South Africa Wine Research Projects 2025

2. VITICULTURE RESEARCH NEW PROJECT

EXPLORING INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR DROSOPHILA SUZUKII IN SOUTH AFRICA

SU EE PA 25-02 Prof Pia Addison, Department Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Stellenbosch University Start date: 2025

AIM AND INDUSTRY RELEVANCE: Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura), the spotted wing drosophila (SWD), can damage several soft skinned fruits, including cherries, grapes, blueberries and stone fruit. They are indigenous to Asia, and unlike other vinegar flies, the female D. suzukii can lay eggs in whole and intact ripening fruit using a serrated ovipositor. Due to the short generation cycle of D. suzukii , crops are at risk close to harvest, when chemical interference may not be possible due to potential residues left behind. The project aims to use integrated pest management to explore and assess biological control as an alternative for managing D. suzukii in South Africa. • Commence and maintain a SWD colony for laboratory studies. • Development of attractants for use in SWD management. • Evaluate currently available commercial attractants in attract and kill applications for SWD in South Africa. • Assess the diversity of parasitoids within the Drosophilidae family. • Screen potential entomopathogenic- nematodes and fungicides against SWD in laboratory bioassays. The steps included to achieve the outcome are as follows:

SOUTH AFRICA WINE RESEARCH 2025

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