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Suppression of Spotted Wing Drosophila, Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura), in Raspberry Using the Sterile Insect Technique

Sebastian Hemer,Zeus Mateos‐Fierro,Benjamin Brough,Greg Deakin,Robert Moar,Jessica P. Carvalho,Sophie Randall,Adrian Harris,J. Klick,M. Seagraves,G. Slade,M. Fountain,Rafael A. Homem

Published 2025 in Insects

ABSTRACT

Simple Summary Drosophila suzukii, an invasive fruit pest, poses significant challenges to global soft fruit production. This study evaluated the efficacy of the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) as a potential management strategy for D. suzukii in commercial raspberry fields. Laboratory experiments assessed the quality of irradiated sterile males, while field trials compared SIT to standard chemical insecticide protocols. Results showed that sterile males were equally competitive as their fertile counterparts in mating and flight performance, with 99% reduced egg-to-pupae recovery. In commercial raspberry crops, season-long releases of sterile males significantly suppressed wild D. suzukii populations, reducing numbers of wild females by up to 89% and larval infestation in harvested fruit by 80%. Furthermore, the implementation of SIT reduced relative fruit waste during harvest by up to 58% compared to standard control methods. These findings demonstrate that SIT has the potential to provide an effective and sustainable strategy for managing D. suzukii in raspberries, reducing waste fruit and serving as a valuable tool for integrated pest management in berry production systems.

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