Source: UNIVERSITY OF MAINE submitted to NRP
ON-FARM INTEGRATION OF ORGANIC MANAGEMENT OF SPOTTED-WING DROSOPHILA IN FRUIT CROPS
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
ACTIVE
Funding Source
OTHER GRANTS
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1029007
Grant No.
2022-51300-37890
Cumulative Award Amt.
$2,970,079.00
Proposal No.
2022-04083
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2022
Project End Date
Aug 31, 2026
Grant Year
2022
Program Code
[113.A]- Organic Agriculture Research & Extension Initiative
Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF MAINE
(N/A)
ORONO,ME 04469
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
Spotted-wing drosophila (SWD) is a devastating pest of berries and stone fruits throughout the United States, causing significant losses (up to 100% if shipments are rejected) in crop yield and quality. This is estimated to have an economic impact of $718 million annually, with associated effects on farm profitability, jobs, rural communities, and the environment. Management of SWD is achieved largely by toxic and environmentally damaging insecticide applications and is particularly challenging for organic growers due to the few effective OMRI-approved insecticides. Here we propose integrating compatible organic management approaches with biological control, monitoring, non-chemical controls, and conservation practices. This approach will enhance the adoption of integrated pest management, maintain crop quality, and support profitable berry production while developing opportunities to reduce insecticide dependence. We will pair these short-term goals to address immediate needs with outreach and training to build an organic literate extension workforce.
Animal Health Component
75%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
25%
Applied
75%
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
2161129113070%
9031129302030%
Knowledge Area
216 - Integrated Pest Management Systems; 903 - Communication, Education, and Information Delivery;

Subject Of Investigation
1129 - Berries and cane fruits, general/other;

Field Of Science
1130 - Entomology and acarology; 3020 - Education;
Goals / Objectives
The overarching goal of this project is to reduce the economic impact of SWD on organic fruit production across the US. We will develop and evaluate decision-aid tools and thresholds based on new monitoring approaches to achieve this goal. In addition, we will integrate G. brasiliensis into existing crop management practices associated with organic farms. This will increase the implementation of SWD management programs compatible with the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) and true to the ethos of organic agriculture. To achieve this goal, our team has developed three research and extension objectives for organic control of SWD through careful collaboration with stakeholders, including; 1) Develop and expand monitoring and economic-based decision-aids for organic agriculture, 2) Promote beneficial insects in organic fields, and 3) Develop an integrated outreach and education training programs to implement organic SWD management strategies. These objectives will lead to greater on-farm integration of newly developed practices into NOP-compliant management programs as well as evaluating the impact of G. brasiliensis releases in and around organic farms.
Project Methods
Objective 1. Develop and expand monitoring and economic-based decision-aids for organic agricultureObj. 1.1. Optimize sampling methods for SWD.In this objective, we will work closely with growers, including advisory board members that grow on their farms, to evaluate their management practices. These farms will overlap with those used in Obj. 2. This evaluation will be conducted by monitoring SWD adult or immature life stages (eggs or larva), or both if applicable to the region; thus, we will generate crop risk data as it pertains to the management approaches they have adopted. Measurements of SWD adults and immatures will be conducted regularly and in various locations throughout the crop. These data will be analyzed using statistical methods and will be relayed back to growers in real-time and PIs will discuss with their grower stakeholders what options exist to reduce the cost of their management strategies, particularly insecticides inputs, at specific times and locations throughout the production season.Obj. 1.2. Assess economic impacts of organically-approved IPM-focused control strategies.An economic understanding to identify economically viable SWD control strategies is essential.In this objective, we will work closely with team members in Obj. 2 and Obj. 3 to select 4-5 areas 11 of focus to develop SWD economic assessments where monitoring for adult and immature stages (egg/larva) will be done as described in Obj. 1.1. Each area of focus will be defined specifically for the: (1) crop, (2) region, (3) production system, (4) market channel, and (5) SWD management tactic of interest. For each area of focus, we will collect detailed data to 1) develop partial crop budgets to establish baseline profit figures (i.e., profits for a farm free of SWD infestation); 2) estimate the costs and benefits of different organic management strategies, and 3) assess economic losses due to SWD. These data will be systematically organized into databases and structured spreadsheets to conduct economic analyses of short-run (i.e., one crop cycle) and long-run (i.e., 10 years) profits to identify optimal strategies for SWD control in organic production systems. Monitoring of G. brasiliensis and SWD infestations will occur along a transect: adjacent habitat, field edge, 10, 50, and 100 m interior to the crop field.Objective 2. Promote beneficial insects in organic fieldsObj. 