Deterrent Effects of Essential Oils on Spotted-Wing Drosophila (<i>Drosophila suzukii</i>): Implications for Organic Management in Berry Crops

• Main Authors: Matthew Gullickson, Claire Flavin Hodge, Adrian Hegeman, Mary Rogers
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-08-01
• Series: Insects
• Subjects: integrated pest management; <i>Rubus idaeus</i>; small fruit; <i>Vaccinium corymbosum</i>; volatile organic compounds
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/11/8/536

Due to concerns about frequent applications of spinosad and other broad spectrum insecticides for managing spotted-wing drosophila (<i>Drosophila suzukii</i> Matsumura, SWD), we investigated the use of essential oils as an alternative to current insecticides. Essential oils from a number of plant species have been studied for their attraction and deterrence of SWD. However, these botanical products have not been thoroughly tested in the field. We conducted laboratory and field studies to determine the efficacy of botanical products, including lavender (<i>Lavandula angustifolia</i> Mill.) oil, catnip (<i>Nepeta cataria</i> L.) oil, KeyPlex Ecotrol^® PLUS, and KeyPlex Sporan^® EC² on preventing SWD infestation in raspberry (<i>Rubus idaeus</i> L.) and blueberry (<i>Vaccinium</i><i>corymbosum</i> L.) crops. In a two-choice laboratory bioassay, lavender oil, Ecotrol, and Sporan treatments deterred SWD from a yeast-cornmeal-sugar based fly diet. In the field trials, raspberry fruit treated with Ecotrol had lower SWD infestation (6%), compared to the control (17%), and was comparable to spinosad (6%). No differences were seen in blueberry infestation. The combination of essential oils in Ecotrol may work to decrease SWD fruit infestation under certain conditions in the field, however more research is needed on the longevity of these products.