Experimental studies on Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in protected strawberry crops: biology of the pest and effectiveness of a pupal parasitoid in field conditions in France

Abstract: Experimental studies have been carried out on the emerging pest Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (Diptera: Drosophilidae) since 2012. Preliminary laboratory tests were done to gain a better understanding of the biology and the behaviour of the pest in controlled conditions. The different stages of D. suzukii have been observed on strawberries as well as the life cycle of the pest. Moreover, following research under laboratory conditions testing the ability of European frugivorous Drosophila parasitoids to develop on D. suzukii, the effectiveness of the pupal parasitoid Trichopria cf drosophilae in parasitizing D. suzukii, was investigated in field conditions during spring and summer 2013.