Field Suppression of Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD) (Drosophila suzukii Matsumura) Using the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT)

Insects

Zeus Mateos-Fierro¹  Rafael A. Homem¹  Glen Slade¹  Daniel Gilbert¹  Andrew R. Mckemey²  Rory Jones³  Michelle T. Fountain³ 

[1] BigSis, 5 Weighbridge Row, Cardiff Road, Reading RG1 8LX, UK;Independent Co., Ltd., Oxford OX2 9AF, UK;NIAB EMR, New Road, East Malling, Kent ME19 6BJ, UK;

关键词: biodiversity;    mark–release–recapture;    integrated pest management;    raspberry;    strawberry;    cherry;   

DOI  :  10.3390/insects13040328

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Drosophila suzukii (spotted wing drosophila—SWD) is an economically important pest of soft and stone fruit worldwide. Control relies on broad-spectrum insecticides, which are neither fully effective nor environmentally sustainable. The sterile insect technique (SIT) is a proven, effective and environmentally friendly pest-management tool. Here, we investigated, for the first time, the potential of using SIT to control D. suzukii in field conditions without physical barriers that limit insect invasion. A proprietary method of rearing and irradiation with X-rays was used to obtain males that were > 99% sterile. Sterile males were released twice per week from April to October 2021 on a site in Kent, UK, where everbearing strawberries were grown in open polytunnels. The infestation of wild female D. suzukii was monitored weekly using red sticky traps with dry lure at the treated site and at two similar control sites that did not receive sterile male releases. Releases of sterile males suppressed the wild female D. suzukii population by up to 91% in comparison with the control sites. We thus demonstrated the feasibility of SIT to achieve season-long control of D. suzukii using early, sustained and dynamically targeted releases of sterile males. This provides a promising environmentally friendly method to control this important pest.

【 授权许可】

Unknown