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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Systematic Entomology Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #403079
Research Project: Systematics of Beetles, Flies, Moths and Wasps with an Emphasis on Agricultural Pests, Invasive Species, Biological Control Agents, and Food Security

Location: Systematic Entomology Laboratory

Title: Resident parasitoids associated with Drosophilidae in Michigan tart cherry orchards and woodland edges

Author
item HUANG, JUAN - Michigan State University
item LEACH, HEATHER - Michigan State University
item Buffington, Matthew
item ROTHWELL, NIKKI - Michigan State University
item WILSON, JULIANNA - Michigan State University

Submitted to: Journal of Hymenoptera Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/27/2023
Publication Date: 6/2/2023
Citation: Huang, J., Leach, H., Buffington, M.L., Rothwell, N., Wilson, J. 2023. Resident parasitoids associated with Drosophilidae in Michigan tart cherry orchards and woodland edges. Journal of Hymenoptera Research. 96:485-494. https://doi.org/10.3897/jhr.96.103160.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/jhr.96.103160

Interpretive Summary: The pestiferous spotted wing drosophila fly is a major threat to commerical cherry worldwide. This study surveys the native natural enemy assemblage of wasps that attack this pest fly in Michigan. This research is essential in establishing a baseling of natural enemy diversity prior the release of a natural enemy from another country. Biocontrol workers and pest regulators will use this research for their own work and decision making.

Technical Abstract: Knowledge of the distribution and abundance of resident parasitoid species of Drosophila flies 26 constitutes an important base for developing and implementing a biological control program for 27 Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (Diptera: Drosophilidae), an invasive pest that attacks ripening 28 thin-skinned wild and cultivated berries and stone fruits. For this purpose, a field survey was 29 conducted to identify the parasitoid community associated with D. suzukii infested sites in tart 30 cherry orchards and woodlots in west, northwest, and mid-Michigan. Sentinel traps baited with 31 D. suzukii larvae and pupae in banana slices were deployed in the center of tart cherry orchards, 32 in woodlots adjacent to tart cherry orchards, and in woodlots isolated from any known 33 commercial host of D. suzukii. Traps were placed from the beginning of July to the end of 34 October 2021. Four parasitoid species that are known to use drosophilids as hosts were recovered 35 from these traps. Pachycrepoideus vindemmiae (Rondani) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) and 36 Leptopilina heterotoma (Thomson) emerged from the infested bananas. Leptopilina boulardi 37 Barbotin, Carton & Keiner-Pillault (Hymenoptera: Figitidae) and Asobora sp. (Hymenoptera: 38 Braconidae) were collected as adults in sentinel traps. Among these wasps, only P. vindemmiae 39 successfully parasitized D. suzukii pupae in the laboratory. This pupal parasitoid was abundant 40 and widely distributed in both cherry orchards and woodlots. The highest number of P. 41 vindemmiae was collected from orchards, followed by woodlots adjacent to orchards, with 42 woodlots without nearby cultivated fruit having the lowest detections. These findings suggest 43 that future release of augmentative or classical biological control agents for D. suzukii could be 44 successful in orchards post-harvest to control late-season populations of this pest.