Location: Beneficial Insects Introduction Research Unit
Project Number: 8010-22000-031-088-R
Project Type: Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Oct 1, 2020
End Date: Jul 31, 2025
Objective:
Our goal is to conduct field releases in the U.S. of parasitoids of spotted wing drosophila (SWD). This will include (1) live material previously imported to US Quarantine and evaluated for their effectiveness as SWD biological control agents and for which USDA APHIS permits have been obtained for field release and evaluation, and (2) native parasitoids known to attack SWD in the U.S.
Approach:
Drosophilid colonies will be established on simple artificial diets, and parasitoid colonies on the flies. We will conduct experiments to improve parasitoid mass rearing, storage and transportation techniques. We will develop regional insectaries to facilitate parasitoid release, in collaboration with different state agencies. In collaboration with other project partners we will make field releases of endemic pupal parasitoids and the exotic G. brasiliensis, and monitor their establishment and impact.
