Oviposition periodocity for spotted wing Drosophila

Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD), Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae), is a devastating pest that attacks susceptible stone and small fruit in all major production regions of the United States.  D. suzukii first appeared on the west coast of the United States in 2008 and is believed to be native to Southeast Asia.  SWD has a serrated ovipositor, allowing it to lay eggs in fully intact susceptible fruit rendering them unmarketable.  Growers manage such damage by increased pesticide applications, primarily targeting gravid females to prevent them from ovipositing and damaging fruit. In order to determine whether these applications could be targeted more effectively, we examined the timing of oviposition over a 24 h period.  Experimental conditions simulated seasonal daily temperatures swings and photoperiods for Corvallis, Oregon. Reproductive SWD females were exposed to these conditions and were allowed to oviposit into artificial media. We examined oviposition rates at regular intervals to determine when peak egg laying occurs. This information increases understanding of behavioral periodicity of this pest and will ultimately improve precision of IPM practices and result in cost savings.