2.1. Optimize methods for release and quantify establishment of G. brasiliensis.In this objective, we will releaseG. brasiliensisat organic farms across the 8 states with paired sites managed similarly or large farms (>20 acres) divided into pairs. Within a pair, one site will receive releases and the other none. Sites within a pair will be ~500 m apart to minimize the immediate overlap of parasitoids. Releases will start in late spring/early summer as fruits are infested. About 1000 - 1,500 parasitoids will be released per site per year. To quantify the establishment of G. brasiliensis,we will monitor wild fruit and use sentinel parasitoid traps that are suitable for in-crop monitoring but labor-intensive.Obj. 2.2. Determine the impact of sustainable management on natural enemies and pollinators.At each of the release/control sites being sampled for G. brasiliensis in Obj. 2.1, we will also sample for natural enemies and pollinators along three spots of the transect: adjacent habitat, field edge, and interior ~100 m into the field. Each transect will have three sampling stations ~25 m apart. First, two unbaited yellow sticky cards will be set up per distance, and a third card baited with methyl salicylate (AgBio) to attract lady beetles, green lacewings, and parasitoids to enhance monitoring. Traps will be collected after 1 week, and sampling will occur once each month during the growing season. During the 6+ visits to deploy and collect the traps each season, we will sample the number of visiting beneficial insects. These samples will be randomized in the order of site visitation to include both morning and afternoon observations. At each transect, we will walk the border or crop row for 10 min and count identifiable beneficial insects and pollinators. Each site will also be characterized for the landscape composition surrounding the sample location (centered on the middle of the field edge transect), with the proportion of crop, natural, and other land types within 500 and 1000 m quantified using aerial photos or the USDA CDL raster file and ArcGIS or QGIS. The degree of correlation between the percent natural habitat and the abundance and diversity of beneficial insects will be determined across the whole project dataset for Years 1 and 2.Obj. 2.3. Optimize entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) for control in protected environments.To establish optimal rates for use against SWD, H. bacteriophora, S. carpocapsae, and S. feltiae will be tested by placing SWD larval-infested caneberries on sterilized soil in Petri dishes. Nematodes may attack the larval, pupal, or teneral adult stage. Dishes will be drenched with variable rates of EPNs in water. Emerged adults, will be given diet and monitored for survival to assess if the number of eclosed adult SWD is affected. Dead pupae and adults will be dissected to confirm infection. Next, a semi-field trial will occur in organic caneberry hoop tunnels in California. Soil from hoop houses will be potted and treated with the three most promising species-doses as determined earlier. The same assessments of efficacyused in the lab bioassays will be used to assess the semi-field trial.Obj. 2.4. Determine compatibility of organic compounds and nematodes with G. brasiliensis.We will conduct bioassays to determine the relative toxicity of organic-certified pesticides on G. brasiliensis using field-relevant rates of Entrust (spinosad), Grandevo (Chromobacterium subtsugae), Jet-Ag (peroxyacetic acid), Azera(azadirachtin and pyrethrins), or untreated control. Compounds at varying rates will be applied to Petri dishes and placed in a fume hood to dry. Once dry, 10 female wasps, 3-7 d old, will be introduced to each dish and covered with an untreated lid. Wasps will be observed 1, 4, and 24 h later for mortality.Objective 3. Develop an integrated outreach and education training programs to implement organic SWD management strategiesObj. 3.1. Develop an integrated outreach program to deliver outputs to organic growers.In this project, we will create a range of Extension and outreach products to extend the information through our team's continued partnership with eOrganic (eorganic.info/spottedwingorganic) to share updated research results and include organic-specific research and extension articles, fact sheets, educational videos, archived webinars, newsletters, press releases, and links to other websites and blogs. In addition, we will share these resources at grower/stakeholder meetings and national webinars, on-farm demonstrations and field days, and on social media to maximize stakeholder engagement.Obj. 3.2. Build an organic literate extension workforce through a project-specific Research and Extension Experiences for Undergraduates.Every year we will host 7-8 students across the project each summer in a highly supported organic IPM-based mentored undergraduate student research program to develop knowledge of scientific research and analytical skills while learning about careers in organic agriculture-related fields. PIs from participating states (CA, FL, GA, ME, MI, MN, NJ, OR, WA) will recruit and host undergraduate students in their labs for a 10-week coordinated summer research experience. Research projects will be related to the project objectives outlined in this proposal.

