Variation of within‐crop microhabitat use by Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in blackberry |
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| Authors: | L M Diepenbrock H J Burrack |
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| Affiliation: | Department of Entomology, North Carolina State University, Ralegh, NC, USA |
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| Abstract: | Drosophila suzukii Matsumara (Diptera: Drosophilidae) is an invasive vinegar fly that infests ripe and ripening soft skinned fruits. In the south‐eastern United States, blackberry (Rubus spp.) crops are heavily impacted by D. suzukii, and current management tactics rely on the use of broad‐spectrum insecticides targeted to adult populations. An improved understanding of D. suzukii biology and ecology are necessary to create sustainable management options. Knowledge of how D. suzukii interacts with resources will enable targeted management actions in the future. In this present study, we monitored larval infestation throughout the blackberry canopy and found that infestation was highest in the inner portion of the canopy and lower in more exposed locations. We also documented higher humidity within the cane canopy relative to the edge of the field. A difference in abiotic conditions may create within‐crop microhabitats that D. suzukii is able to exploit. Future research will explore how to take advantage of these microhabitats in pest management programs. |
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| Keywords: |
Drosophila suzukii
invasive species microhabitat pest management |
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