Drosophila suzukii on cherry in Emilia-Romagna region (Northern Italy): results of field efficacy trials of seven insecticides (2013-2016)

Abstract: D. suzukii represents a new serious economic threat to soft summer fruits. This dipteran fly is a polyphagous pest which infests a wide range of fruit crops, included berries and cherries. The female has a serrated ovipositor that allows them to lay eggs in intact, ripe fruit, and the larvae destroy the fruit pulp by feeding. This species has a high reproductive rate and short generation time (theoretically up to 13 generations per year), which may contribute towards a rapid spread, and is listed on the EPPO alert list. An effective management program requires: the use of effective insecticides, the implementation of a reliable system for pest population monitoring, and the need to not delay the harvest. In this paper, we describe the monitoring carried out at a regional level – to know the yearly risk of D. suzukii for a crop, and field trials on cherry to evaluate the efficacy of some active ingredients. In particular, pyrethroids, spinosoids, diamides, organophosphates, and a natural substance, were evaluated.