Progress 09/01/23 to 08/31/24

Outputs
Target Audience:Our target audience is organic fruit growers and processors in multiple regions (Southern, Northeastern, North Central, and Western) of the U.S., comprising small, midsize, and large-scale growers, Cooperative Extension personnel, and other stakeholders including: • Fruit grower organizations, nationally. • Other Entomologists nationally and internationally. • Decision-makers at state, local, and federal levels. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?In its secondyear, this project has provided much training and professional development for researchers at all experience levels, from undergraduates to post-doctoral researchers. Nine undergraduates, seven graduate students, and twopost-doctoral researchers received training and professional development. A vital element of this was conducted through our project-specific Research and Extension Experiences for Undergraduates, described in Objective 3.2. In this objective, undergraduates gained experience in various subjects, including conducting their research projects. Graduates and postgraduates were also trained in mentorship. In addition, or coinciding with that training in Objective 3.2, broad training in topics including rearing biological control agents, experimental design, conducting independent research, parasitoid behavior, field assessment of parasitism rates, and insect identification. Trainees, including undergraduates, will present results in state/local, regional, and national meetings organized by the Entomological Society of America. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Outreach associated with this project was primarily conducted through our specific integrated outreach program objective 3.1. As seen in the Products section, dissemination to communities of interest has been through journal articles and presentations to scientific audiences at regional, national, and international meetings. Additionally, through presentations to grower groups and one-on-one contact, we have educated ~900 growers (attendance was not recorded at all talks). What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?During the next reporting period, the project teams will continue to process samples from experiments and releases (Obj. 2.1 and 2.2) of this year in advance of our planned project webinar, annual stakeholder meeting, and local, regional and national meetings to members of the scientific communities and growers under Objective 3.1. Our monthly team meetings have resumed, and we continue to complete laboratory bioassays in Objectives 2.2, 2.3, and 2.4, which will be conducted in the winter and spring. These will be the focus of our winter/spring webinar. In the spring, we will collectively start recruiting a new cohort of undergraduates for Objective 3.2 and increasing the size of our colonies for experiments with G. kimorium for our final year of releases.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Objective 1. Obj. 1.1. Optimize sampling methods for SWD. To continue the effective management of SWD in organic systems, growers need reliable decision-aid tools that integrate monitoring and insecticide applications that are cost-effective and environmentally sustainable, as well as other controls. Currently, some growers monitor SWD in the field to initiate pesticide applications. In some states, experiments were conducted to determine the economic threshold of applying organic insecticides, such as in blueberries, in response to SWD captured in traps. In other states, researchers are working with organic blueberry growers to monitor SWD weekly and provide them with information on the level of infestation to guide their crop management decisions. This led to a reduction in spray applications or delay in first applications, depending on the field, through more informed IPM programs. Obj. 1.2. Assess economic impacts of organically approved IPM-focused control strategies. A key focus of this sub-objective in the western states focuses on the commercial use of Decoy, an organic product developed by Oregon State University (OSU) for use against SWD, which has expanded from 7,630 to 11,764 acres (3,921 Organic acres). Continuing this work in 2023, research was conducted on Attract and Kill products in the laboratory, semi-field, and commercial organic grower fields; infestation data suggests similar SWD control to conventional complete cover applications. Pesticide residue is reduced by 90% and cost by ~40%. Cornell and OSU collaborated to complete a bioeconomic model (including an SWD population model and economic simulation) for evaluating the cost-effectiveness of SWD fruit sampling control strategies in organic blueberry production. Based on this, an interactive decision tool on investing in exclusion netting for NY organic blueberry growers is in development. Additionally, Cornell and UMaine are updating our previous decision support tool to incorporate perimeter applications to increase profitability. Objective 2. Obj. 2.1. Optimize methods for release and quantify establishment of G. brasiliensis. In year two of the projects, they optimized and continued using standardized protocols for this objective and 2.2, described below. Nive of the eleven participating labs established and maintained colonies of Ganaspis kimorium, formerly G. brasiliensis, which is a significant undertaking in and of itself. The project team worked at 32 sites, with 17 of these being release sites with others serving as controls. Multiple individual release events were conducted, and 36,336 adult G. kimorium were released. Across all sites, participating labs aimed to monitor 1 or 2 paired organic sites (2 or 4 sites total), with a site pair consisting of a "Gk release" and "control" sites. Both sites are managed organically by the grower standard. The release site has a noncrop site suitable for G. kimorium release; it is ideal for the control site to have a similar noncrop site. We aimed for sites large enough for transect sampling to be conducted. Notably, we are recovering primarily a separate parasitoid, Leptopilina japonica, an adventive population of Asian origin that also attached SWD. Obj. 2.2. Determine the impact of sustainable management on natural enemies and pollinators. The sites and transects described above were sampled using yellow sticky cards for this sub-objective. This sampling will be conducted ~3x in the season to count other natural enemies and pollinators. The timing of this sampling was at: 1) pre-release, 2) mid-season, and 3) post-release. This minimizes concern about YST capture of G. kimorium. Traps were hung in the canopy, preferably with shade to prevent insect degradation, for 1-2 weeks. Obj. 2.3. Optimize entomopathogenic nematodes for control in protected environments. During the last reporting period, a large multistate effort was carried out to test the compatibility of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) with SWD control and parasitoids. This involved lab bioassays involving two species of EPN, Steinernema feltiae and Steinernema carpocapsae, and four species of parasitoid that are known to attack SWD, two pupal (Trichopria drosophilae and Pachycrepoideus vindemiae) and to larval parasitoids (L. japonica and G. kimorium), were conducted across labs in CA, FL, GA, MI, ME, and OR. Additionally, field trials were conducted in CA and OR to see if EPN could be dispersed through drip irrigation systems to reduce SWD populations. Obj. 2.4. Determine the compatibility of organic compounds and nematodes with G. brasiliensis. Establishing G. kimorium in organically managed agroecosystems can benefit blueberry growers by providing an additional layer of SWD management. Before fully integrating this beneficial insect into berry production systems, researchers must determine the degree to which current management tools (i.e., chemical insecticides) will affect the establishment and longevity of G. kimorium in the field. This year, the project team initiated a series of bioassays across multiple states to determine the impact of OMRI-approved insecticides (Entrust, Grandevo, Pyganic, PAA products) alone and in combination with an attack and kill technology in Combi-Protec, which has been demonstrated to help manage SWD while reducing the amount of insecticide. These bioassays involved both L. japonica and G. kimorium. Insecticides were tested at multiple rates and both as full cover and bait treatments. Objective 3. Obj. 3.1. Develop an integrated outreach program to deliver outputs to organic growers. Through newsletter articles, presentations to grower groups, and one-on-one contact, we have educated organic growers on the use of classical biological control to help manage SWD and reported the project's progress. The team disseminated project information through three extension articles and multiple talks, reaching growers and researchers at state and regional levels. Additionally, we presented at conferences to national and international audiences. Obj. 3.2. Build an organic literate extension workforce through project-specific Research and Extension Experiences for Undergraduates. This project aims to train an interdisciplinary, organic, and literate community. The goals were to deepen undergraduates' knowledge and skill sets related to entomological research, organic agriculture, and professional and career development. A 10-week-long program structured around instructional workshops, mentorship, and scientific research in lab and field settings has been developed. This program utilized a network of guest lecturers and many project participants throughout the workshop to increase the understanding of basic scientific research, analytical, and communication skills. Post-program survey results from undergraduate mentees indicated increased knowledge and skills in multiple areas. Additionally, post-program surveys of undergraduate mentees indicated increased enthusiasm and confidence in the research process because of mentor-encouraged ownership of projects. At the end of the summer project, undergraduate students were given the opportunity to present their research findings during a program-wide symposium. Presentations were tailored in a research and extension-based format where undergraduates were expected to discuss their research and project findings by providing scientific literature reviews, analyzing experimental results, representing data in figures/illustrations, and answering questions based on quantitative and qualitative methods of scientific understanding. Post-program, undergraduate mentees stated they gained confidence in the research process with an improved ability to read critically and present research findings to others.

