Overwintering capacity of Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in Belgium

Abstract: The invasive Asian fruit fly Drosophila suzukii, also known as spotted wing drosophila (SWD), is a significant pest of soft and stone fruits in large parts of the world, including Europe. In this study, the cold hardiness of both summer and winter morphs of a Belgian SWD population was examined by means of three common indices: (1) supercooling point (SCP), (2) the lower lethal temperature (LLTemp) and (3) the lower lethal time(LLTime). In addition, the incidence of reproductive diapause in the same population was investigated.