Abstract
Spotted Wing Drosophila (Drosophila suzukii; Matsumura) is an invasive fruit fly with the ability to oviposit in a broad range of agriculturally valuable fruits. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by botanical oils may reduce D. suzukii’s attraction to hosts and decrease survival, but it is unknown whether their efficacy varies across D. suzukii life stages or affects the survival and success of higher trophic levels. Through a series of laboratory bioassays, we evaluated the effects of peppermint (Mentha arvensis L.) oil produced VOCs on D. suzukii survival and the survival of and parasitism rates by a pupal parasitoid wasp, Pachycrepoideus vindemmiae (Rondani). First, we determined whether fumigation with peppermint oil VOCs at the pupal stage reduced adult emergence, and whether this depended on environmental conditions (i.e. soil moisture). Second, we evaluated whether fumigation with peppermint oil VOCs reduced or enhanced parasitism by the pupal parasitoid and whether this depended on the timing of peppermint oil VOC exposure (i.e. before, during, or after parasitoid access). Fumigation with VOCs of 4.5 mg of peppermint oil reduced D. suzukii emergence under moist soil conditions but dry soil had a similar effect on reducing adult emergence as peppermint oil presence. Peppermint oil VOC fumigation was toxic to adult P. vindemmiae, but developing P. vindemmiae were unaffected by peppermint oil VOC fumigation. Using peppermint essential oil as a fumigant may reduce D. suzukii emergence from the pupal stage. However, this could negatively impact P. vindemmiae dependent on the timing of application.
Highlights
Spotted Wing Drosophila (Drosophila suzukii; Matsumura) is a fruit fly native to East Asia and originally described from infested cherries in Japan[1]
The proportion of adult D. suzukii emergence decreased with exposure to peppermint oil Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) through fumigation
Our results suggest that soil moisture may be more important for D. suzukii pupal mortality than fumigation effects with peppermint oil VOCs (Fig. 1), and D. suzukii pupae on moist soil had 22% higher emergence rates compared to pupae on dry soils
Summary
Spotted Wing Drosophila (Drosophila suzukii; Matsumura) is a fruit fly native to East Asia and originally described from infested cherries in Japan[1]. As adults only comprise 8% of the population at any given time[21], management of D. suzukii could be improved through targeting larvae and pupae This can include maintaining bare ground or using black plastic around host plants, which can create a hostile microclimate for all life stages for D. suzukii (e.g. high surface temperatures[22] and low humidity23,24), or using pesticides that target other life stages[25]. In a laboratory setting, Garbarra et al.[29] found high levels of D. suzukii larval and pupal predation by the earwig (Labidura riparia Pallas) Parasitic wasps are another biological control option for D. suzukii management, including the generalist pupal parasitoid Pachycrepoideus vindemmiae (Rondani; family: Pteromalidae). Integrated pest management programs use multiple methods to reduce pest populations, including chemical and biological control[40]. We assessed the compatibility of fumigation with peppermint oil VOCs with biological control, by evaluating the effects of peppermint oil produced VOCs on parasitoid wasp performance (survival, oviposition success, and adult emergence)
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