Publications

  • Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Mermer S, Rossi Stacconi MV, Tait G, et al. 2023. Comparing the effectiveness of different insecticide application orders for suppressing Drosophila suzukii Matsumura (Diptera: Drosophilidae) infestation: experimental and modeling approaches. Journal of Economic Entomology. 116(3):899908.
  • Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Yeh DA, Dai B, G�mez MI, et al. 2024. Does monitoring pests pay off? a bioeconomic assessment of Drosophila suzukii controls. Pest Management Science. 80(2):708723.
  • Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Rossini L, Contarini M, Speranza S, et al. 2024. Life tables in entomology: A discussion on tables parameters and the importance of raw data. Plos one. 19(3):e0299598.
  • Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Gariepy, T.D., Abram, P.K., Adams, C., Beal, D., Beers, E., Beetle, J., Biddinger, D., BrindAmour, G., Bruin, A., Buffington, M., Burrack, H., Daane, K.M., Demchak, K., Fanning, P., Gillett, A., Hamby, K., Hoelmer, K., Hogg, B., Isaacs, R., Johnson, B., Lee, J.C., Levenson, H.K., Loeb, G., Lovero, A., Milnes, J.M., Park, K.R., Prade, P., Regan, K., Renkema, J.M., Rodriguez-Saona, C., Neupane, S., Jones, C., Sial, A., Smythman, P., Stout, A., Van Timmeren, S., Walton, V.M., Wilson, J.K., and Wang, X. 2024. Widespread establishment of adventive populations of Leptopilina japonica (Hymenoptera, Figitidae) in North America and development of a multiplex PCR assay to identify key parasitoids of Drosophila suzukii (Diptera, Drosophilidae). NeoBiota. 93: 6390. doi: 10.3897/neobiota.93.121219.
  • Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Sriram A, Voyvot S, Johnson BC, Chowdhury SM, Fanning PD, Lee JC. 2023. Mesh covers on sentinel parasitoid traps prevent Drosophila suzukii movement and impact parasitism by Ganaspis brasiliensis and Pachycrepoideus vindemiae. Biocontrol Sci Technology 33: 1030-1040. doi.org/10.1080/09583157.2023.2272227
  • Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: A Babu, AA Sial. 2024. Validation of vacuum extraction protocol for larval sampling of spotted-wing drosophila in blueberries. Frontiers in Agronomy, 6
  • Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Tait G, Zhu T, Klick J, et al. 2023. Open field trials of food-grade gum in California and Oregon as a behavioral control for Drosophila suzukii Matsumura (Diptera: Drosophilidae). Frontiers in Insect Science. 3:1141853.
  • Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: A Babu, EM Rhodes, C Rodriguez-Saona, OE Liburd, CG. Fair, AA Sial. 2023. Comparison of multimodal attract-and-kill formulations for managing Drosophila suzukii: Behavioral and lethal effects. Plos one, 2023 Dec 7;18(12):e0293587.
  • Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: A Babu, R Adhikari, AA Sial. 2023. Vacuum extraction: an effective larval sampling method for spotted-wing drosophila in small fruit crops. Journal of Economic Entomology, Volume 116, Issue 5, October 2023, Pages 17501759
  • Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2024 Citation: Hopper, K. R., Wang, X.-G., Kenis, M., Seehausen, L., Abram, P., Daane. K. M., Buffington, M., Kingham, B. F., Shevchenko, O., and Hoelmer, K. A., 2024. Genome divergence and reproductive incompatibility between populations of Ganaspis nr. brasiliensis. G3.14(7), jkae090. doi.org/10.1093/g3journal/jkae090
  • Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2024 Citation: Hogg, B. N., and Daane, K. M. 2025. Landscape effects on seasonal abundance of Drosophila suzukii and its parasitoids in California cane berry fields. Agriculture and Forest Entomology. 10.1111/afe.12664
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Fanning, P., Munnaf-Chowdury, S., Jones, A., Beckwith, K, Flanagan, M., Wiggins, G., Prade, P., Levenson, H., Wilson, J., Rodriguez-Sona, C., and Loeb, G. Overwintering of parasitoids of spotted-wing drosophila in the United States. Section Symposium: Empowering Pest Management: Biological Control Strategies Against Spotted-wing Drosophila. Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting. Phoenix, AZ. November, 2024.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Johnson, B. and Fanning, P. Impacts of insecticide application timing on the oviposition potential of Ganaspis kimorum. Oral Presentation. Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting. Phoenix, AZ. November, 2024.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Johnson, B., Lowe, T., Stockman, M., Van Timmeren, S., Brubaker Salcedo, M., Johnson, G., Isaacs, R., Fanning, P. Optimal parasitoid densities for the mass rearing of Leptopilina japonica in vials and flasks. Section Symposium: Empowering Pest Management: Biological Control Strategies Against Spotted-wing Drosophila. Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting. Phoenix, AZ. November, 2024.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Rogers, M., Worth, L., Carter, M., and Fanning, P. Developing the next generation of horticultural entomologists through guided research. Section Symposium: Empowering Pest Management: Biological Control Strategies Against Spotted-wing Drosophila. Oral Presentation. Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting. Phoenix, AZ. November, 2024.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Fanning P. Biological control for spotted-wing drosophila in lowbush blueberry in Maine. 13th International Society of Horticultural Sciences, International Vaccinium Symposium. Dalhousie University, Halifax. August, 2024.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Munnaf Chowdhury, S. and Fanning, P. Surviving the chill: Overwintering strategies of Ganaspis brasiliensis and augmentorium for enhancing the population survival in Maine's winter. Entomological Society of America Eastern Branch meeting. Morgantown, W.V. March 2024.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: Johnson, B. and Fanning, P. Updates on Biological Control of Drosophila suzukii in Maine. Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting. National Harbor, Maryland. November, 2023.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Arden R. Lambert, Jana C. Lee, Oscar E. Liburd. 2024. Biological control of Drosophila suzukii: testing the interactions between Steinernema feltiae and Ganaspis kimorum. Entomological Society of America Conference. Phoenix, Arizona.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Van Timmeren, S., Isaacs, R., and Goldstein, L. Battling bugs in berries: integrating strategies for managing invasive insects. Entomological Society of America North Central Branch annual meeting, Fort Collins, Colorado. March 24-27, 2024.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Van Timmeren, S. Rebuilding IPM programs for spotted-wing drosophila: experiences from Michigan, USA. Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. February 20-22, 2024.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: Van Timmeren, S. Patterns of parasitism of spotted-wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii, by Leptopilina japonica across different host plants in Michigan. Annual meeting of the Entomological Society of America, National Harbor, Maryland. November 5-8, 2023.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Robel, K., Van Timmeren, S., and Isaacs, R. November 10-13, 2024. Comparison of flasks and mass-rear containers for the production of Leptopilina japonica on Drosophila suzukii. Entomological Society of America annual meeting. Phoenix, Arizona.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: Van Timmeren, S., Perkins, J., and Isaacs, R. December 5-7, 2023. Using larval sampling to make management decisions for control of spotted-wing drosophila in blueberries. Great Lakes Expo. Grand Rapids, Michigan.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: Jones, A., Wilson, J., Isaacs, R., Huang, J., Perkins, J., Van Timmeren, S., and Leach, H. December 5-7, 2023. Establishing the Samba Wasp in Michigan: Year 2. Great Lakes Expo. Grand Rapids, Michigan.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Subin Neupane* and Ashfaq Sial. 2024. Exploring fruit host preferences in oviposition behavior of Ganaspis brasiliensis. ESA Southeastern Branch
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Arun Babu and Ashfaq Sial. 2024. Field validation of a novel larval extraction protocol for detecting spotted-wing drosophila infestation in blueberries. ESA Southeastern Branch
  • Type: Other Journal Articles Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Subin B. Neupane and Ashfaq A. Sial. 2024. Exploring Fruit Host Preferences in Parasitism Behavior of Ganaspis brasiliensis. Poster Georgia Entomological Society.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Ashfaq Sial and Cera Jones. 2024. Release and recovery efforts of the parasitoid, Ganaspis brasiliensis, to control spotted-wing drosophila in Georgia. Poster Georgia Entomological Society.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Ashfaq Sial, Arun Babu, and Cera Jones. 2024. Evaluating the Efficacy of Novel Behavioral Management Technologies for Spotted-Wing Drosophila. Poster Georgia Entomological Society.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Ashfaq Sial and Cera Jones. 2024. Release and recovery efforts of the parasitoid wasp, Ganaspis brasiliensis, to control spotted-wing drosophila in Georgia. Poster ESA Southeastern Branch
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Ashfaq Sial. Management of economically important insect pests of blueberries in Southeastern United States. 2024 Southeast Regional Fruit & Vegetable Conference in Savannah, GA. 11-14 Jan 2024.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: Czokajlo, R., and E. H. Beers. 2023. Comparison of Sampling Methods for Figitid Parasitoids of Spotted-wing Drosophila. North American Spotted Wing Drosophila Biocontrol Working Group 5th Meeting, 28 November 2023, Zoom.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Subin B. Neupane*, Jason M. Schmidt, and Ashfaq A. Sial. 2024. Sub-lethal Effects of Insecticides on Exotic and Resident Parasitoids of Spotted-Wing Drosophila. Georgia Entomological Society.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: Daane et al. Biological control of the spotted-wing drosophila. Entomological Society of American Annual Meeting. National Harbor, Maryland. Nov 2023.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Beers, E. H., D. Beal, and T. Northfield. 2024. Spotted-Wing Drosophila Update. Wilbur-Ellis Cherry Grower Meeting, Zoom.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Fanning, P. New approaches for the management of insect pests in wild blueberry. Blueberry Hill Farm Day. Jonesboro, Maine. June 2024. (126 people).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Fanning, P. Sprayer Calibration and Spring IPM. Grower meeting. Appleton, ME. March 2024 (4 people)
