Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Population dynamics and ecology of Drosophila suzukii in Central California

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Pest Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Drosophila suzukii is a serious pest of several fruit crop systems in California’s Central Valley, which is one of the world’s major fruit-growing regions. This study followed D. suzukii seasonal population dynamics in multiple cropping and riparian systems in four cherry-producing counties of the Valley. Apple cider vinegar baited traps were used to monitor D. suzukii adults weekly, from April 2013 to July 2014, in 28 fields. Results show peak captures in the spring and fall seasons. In cherry orchards, adult trap counts were the highest near harvest (June) and declined thereafter, as fly populations moved to other crop (e.g., citrus) or non-crop habitats. The number of captured adults was positively related between pairs of sampled sites based on their proximity but was negatively related to differences in fruit ripening periods between different crops, suggesting that fly populations moved among crop and/or non-crop habitats during the year or had varying population dynamics on different crops and in different seasons. Mature egg load per female was higher during the fruiting season but lower during the winter season, with the majority of winter-captured females not containing mature eggs. This survey also reports for the first time the presence of trapped D. suzukii adults bearing melanized and encapsulated parasitoids in North America, non-target captures of larval drosophilid parasitoids in the traps, as well as the occurrence of larvae in the ovaries of adult female D. suzukii.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abraham J, Zhang A, Angeli S, Abubeker S, Michel C, Feng Y, Rodriguez-Saona C (2015) Behavioral and antennal responses of Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) to volatiles from fruit extracts. Environ Entomol 44:356–367

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Asplen M, Anfora G, Biondi A, Choi D-S, Chu D, Daane KM, Gilbert P, Gutierrez AP, Hoelmer KA, Hutchison W, Isaacs RA, Jiang Z, Karpati Z, Kimura M, Pascual M, Phillips C, Plantamp C, Ponti L, Vetek G, Vogt H, Walton VM, Yu Y (2015) Invasion biology of spotted wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii): a global perspective and future priorities. J Pest Sci 681:469–494

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Atallah J, Teixeira L, Salazar R, Zaragoza G, Kopp A (2014) The making of a pest: the evolution of a fruit-penetrating ovipositor in Drosophila suzukii and related species. Proc R Soc Biol Sci B 281:2013–2840

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beers EH, Van Steenwyk RA, Shearer PW, Coates WW, Grant JA (2011) Developing Drosophila suzukii management programs for sweet cherry in the western United States. Pest Manag Sci 67:1386–1395

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bellamy DE, Sisterson MS, Walse SS (2013) Quantifying host potentials: indexing postharvest fresh fruits for spotted wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii. PLoS One 8:e61227

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Briem F, Eben A, Gross J, Voght H (2016) An invader supported by a parasite: mistletoe berries as a host for food and reproduction of spotted wing drosophila in early spring. J Pest Sci. doi:10.1007/s10340-016-0739-6

    Google Scholar 

  • Bruck DJ, Bolda M, Tanigoshi L, Klick J, Kleiber J, DeFrancesco J, Gerdeman B, Spitler H (2011) Laboratory and field comparisons of insecticides to reduce infestation of Drosophila suzukii in berry crops. Pest Manag Sci 67:1375–1385

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Burrack HJ, Asplen M, Bahder L, Collins J, Drummond FA, Guedot C, Isaacs R, Johnson D, Blanton A, Lee JC, Loeb G, Rodriguez-Saona C, van Timmeren S, Walsh D, McPhie DR (2015) Multistate comparison of attractants for monitoring Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in blueberries and caneberries. Environ Entomol 44:704–712

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Carriere Y, Goodell PB, Ellers-Kirk C, Larocque G, Dutilleul P, Naranjo SE, Ellsworth PC (2012) Effects of local and landscape factors on population dynamics of a cotton pest. PLoS One 7:e39862

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Chabert S, Allemand R, Poyet M, Eslin P, Gibert P (2012) Ability of European parasitoids (Hymenoptera) to control a new invasive Asiatic pest, Drosophila suzukii. Biol Control 63:40–47

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cini A, Anfora G, Escudero-Colomar LA, Grassi A, Santosuosso U, Seljak G, Papini A (2014) Tracking the invasion of the alien fruit pest Drosophila suzukii in Europe. J Pest Sci 87:559–566

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Daane KM, Wang XG, Biondi A, Miller BE, Miller JC, Riedl H, Shearer PW, Guerrieri E, Giorgini M, Buffington M, van Achterberg K, Song Y, Kang T, Yi H, Jung C, Lee DW, Chung BK, Hoelmer KA, Walton VA (2016) First exploration of parasitoids of Drosophila suzukii in South Korea as potential classical biological agents. J Pest Sci. doi:10.1007/s10340-016-0740-0

