Files
Abstract
Drosophila suzukii, is an economically important invasive pest of many soft/thin-skinned fruits in the United States. Berry damage caused by D. suzukii has threatened blueberry production via unmarketable and contaminated fruit. Trapping of D. suzukii in Georgia has indicated greater fly densities in woodlands near blueberry fields than in blueberry orchards themselves. We used traps to monitor D. suzukii activity, surveyed blueberry-bordering woodlands for wild fruit and assessed their susceptibility to D. suzukii in laboratory assays. We observed that muscadine grapes, often planted in mix-crop settings, are susceptible once wounded. This study shows the fly is most active in woodlands, during the winter months and its activity negatively correlates to ambient temperature. Of seventeen wild fruiting plants assessed, eight were found to be viable hosts; the majority of which ripened during peak D. suzukii activity. This study indicates that D. suzukii control strategies should target wild hosts to reduce populations.