Location: Invasive Insect Biocontrol & Behavior Laboratory
Project Number: 8042-22000-288-016-R
Project Type: Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Jun 13, 2016
End Date: Aug 31, 2019
Objective:
Identify and Evaluate the Most Effective Attractants/Repellents for Spotted Wing Drosophilia (SWD) to Develop Semiochemical Based Management Strategies
Approach:
We will investigate the attraction/repulsion of SWD to volatiles. Headspace volatile compounds will be collected from four of its highly preferred hosts: blueberry, cherry, raspberry, and strawberry, GC-EAD will be conducted to select electrophysiological active compounds, GC-MS will be performed to identify the potential compounds, and laboratory bioassay will be carried out to screen the candidate synthetic samples. If the interested compounds are not commercially available, they will be synthesized in our laboratory. Once attractants/repellents identified, different formulations will be developed and release rates will be measured. Finally, optimized dispensers will be prepared in IIBBL and sent to all collaborators for their field evaluations. Therefore, assistants are needed for three years to help Co-PI to pursue this goal, which will result in development of SWD population monitoring and infestation detection tools, thereby helping growers apply insecticide in a timely manner. In addition, it will also enable further development of attract & kill & push & pull technologies for managing SWD populations below economic injury levels.
