ABSTRACT
Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (Diptera: Drosophilidae) was detected in 2008 in southern Europe and North America and it has spread rapidly throughout the two continents mainly affecting thin-skinned berries and stone fruits which constitute an important, economic and social driver in these regions. This study analyzes the potential control ability of four commercial plant-derived extracts, namely Sophora flavescens (shrubby sophora), Cinnamomum zeylanicum (cinnamon), Capsicum frutescens (chili) and Allium sativum (garlic), against D. suzukii, under raspberry high tunnel field conditions. Extracts were applied in a randomized complete block design using spinosad as positive control. As expected, spinosad treatment resulted in a satisfactory control, reducing significantly the number of larvae and adults emerged from treated fruits even ten days after application. Sophora flavescens extract produced a significant reduction of 60.7% in emerged adults, with no reduction in the number of larvae, six days after application. In addition, garlic extract caused significant reduction in the mean number of larvae (over 50%) and emerged adults (over 48%) six days after application. These findings suggest that garlic and S. flavescens affect egg viability and/or larvae development. Tentative explanations about the variability of the results and possible benefits of repetitive treatments are discussed.
Acknowledgments
The authors thank to Pedro Oliveira, Miguel Pimpão, Anabela Reis and Mário Rui Oliveira for their help during this study.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.