    Google Scholar 

  • Deprá M, Poppe JL, Schmitz HJ, De Toni DC, Valente VLS (2014) The first records of the invasive pest Drosophila suzukii in the South American continent. J Pest Sci 87:379–383

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harris DW, Hamby KA, Wilson HE, Zalom FG (2014) Seasonal monitoring of Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in a mixed fruit production system. J Asia Pac Entomol 17:857–864

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haye T, Girod P, Cuthberstson AGS, Wang XG, Daane KM, Hoelmer K, Baroffio C, Zhang J, Desneux N (2016) Current SWD IPM tactics and their practical implementation in fruit crops across different regions around the world. J Pest Sci. doi:10.1007/s10340-016-0737-8

    Google Scholar 

  • Hertlein MB (1986) Seasonal development of Leptopilina boulardi (Hymenoptera: Eucolidae) and its hosts. Drosophila melanogaster and Drosophila simulans (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in California. Environ Entomol 15:859–866

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ioriatti C, Walton V, Dalton D, Anfora G, Grassi A, Maistri S, Mazzoni V (2015) Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) and its potential impact to wine grapes during harvest in two cool climate wine grape production regions. J Econ Entomol 108:1148–1155

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • JMP®, Version 11, 2013, SAS Insititute Inc., Cary, NC

  • Kaçar G, Wang XG, Stewart TJ, Daane KM (2016) Overwintering survival of Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) and the effect of food on adult survival in California’s San Joaquin Valley. Environ Entomol. doi:10.1093/ee/nvv182

    Google Scholar 

  • Kacsoh BZ, Schlenke TA (2012) High hemocyte load is associated with increased resistance against parasitoids in Drosophila suzukii, a relative of D. melanogaster. PLoS One 7:e34721

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Keesey IW, Knaden M, Hansson BS (2015) Olfactory specialization in Drosophila suzukii supports an ecological shift in host preference from rotten to fresh fruit. J Chem Ecol 41:121–128

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Kinjo H, Kunimi Y, Nakai M (2014) Effects of temperature on the reproduction and development of Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae). Appl Entomol Zool 49:297–304

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klick J, Yang WQ, Walton VM, Dalton DT, Hagler JR, Dreves AJ, Lee JC, Bruck DJ (2016) Distribution and activity of Drosophila suzukii in cultivated raspberry and surrounding vegetation. J Appl Entomol 140:37–46

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee JC, Burrack HJ, Barrantes LD, Beers EH, Dreves AJ, Hamby KA, Haviland DR, Isaacs R, Richardson TA, Shearer PW, Stanley CA, Walsh DB, Walton VM, Zalom FG, Bruck DJ (2012) Evaluation of monitoring traps for Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in North America. J Econ Entomol 105:1350–1357

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lee JC, Dreves AJ, Cave AM, Kawai S, Isaacs R, Miller JC, van Timmeren S, Bruck DJ (2015) Infestation of wild and ornamental noncrop fruits by Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae). Ann Entomol Soc Am 108:117–129

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Markow TA, Beall S, Matzkin LM (2009) Egg size, embryonic development time and ovoviviparity in Drosophila species. J Evol Biol 22:430–434

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mazzetto F, Pansa MG, Ingegno BL, Tavella L, Alma A (2015) Monitoring of the exotic fly Drosophila suzukii in stone, pome and soft fruit orchards in NW Italy. J Asia Pac Entomol 18:321–329

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mazzi D, Dorn S (2012) Movement of insect pests in agricultural landscapes. Ann Appl Biol 160:97–113

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meier R, Kotrba M, Ferrar P (1999) Ovoviviparity and viviparity in the Diptera. Biol Rev 74:199–258

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mitsui H, Beppu K, Kimura MT (2010) Seasonal life cycles and resource uses of flower- and fruit-feeding drosophilid flies (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in central Japan. Entomol Sci 13:60–67

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murphy KA, West JD, Kwok RS, Chiu JC (2016) Accelerating research on spotted wing drosophila management using genomic technologies. J Pest Sci. doi:10.1007/s10340-016-0741-z

    Google Scholar 

  • Pelton E, Gratton C, Isaacs R, Van Timmeren S, Blanton A, Guédot C (2016) Earlier activity of Drosophila suzukii in high woodland landscapes but relative abundance is unaffected. J Pest Sci. doi:10.1007/s10340-016-0733-z

    Google Scholar 

  • Poyet M, Eslin P, Heraude M, Le Roux V, Prévost G, Gibert P, Chabrerie O (2014) Invasive host for invasive pest: when the Asiatic cherry fly (Drosophila suzukii) meets the American black cherry (Prunus serotina) in Europe. Agric For Entomol 16:251–259

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steffan SA, Lee JC, Singleton ME, Vilaire A, Walsh DB, Lavine LS, Patten K (2013) Susceptibility of cranberries to Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae). J Econ Entomol 106:2424–2427

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stewart TJ, Wang XG, Molinar A, Daane KM (2014) Factors limiting peach as a potential host for Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae). J Econ Entomol 107:1771–1779

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tochen S, Dalton DT, Wiman N, Hamm C, Shearer PW, Walton VM (2014) Temperature-related development and population parameters for Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) on cherry and blueberry. Environ Entomol 43:501–510

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Van Timmeren S, Isaacs R (2013) Control of spotted wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii, by specific insecticides and by conventional and organic crop protection programs. Crop Prot 4:126–133

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walsh DB, Bolda MP, Goodhue RE, Dreves AJ, Lee JC, Bruck DJ, Walton VM, O’Neal SD, Zalom FG (2011) Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae): invasive pest of ripening soft fruit expanding its geographic range and damage potential. J Integr Pest Manag 2:G1–G7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang XG, Johnson MW, Daane KM, Nadel H (2009) High summer temperatures affect the survival and reproduction of olive fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae). Environ Entomol 38:1496–1504

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wang XG, Kaçar G, Biondi A, Daane KM (2016) Foraging efficiency and outcomes of interactions of two pupal parasitoids attacking spotted wing drosophila. Biol Control 96:64–71

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wiman NG, Walton VM, Dalton DT, Anfora G, Burrack HJ, Chiu JC, Daane KM, Grassi A, Miller B, Tochen S, Wang XG, Ioriatti C (2014) Integrating temperature-dependent life table data into a matrix projection model for Drosophila suzukii population estimation. PLoS One 9:e106909

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Yee WL, Chapman PS (2008) Seasonal amounts of nutrients in Western cherry fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) and their relation to nutrient availability on cherry plant surfaces. Environ Entomol 37:1086–1098

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yu D, Zalom FG, Hamby KA (2013) Host status and fruit odor response of Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) to figs and mulberries. J Econ Entomol 106:1932–1937

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zappalà L, Campolo O, Grande SB, Saraceno F, Biondi A, Siscaro G, Palmeri V (2012) Dispersal of Aphytis melinus (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) after augmentative releases in citrus orchards. Eur J Entomol 109:561–568

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zerulla FN, Schmidt S, Streitberger M, Zebitz CPW, Zelger R (2015) On the overwintering ability of Drosophila suzukii in South Tyrol. J Berry Res 5:41–48

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We thank John Hutchins, Racheal Muradian, Gülay Kaçar, Sean Tomajan, Paris Marler, James Feng, and Laura Wolf (University of California, Berkeley) for laboratory assistance, numerous growers for using their orchards, and two reviewers for critical comments. Thomas Stewart was supported by a Graduate Scholarship from California State University, Fresno. Antonio Biondi received funding from the People Program (Marie Curie Actions) of the European Union’s Seventh Framework Program FP7/2007-2013/under REA Grant Agreement 318246 and from the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (PRIN Project GEISCA 2010CXXHJE_004, and SIR Project ENTOBIONANO, RBSI14I02A). Funding was provided by the California Cherry Board, USDA APHIS (Farm Bill, Fund 14-8130-0463), and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA Specialty Crops Research Initiative under Agreement No. 2015-51181-24252.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA

    Xin-Geng Wang, Thomas J. Stewart, Antonio Biondi, Brandy A. Chavez & Kent M. Daane

  2. Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Catania, Catania, Italy

    Antonio Biondi

  3. University of California Cooperative Extension, Sacramento County, Sacramento, CA, USA

    Chuck Ingels

  4. University of California Cooperative Extension, Contra Costa County, Pleasant Hill, CA, USA

    Janet Caprile

  5. University of California Cooperative Extension, San Joaquin County, Stockton, CA, USA

    Joseph A. Grant

  6. Department of Horticulture, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA

    Vaughn M. Walton

Authors
  1. Xin-Geng Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Thomas J. Stewart
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Antonio Biondi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Brandy A. Chavez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Chuck Ingels
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Janet Caprile
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Joseph A. Grant
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Vaughn M. Walton
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Kent M. Daane
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xin-Geng Wang.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Human and animal rights statement

All applicable international, national, and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed. This article does not contain any studies with human participants performed by any of the authors. Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Additional information

Communicated by M. Traugott.

Special Issue: Spotted Wing Drosophila

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Wang, XG., Stewart, T.J., Biondi, A. et al. Population dynamics and ecology of Drosophila suzukii in Central California. J Pest Sci 89, 701–712 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-016-0747-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-016-0747-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation