Using Red Panel Traps to Detect Spotted-Wing Drosophila and its Infestation in US Berry and Cherry Crops

Area of Science:

• Entomology
• Agricultural Science
• Pest Management

Background:

• Spotted-wing drosophila (SWD), *Drosophila suzukii*, is a significant invasive pest impacting thin-skinned fruit crops in the U.S.
• Effective monitoring is crucial for integrated pest management (IPM) of SWD, enabling early detection and timely control strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of red-panel sticky traps versus traditional deli-cup liquid traps for monitoring SWD.
• To evaluate different commercial lures (Scentry, Trécé BS, Trécé HS) in combination with these traps.
• To assess the traps' ability to detect male SWD, predict fruit infestation, and ease of use.

Main Methods:

• Field trials were conducted across multiple U.S. states from 2018-2021 in blueberry, blackberry, raspberry, and cherry crops.
• Red-panel sticky traps and liquid traps were deployed and baited with three distinct commercial lures.
• Trap captures were analyzed for SWD numbers, sex selectivity, and correlation with fruit infestation levels.

Main Results:

• Red-panel traps demonstrated effective SWD capture and early detection of male SWD, showing selectivity for males throughout the season.
• Some red-panel trap configurations showed a linear relationship between male SWD captures and fruit infestation.
• Scentry and Trécé BS lures captured comparable SWD numbers; Trécé BS and HS exhibited greater male selectivity in red-panel traps compared to liquid traps in certain instances.

Conclusions:

• Red-panel traps offer a user-friendly and efficient method for in-situ monitoring and identification of male SWD, with potential for predicting fruit infestation.
• Further research is recommended to optimize the relationship between trap captures and fruit infestation, and to understand trap-lure interactions across various berry and cherry crops.