Identification and field evaluation of wine and vinegar volatiles as attractants for spotted wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii

The spotted wing drosophila (SWD), Drosophila suzukii can be trapped with fermented baits, such as wines and vinegars, but there are no chemical attractants identified and no synthetic chemical lures for SWD. Gas chromatography coupled with electroantennographic detection (GC–EAD), gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, two-choice laboratory bioassays and field trapping experiments were used to identify attractive chemicals from Merlot wine and rice vinegar.  Consistent EAD responses were obtained for 13 volatile  compounds. In two-choice laboratory bioassays, a subset of the EAD-active compounds decreased the attraction of SWD compared to a mixture of acetic acid and ethanol used as a standard bait.  In a subsequent field test, blends of the EAD-active chemicals that were not deterrent in the laboratory assay were similar in attractiveness to the mixture of wine and vinegar. These results provide a first synthetic attractant that might be useful for developing a lure for detection, monitoring and management of SWD.