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Fanning, P. Insect Pest Management in Wild Blueberry. Wild Blueberry Conference. Bangor, Maine. February 2024 (72 people).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Howard, R., Calderwood, L., and Fanning, P. Fresh pack processing and berry storage for post-harvest pest management. Wild Blueberry Conference. Bangor, Maine. February 2024. (59 people).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Fanning, P., Lee, J., Daane, K., Sial, A. Recent Advances in Organic Pest Management of Spotted-wing Drosophila. Online webinar. February 2024. (197 people, since watched by 390 times on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIa4nTBvAxg&t=1s).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Fanning, P., Lee, J., Daane, K., Sial, A., Rogers, M., Walton, V., Liburd, O., Zalom, F., Chiu, J., Isaacs, R. Rodriguez-Saona, C., Gomez, M, and Beers, E. On-Farm Integration of Organic Management of Spotted-Wing Drosophila in Fruit Crops. Online Stakeholder Meeting. March 2024.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Rogers, M. SWD Update: Focus on Biological Control. MN Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association Conference, Apple Valley, MN. 26 January 2024
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: Lisi et al. Cold storage of Ganaspis brasiliensis immature stages for optimized classical biological control of Drosophila suzukii. Entomological Society of American Annual Meeting. National Harbor, Maryland. Nov 2023.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Johnson, B. and Fanning, P. Monitoring for Spotted-wing Drosophila. Wild Blueberry Conference. Bangor, Maine. February 2024. Poster Presentation.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Munnaf Chowdhury, S. and Fanning, P., Using augmentorium to increase populations of the Samba wasp, Ganaspis brasiliensis, in Maine. Wild Blueberry Conference. Bangor, Maine. February 2024. Poster Presentation.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Johnson, B. and Fanning, P. Good Bugs, Bad Bugs, and New Bugs in Wild Blueberry. 84th Agricultural Trade Show. Augusta, Maine. January 2024.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Fanning, P. New tools in the management of spotted-wing Drosophila. Blueberry Hill Farm Day. Jonesboro, Maine. June 2024. (132 people).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: Fanning, P. Insect management in organic production. Growers Meeting. Dresden, Maine. May 2023. (11 people).
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Isaacs, R. and Van Timmeren, S. Larval sampling of blueberries to determine SWD infestation levels. Extension video published April 2024. https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/new-video-on-sampling-berries-for-spotted-wing-drosophila-to-guide-your-ipm-program.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Liburd, O. E. 2024. Update on SWD management including release and captures of GK. International Blueberry Meeting, April 10-12 Tampa, Florida
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: Isaacs, R. Updates on insect management in blueberries. Great Lakes Expo. Grand Rapids, Michigan. December 2023.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Isaacs, R. Blueberry insect management. Southwest Hort Days. Mendel Center, Benton Harbor. Michigan. February 2024.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: Van Timmeren, S. Managing harvest-time insect pests. MBG Marketing horticulture day. Hudsonville, Michigan. 2023.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: Van Timmeren, S. Lessons learned on field survey methods in Michigan (USA) berries. North American spotted-wing drosophila biocontrol working group meeting. 2023.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Ashfaq Sial. 2024. Identification, monitoring, and management of spotted-wing drosophila in blueberries. Dixie-Blueberry News, May 2024.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Ashfaq Sial, Subin Nuepane, Kent Daane, and Xingeng Wang. 2024. Progress toward biological control of Drosophila suzukii, a keystone invasive pest of small and stone fruits in the United States. International Congress of Entomology, Kyoto, Japan (25-30 August 2024).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Arun Babu and Ashfaq A. Sial. 2024. Developing Vacuum Extraction: How a Children's Book Inspired the Development of a Novel Spotted-wing Drosophila Larval Sampling Method. Georgia Entomological Society
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Ashfaq Sial. Blueberry Insect Update. Georgia Annual Blueberry Update, 10 Jan 2024.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Kwon, E., Pinto, A. F., & G�mez, M. I. (2024). Economic analysis of using exclusion netting for Spotted Wing Drosophila management in organic blueberry production systems. Smart Marketing. https://dyson.cornell.edu/outreach/smart-marketing-newsletter/
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Rogers, M. and DeLacy, J. The Samba Wasp: New Biological Control for Berry Crops. MN Dept. of Agriculture Organic Conference, St. Cloud, MN. 12 January 2024
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Rogers, M. Management, scouting, and assessment of spotted-wing drosophila and biocontrol in raspberry fruit. Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, Urban Soil Life Short Course, St. Paul, MN. 10 September 2024
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Lee J. Spreading the good guys: Releasing SWD parasitoids on farms. OR Blueberry Commission, Salem, OR. Jan 3, 2024. ~30
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Lee J. Predators, pathogens and parasitoids: 3 Ps for SWD biocontrol. SWD Workshop, Salem, OR. Feb 8, 2024
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Rendon D, Lee J. Virus-vector Aphid Monitoring and Beneficials in Oregon Blueberry Fields. OSU Extension Blueberry Field Day, Aurora, OR. Jul 24, 2024.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Van Timmeren, S., Li, S-L., and Vander Weide, J. September 4, 2024. Effect of ground covers on Bluecrop photosynthesis, fruit quality, and SWD pressure. Blueberry Field Day 2024. Trevor Nichols Research Center, Fennville, Michigan.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Van Timmeren, S. and Isaacs, R. September 6, 2024. Technique for monitoring SWD and BBM larvae and notes on BBM emergence and infestation in blueberries. Blueberry Field Day 2024. Trevor Nichols Research Center, Fennville, Michigan.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: Miguel I. G�mez, Bingyan Dai and R. Karina Gallardo.  Moving from crisis response to long-term integrated management of SWD: A keystone pest of fruit crops in the United States. Feb 12-13, 2024.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Miguel I. G�mez and Bingyan Dai. Global threat to agriculture and food industry from invasive species. North American Horticulture Advisory Council. May 22-24, 2024.


Progress 09/01/22 to 08/31/23

Outputs
Target Audience:Our target audience is organic fruit growers and processors in multiple regions (Southern, Northeastern, North Central, and Western) of the U.S., comprising small, midsize, and large-scale growers, Cooperative Extension personnel, and other stakeholders including: Fruit grower organizations, nationally. Other Entomologists nationally and internationally. Decision-makers at state, local, and federal levels. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?In its first year, this project has provided a rich amount of training and professional development for researchers at all levels of experience, from undergraduates to post-doctoral researchers. Nine undergraduates, nine graduate students, and three post-doctoral researchers received training and professional development. A key element of this was conducted through our project-specific Research and Extension Experiences for Undergraduates, described in Objective 3.2. In this objective, undergraduates gained experience in a wide array of subjects, including conducting their own research projects. Graduates and postgraduates were also trained in mentorship. In addition, or coinciding with that training in Objective 3.2, broad training in topicsincluding rearing of biological control agents, experimental design, conducting independent research, parasitoid behavior, field assessment of parasitism rates, and insect identification. Trainees, including undergraduates, will present results in state/local, regional, and national meetings organized by the Entomological Society of America. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Outreach associated with this project was primarily conducted through our specific integrated outreach program objective 3.1. As seen in the Products section, dissemination to communities of interest has been through journal articles and presentations to scientific audiences at regional, national, and international meetings. Additionally, through presentations to grower groups and one-on-one contact, we have educated ~1100 growers (attendance was not recorded at all talks). What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?During the next reporting period, the project teams will continue to process samples from experiments and releases (Obj. 2.1 and 2.2)of this year in advanceof our planned project webinar, annual stakeholder meeting, and local, regional and national meetings to members of the scientific communities and growers under Objective 3.1. Our monthly team meetings have resumed, and plans for laboratory bioassays in Objectives 2.2, 2.3, and 2.4 will be conducted in the winter and spring. In the spring, we will collectively start recruiting a new cohort of undergraduates for Objective 3.2 and increasing the size of our colonies for experiments withG. brasiliensis.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Objective 1. Obj. 1.1. Optimize sampling methods for SWD. To continue the effective management of SWD in organic systems growers need reliable decision-aid tools that integrate monitoring and insecticide applications that are cost-effective and environmentally sustainable., and other controls. Currently, some growers monitor SWD in the field to initiate pesticide applications. In some states, experiments were conducted to determine the economic threshold of applying organic insecticides, such as in blueberries in response to SWD captured in traps such as the Trécé Pherocon SWD traps in Florida or the yeast sugar trap in Maine.In other states, researchers are working with organic blueberry growersto monitor SWD weekly and provide them with information on the level of infestation to guide their crop management decisions. This led to a reduction in spray applications or delay in first applications, depending on the field, through more informed IPM programs. Obj. 1.2. Assess economic impacts of organically approved IPM focused control strategies. A key focus of this sub-objective in the western states focuses on the commercial use of Decoy, an organic product developed by Oregon State University (OSU) for use against SWD which has expanded from 7,630 to 11,764 acres (3,921 Organic acres) in Western (California, Oregon and Washington) production regions. Additionally, a collaboration between Cornell and OSU developed a bioeconomic model (including a SWD population model and economic simulation) for evaluating the cost-effectiveness of SWD fruit sampling control strategies in organic blueberry production.From this, an interactive decision tool on investing in exclusion netting for NY organic blueberry growers is in development. Objective 2. Obj. 2.1. Optimize methods for release and quantify establishment of G. brasiliensis. In year one, the team developed standardized protocols for this objective and objective 2.2, described below. Ten of the eleven participating labs established and maintained colonies of G. brasiliensis, which is a significant undertaking in and of itself. The project team worked at a total of 37 sites, with 19 of these being release sites, with others serving as controls. 