Evaluation of a Push-Pull Strategy for Spotted-Wing Drosophila Management in Highbush Blueberry.

ABSTRACT: We evaluated a novel push-pull control strategy for protecting highbush blueberry, Vaccinium corymbosum, against spotted-wing drosophila (SWD), Drosophila suzukii. Methyl benzoate (MB) was used as the pushing agent and a previously tested SWD attractive blend of lure-scents was used as the pulling agent. MB dispensers (push) were hung in the canopy and lure-scent dispensers (pull) were hung in yellow jacket traps filled with soapy water around the blueberry bushes. Blueberries were sampled weekly, and any infestation was inspected by examining the breathing tubes of SWD eggs which protrude through the skin of infested fruit. The frequency of infestation, i.e., the proportion of berries infested with at least one egg, and the extent of infestation, i.e., the mean number of egg

SUBMITTER: Gale CC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10816925 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature