13 Nov 2024
A recent Italian study analyzed the use of cross-species SIT, which leverages reproductive interference between different species to enhance effectiveness. The goal was to combat Drosophila suzukii, a pest that poses a threat to fleshy fruits such as cherries.
07 Nov 2024
Drosophila suzukii can be controlled either by chemical insecticides or by the use of entomopathogenic nematodes, which are easy to apply because they can be mixed in tanks together with other plant protection products, fertilisers and soil conditioners.
05 Nov 2024
Traditional management methods fail to fully control Drosophila suzukii. New innovative strategies are being developed and adopted, including the 'sterile insect technique', 'X-shredding' and the 'transgenic sexing strains' technique.
01 Nov 2024
In susceptibility tests carried out at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (Spain), the larvae of the pest showed a high susceptibility to the three treatments applied, with a mortality rate of between 75% and 95%.
29 Oct 2024
The SIMKEF model, which aims to predict and control the insect using models based on temperature data, combines various climatic and biological parameters to estimate the (daily) probability of occurrence of the pest.
23 Oct 2024
The research group sought to understand how these insects manage to utilize such a wide range of chemical compounds present in their different foods. Researchers believe that this ability to utilize a variety of fruits could be crucial for the populations survival during winter.
07 Oct 2024
Drosophila melanogaster is linked to Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the yeast commonly used in bread-making, and D. suzukii is linked to Pichia terricola, Pichia kluyveri and Hanseniaspora uvarum. Previous studies identified H. uvarum on both infested grape and raspberry fruits.
02 Oct 2024
The use of a combination of various essential oils may often prove more advantageous than their individual application, as the synergistic effect of the combination of essential oils may broaden the range of pests that can be affected, thus improving their overall effectiveness.
01 Oct 2024
“A big step forward would be knowing the exact moment when an infestation is about to occur,” says Silvia Schmidt, an entomologist at the Laimburg Research Center. “That way, nets and pesticides could only be used when truly necessary.”
30 Sep 2024
Numerous studies in the USA and Argentina have shown that the insect tends to abandon orchards during certain times of the year, taking refuge in non-cultivated areas and then returning in the following spring. This behaviour has also been confirmed in Chile.
