Abstract
Simple SummaryDrosophila suzukii or spotted-wing drosophila is a fruit fly of the same family as the vinegar fly. The majority of Drosophila fruit flies are not considered agricultural pests. However, D. suzukii is a pest of several high-value soft and thin skin fruits such as strawberries and sweet cherries. Drosophila suzukii is also considered worldwide as one of the most important invasive insect pests. We monitored the insect’s flight and we assessed the infestation levels of different sweet-cherry cultivars, in coastal and mainland cherry orchards of Greece, for two consecutive years (2018–2020). Adults were captured throughout the year in the coastal area with two peaks in spring and late-autumn. Captures were nearly zero during the hot summer months. Trap captures exhibited only one peak in autumn at the mainland area, and ceased during winter and spring. Higher sweet-cherry infestation levels were recorded in the coastal than in the mainland area and in unmanaged than in commercial orchards. Both early and late-ripening cultivars were highly susceptible to D. suzukii infestation in the coastal area. Infestation rates were higher in late-ripening cultivars than in early-ripening ones in the mainland area. We conclude that D. suzukii has adapted well to the Mediterranean climate of Greece, and is able to progressively exploit several crops and wild hosts of mainland and coastal areas.Despite the recent invasion and wide spread of Drosophila suzukii Matsumura (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in Europe, little is known regarding its population trends in coastal areas of the southern Mediterranean countries. Using adult trapping and fruit sampling, we studied the population dynamics of D. suzukii in coastal and mainland (semi-highland) cherry orchards of Greece, from 2018 to 2020. Adults were captured in traps baited with apple cider vinegar, placed in conventional and unmanaged sweet-cherry orchards, and in neighbouring wild growing hosts. Sampling of sweet-cherry fruit to assess infestation levels was conducted from early and late-ripening cherry cultivars in both areas. Adults were captured throughout the year in the coastal area with two peaks registered in spring and late-autumn. Captures were nearly zero during the hot summer months. Flight activity exhibited only one peak in autumn at the mainland area, and ceased during winter and spring. Captures in wild hosts were lower during the sweet-cherry ripening period than later in the season. Higher sweet-cherry infestation levels were recorded in the coastal than in the mainland area and in unmanaged than in commercial orchards. Both early and late-ripening cultivars were highly susceptible to D. suzukii infestation in the coastal area. Infestation rates were higher in late-ripening cultivars than in early-ripening ones in the mainland area. We conclude that D. suzukii has well adapted to the Mediterranean climate of Greece, and is able to progressively exploit several crops and wild hosts of mainland and coastal areas.
Highlights
The Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD), Drosophila suzukii Matsumura (Diptera: Drosophilidae) is a pest of several high-value soft fruit and fruit with thin epicarp, such as blackberries and raspberries—Rubus sp., blueberries—Vaccinium sp., strawberries—Fragaria × ananassa and sweet cherries—Prunus avium [1,2,3]
The present study investigates for the first time the population dynamics of D. suzukii adults in two geographically distant cherry producing areas of the Mediterranean region, with different climates and landscapes
More flies in total were captured at the semi-highland area Agia Fotini than at the coastal area Lehonia (IRR = 4.51 (2.49, 8.17), p < 0.001) (Table 3)
Summary
The Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD), Drosophila suzukii Matsumura (Diptera: Drosophilidae) is a pest of several high-value soft fruit and fruit with thin epicarp, such as blackberries and raspberries—Rubus sp., blueberries—Vaccinium sp., strawberries—Fragaria × ananassa and sweet cherries—Prunus avium [1,2,3]. It infests a wide range of wild and ornamental plants which support high fly densities alongside cultivated areas [4,5,6]. In Europe, the fly was detected simultaneously in several Mediterranean countries (Spain, France and Italy) during 2008–2009 [18]
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