Exploitation of ecological ATTRACT and KILL for the control of Drosophila suzukii

This LA traject is a follow-up of project LATR-135079, with the general objective of further exploiting the (ecological) "Attract & Kill" (A&K) control potential against D. suzukii, and fine-tuning its practical application.

The vinegar fly Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (Diptera Drosophilidae), spotted wing drosophila, is a new invasive fruit pest that recently became established in Europe. A former project revealed that the most promising management measures were obtained in the 'Attract & Kill' section, including the discovery of the control potential of so-called "dead-end host" plants like Prunus padus (= very attractive for D. suzukii's egg laying, but no successful development of the larvae in the fruits). This project continuous on this work, with the general aim to further exploit this (ecological) 'Attract & Kill' (A&K) control potential and to fine-tune its practical application.