Seasonal movements of Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in a multi-crop setting

Spotted wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii Matsumura (Diptera: Drosophilidae), is a recent California invader and an established pest among many berry and stone fruit crops. Its ability to infest numerous kinds of fruit over the summer and fall harvest seasons gives D. suzukii a constant supply of fruit for feeding and reproduction. We aim to investigate the relationships between seasonal movement of D. suzukii populations and potential host fruit, host fruit ripeness phenology, and time of the year. Traps using an apple cider vinegar lure for attracting D. suzukii were hung at the USDA Germplasm Repository in Winters, CA. This site has a mixture of fruits and varieties including apricot, cherry, fig, mulberry, grape, peach, persimmon, plum, and pomegranate. Trapping from spring to early fall, we are able to capture the pattern of movement and resource usage of D. suzukii. Knowing these seasonal patterns of population movement among different fruits is important for managing this pest and understanding its biology.