Season-long programs for control of Drosophila suzukii in southeastern U.S. blackberries

Abstract

Drosophila suzukii is an invasive insect pest which impacts small fruit production throughout much of the world. Current management programs use regular applications of broad-spectrum insecticides which must be rotated for resistance management. This study examined the efficacy of rotational treatment programs designed to meet the needs of commercial growers in the southeastern United States, a region which experiences frequent rainfall during the growing season. In bioassays, all insecticides in our programs killed at least 50% of all female flies. Despite this good efficacy and weekly applications, infestation still occurred within fields. Our findings demonstrate the necessity of a comprehensive management strategy for blackberries, requiring additional efforts to current chemical-intensive management regimes, including cultural management practices such as pruning, harvest frequency, and post-harvest cooling.