technology may offer a humane, efficient and cost-effective method of control. For safe and effective deployment it is vital that a gene drive is both self-limiting and can overcome evolutionary resistance. We present HD-ClvR in this modelling study, a novel combination of CRISPR-based gene drives that eliminates resistance and localises spread. As a case study, we model HD-ClvR in the grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis), which is an invasive pest in the UK and responsible for both biodiversity and economic losses. HD-ClvR combats resistance allele formation by combining a homing gene drive with a cleave-and-rescue gene drive. The inclusion of a self-limiting daisyfield gene drive allows for controllable localisation based on animal supplementation. We use both randomly mating and spatial models to simulate this strategy. Our findings show that HD-ClvR could effectively control a targeted grey squirrel population, with little risk to other populations. HD-ClvR offers an efficient, self-limiting and controllable gene drive for managing invasive pests.


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