This new report published by CTIFL (France) provides guidelines and technical updates for the protection of cherry trees against Drosophila suzukii in 2026, with a focus on integrated strategies and sustainable control methods.
Drosophila suzukii, which arrived in France in 2010, is a highly damaging pest for cherries, characterized by a short life cycle and high reproductive capacity.
Effective control requires preventive, monitoring and targeted intervention strategies, adapted to the different maturity stages of the varieties and to environmental conditions.
Protection should begin as early as the veraison stage, with particular attention to early and late varieties, taking into account pest pressure and site characteristics.
Preventive planning includes knowledge of the biology of D. suzukii, monitoring through traps, and the use of data on population levels and damage.
Physical protection with nets, which can ensure 100% effectiveness, represents the most effective method, although it is costly and may be installed in new orchards.
Monitoring is carried out using homemade or commercial traps, with attractants such as cider and red wine, to detect the presence and activity of the pest.
Infestation management is also based on prophylactic practices: orchard aeration, removal of unharvested or damaged fruit, and potentially the use of mass trapping in autumn to reduce overwintering populations.
Products with permanent or temporary authorizations are available, mainly adulticides such as lambda-cyhalothrin, deltamethrin, spinosad, emamectin benzoate, esfenvalerate, and biological products such as Beauveria bassiana.
The efficacy range varies from 20% to 80%, influenced by climatic conditions and application methods.
It is important to alternate active ingredients to prevent resistance and to follow label instructions and pre-harvest intervals (PHI).
Nets represent the most effective method, with the possibility of achieving complete protection, but they require investment and technical adjustments.
Control using mass trapping can be effective if traps are positioned at least 45 days before harvest, but it does not replace other strategies.
Biological control with parasitoids, such as Trichopria drosophilae (native) and Ganaspis kimorum (exotic), is currently under study and experimentation, with some successful results in population containment, but still under evaluation for practical use.
A research project funded by the OFB and conducted by CTIFL and INRAE aims to develop integrated and sustainable methods, also including varietal aspects and site management.
Studies are underway on new control techniques, including the sterile insect technique and innovative application methods, to improve the effectiveness and sustainability of strategies.
In summary, protection against D. suzukii in 2026 is based on an integrated approach combining monitoring, prophylaxis, physical and biological methods, with the careful and rational use of authorized plant protection products, adapting strategies to the specific characteristics of the site and cultivated varieties.
Source: excerpt from Nicolas FORMEZ, CTIFL (2026) - PROTECTION DES CERISIERS CONTRE DROSOPHILA SUZUKII - Technical elements to be considered in 2026.
Download the full note here (in French):
Image source: IdMicrob
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