Recent advances in biological control of spotted-wing drosophila

Authors: Wang, Xingeng; ABRAM, PAUL - Agriculture And Agri-Food Canada; Lee, Jana; RODRIGUEZ-SAONA, CESAR - Rutgers University; DAANE, KENT - University Of California Berkeley

Submitted to: Journal of Economic Entomology
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/4/2026
Publication Date: 3/28/2026
Citation: Wang, X., Abram, P., Lee, J.C., Rodriguez-Saona, C.R., Daane, K.M. 2026. Recent advances in biological control of spotted-wing drosophila. Journal of Economic Entomology. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toag072.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toag072

Interpretive Summary: The Asian-native spotted-wing drosophila (SWD) has widely established in the US, becoming a devastating pest of soft-skinned fruits. Biological control is a viable option for sustainable management of this invasive pest. USDA-ARS scientists in Newark, DE, are working to develop a biological control program for SWD by introducing and establishing key natural enemies in the US. This research is essential for developing sustainable pest control methods, reducing reliance on pesticides, and supporting fruit growers in protecting crops and ensuring long-term agricultural sustainability. This article summarizes some resent research advances, highlights some major achievements on biological control of SWD and proposes a research, development, and implementation roadmap that could guide research informing improvements to biological control strategies targeting SWD.

Technical Abstract: The spotted-wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (Diptera: Drosophilidae) has become a global invasive pest of soft-skinned fruits over the last decade. Despite several years of outstanding research efforts to implement various control methods, sustainable control of D. suzukii is still challenging. The fly’s considerable polyphagy and invasiveness requires an areawide approach to reduce fly populations in diversified habitats surrounding agricultural landscapes. Biological control, especially with specialized natural enemies such as parasitoids, may play a critical role in reducing fly populations over large spatial scales. Researchers have investigated various biological control agents and their potential applications for D. suzukii control, including parasitoids, predators and entomopathogens, and parasitoids are the main biological control agents that have been investigated. Major achievements thus far include discoveries and identification of key Asian larval parasitoids, evaluations and introduction of the most host-specific larval parasitoid, Ganaspis kimorum Buffington (Hymenoptera: Figitidae) in the USA and Europe, discoveries of adventive establishment of G. kimorum and/or another key larval parasitoid, Leptopilina japonica Novkovic & Kimura (Hymenoptera: Figitidae), as well as development of methods for identification, rearing and field fruit sampling for key parasitoids. Here, we summarize this special collection reflecting resent research advances and also highlight some major achievements on biological control of D. suzukii, including (1) early release efforts of G. kimorum in the USA and Europe; (2) adventive establishment of L. japonica in the USA and Europe; (3) improved methods for rearing and cold storage of G. kimorum; (4) effective sampling methods for assessing the presence, relative abundance, and seasonal phenology of figitid parasitoids; (5) potential compatibility of other biological control agents (entomopathogens) with parasitoids; and (6) assessment of the impacts of specific insecticides on common parasitoids. Finally, we propose a research, development, and implementation roadmap that could guide research informing improvements to biological control strategies targeting D. suzukii.