Abstract Drosophila suzukii Matsumura poses a significant threat to various soft-skinned fruit crops, causing substantial economic losses worldwide. Behavioral management using the repellent 2-pentylfuran has shown potential to manage this invasive pest. This 2-year study aimed to improve the effectiveness of 2-pentylfuran and identify cost-efficient deployment tools. In 2022, we evaluated automated canister puffers in isolated raspberry plantings and in semi-field cage trials using choice and no-choice assays. In 2023, we tested polyvinyl chloride spiral dispensers combined with below canopy insecticide applications in a large-scale raspberry planting, assessing D. suzukii infestations 72 h after 2-pentylfuran deployment. In addition, we monitored natural enemy and pollinator activities in both years using yellow sticky cards and visual counts, respectively. Treatments using 2-pentylfuran delivered by either puffers or spirals resulted in a small reduction in D. suzukii infestation, particularly in fall-bearing raspberries. However, combining 2-pentylfuran with insecticide in 2023 did not significantly improve efficacy. In semi-field trials, puffer density significantly reduced infestation in choice assays, while puffing frequency had no significant effect in either choice or no-choice assays. Importantly, 2-pentylfuran did not adversely affect the activity of beneficial insects and increased parasitism by the larval parasitoid Leptopilina japonica Novković & Kimura, potentially complementing biological control. Our findings suggest that further optimization of deployment strategies may facilitate the commercial integration of 2-pentylfuran into D. suzukii management programs.
Shrestha et al. (Tue,) studied this question.