Sterile insect release as a biological control method for the spotted wing drosophila: sterilization protocol, competitiveness of irradiated males, and releases in semi-natural conditions

Annabelle Firlej

Description

The spotted wing drosophila (SWD), Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (Diptera: Drosophilidae), a new berry pest, appeared in Québec in 2010. Damage to unprotected fruit can reach nearly 100%. The project consisted of sterilizing the pest in the laboratory and mass releasing it in crops as a biocontrol method.

Objective(s)

Evaluate the potential of sterile insects as a new biocontrol method for spotted wing drosophila.
Develop a sterilization protocol for D. suzukii
Evaluate the competitiveness of D. suzukii males irradiated in the laboratory under semi-natural conditions.

From 2014 to 2017

Project duration

Fruit production

Activity areas

Pest, weed, and disease control

Service

This project will lead to better control of the spotted wing drosophila, the country’s most devastating berry pest, which first appeared in Canada in 2006.

Partners

Publications

Scientific article • Annabelle Firlej

Lanouette G., J. Brodeur, F. Fournier, V. Martel, M. Vreysen, C. CaÂceres, A. Firlej. 2017. The sterile insect technique for the management of the spotted wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii: Establishing the optimum irradiation dose. PLOS ONE. 12(9) e0180821. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0180821. Download

Poster • Annabelle Firlej,Franz Vanoosthuyse

Firlej, A., G. Lanouette, J. Brodeur, F. Fournier, V. Martel. 2017. Capacité d’accouplement et compétitivité des mâles Drosophila suzukii à la suite des irradiations. IRDA. 1 page Download

Research report • Annabelle Firlej

Firlej, A., J. Brodeur, V. Martel, F. Fournier. 2017. Les lâchers d’insectes stériles comme méthode de lutte biologique contre la drosophile à ailes tachetées : protocole de stérilisation, compétitivité des mâles irradiés et lâchers en conditions semi-naturelles. IRDA. 43 p. Download

Poster • Annabelle Firlej

Firlej, A., G. Lanouette, M. Vreysen, C. Caceres-Barrios, F. Fournier, V. Martel et J. Brodeur. 2017. Radiation Dose Responses of Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) for Use in the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT). IRDA 1 page. Download

Poster • Annabelle Firlej

Dieni, A., A. Firlej. 2018. Impact de la dose d’irradiation sur le patron circadien et sur le délai de déploiement des ailes à l’émergence de la drosophile à ailes tachetées. IRDA. Congrès de la société d'entomologie du Québec, Québec, décembre 2018. Download

Video • Annabelle Firlej, Élisabeth Ménard, Kim Ostiguy, Célia Bordier

Firlej, A., Menard, E., Ostinguy, K et Bordier, C.. 2022. . Download

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2015-2016 • Fruit production

Productivity of healthy looking plants that have never received nitrogen fertilizer and that are located in a blueberry field infected by stunt disease

In highbush blueberry fields where stunt disease has been detected, plants that have never received nitrogen fertilizer are more vigorous and homogeneous than plants that have received nitrogen fertilizer.

Researchers: Carl Boivin Christine Landry