47 individual release events were conducted and a total of 25,645 adult G. brasiliensis were released. Across all sites, participating labs aimed to monitor 1 or 2 paired organic sites (2 or 4 sites total), with a site pair consisting of a "Gb release" and "control" sites. Both sites are managed organically by the grower standard. The release site has a non-crop site suitable for G. brasiliensis release, it is ideal for the control site to have a similar non-crop. We aimed for sites large enough for transect sampling to be conducted. For the release sites, we selected sites with some wooded or non-crop vegetation so G. brasiliensis need wouldn't get sprayed; and ones that ideally had other SWD host fruit so Gb can reproduce (ie. wild blackberry). G. brasiliensis adults were to be released as mated and younger wasps, over multiple weeks per release site. The timing of releases was to start when SWD was found to be infesting fruit to support Gb, and the window (i.e., June-Aug) will depend on fruit phenology. Three transects were set up at each farm along which fruit and sentinel traps were set up at the wood line, 1m, 10m, and 25m into the crop.Records of release locations (GPS) and numbers were kept along with habitat descriptions of non-crop areas (i.e..., wild Himalaya blackberry along conifers near a river, blackberry about 40% cover). Obj. 2.2. Determine the impact of sustainable management on natural enemies and pollinators. For this sub-objective, the same sites and transects as described above were sampled using yellow sticky cards. This sampling will be conducted ~3x in the season to count other natural enemies and pollinators. The timing of this sampling was at: 1) pre-release, 2) mid-season, and 3) post-release. This minimizes concern about YST capture of G. brasiliensis. Traps were hung in the canopy, preferably with some shade to prevent insect degradation, for 1-2 weeks. Obj. 2.3. Optimize entomopathogenic nematodes for control in protected environments. This objective's work focused on nematodes and focused on small-scale organic growers/stakeholders because we have limited protected agricultural production in small fruits in Florida. Preliminary trials indicate that Steinernema feltiae had the highest pathogenicity against and the highest reproduction within SWD. Steinernema riobrave had the least pathogenicity against SWD and lowest reproduction within this insect. Obj. 2.4. Determine compatibility of organic compounds and nematodes with G. brasiliensis. Establishing G. brasiliensis in organically managed agro-ecosystems has the potential to benefit blueberry growers by providing an additional layer of SWD management. Prior to the full integration of this beneficial insect into berry production systems, researchers must determine the degree to which current management tools (i.e., chemical insecticides) will affect the establishment and longevity of G. brasiliensis in the field. In the first year of the project, experiments in FL tested the response of adult G. brasiliensis to three organically labeled insecticides (Grandevo, Entrust, and Pyganic) directly in residue-response assays and indirectly against fruit sprayed-response assays in the lab. Objective 3. Obj. 3.1. Develop an integrated outreach program to deliver outputs to organic growers. Through newsletter articles, presentations to grower groups, and one-on-one contact, we have educated organic growers on the use of classical biological control to help manage SWD, reporting the project's progress. In total, the team disseminated project information through three extension articles and multiple talks, reaching growers and researchers at state and regional levels. Additionally, we presented at conferences to national and international audiences. Obj. 3.2. Build an organic literate extension workforce through project-specific Research and Extension Experiences for Undergraduates. This project has a specific goal of training an interdisciplinary organic literate community, thegoals were the deepening of undergraduates' knowledge and skill sets related to entomological research, organic agriculture, and professional and career development. A 10-week-long program structured around instructional workshops, mentorship, and scientific research in lab and field settings has been developed. For this program, a network of guest lecturers, many of whom are project participants, was utilized throughout the workshop schedule to increase the understanding of basic scientific research, analytical, and communication skills. Post-program survey results from undergraduate mentees indicated increased knowledge and skills in multipleareas. Additionally,post-program surveys of undergraduate mentees indicated increased enthusiasm and confidence in the research process as a result of mentor-encouraged ownership of projects. At the end of the summer project, undergraduate students were given the opportunity to present their research findings during a program-wide symposium. Presentations were tailored in a research and extension-based format where undergraduates were expected to discuss their research and project findings by providing scientific literature reviews, analyzing experimental results, representing data in figures/illustrations, and answering questions based on quantitative and qualitative methods of scientific understanding. Post-program, undergraduate mentees stated they gained confidence in the research process with an improved ability to critically read and present research findings to others.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2022 Citation: Panthi, B. et al. (2022). Using red panel traps to detect spotted-wing drosophila and its infestation in US berry and cherry crops. Journal of Economic Entomology. 10.1093/jee/toac134.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Rossi-Stacconi, M. V., Wang, X.-G., Stout, A., Fellin, L., Daane, K. M., Biondi, A., Stahl, J. M., Buffington, M. L., Anfora, G., Hoelmer, K. A. 2022. Methods for rearing the parasitoid Ganaspis brasiliensis, a promising biological control agent for invasive Drosophila suzukii. JoVE Journal184 e63898. doi 10.3791/63898 (online: https://www.jove.com/v/63898)
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2022 Citation: Beers, E. H., Beal, D., Smytheman, P., Abram, R., Schmidt-Jeffris, R., Moretti, E., Daane, K. M., Looney, C., Lue, C.-H., Buffington, M. L. 2022 First records of adventive populations of the parasitoids Ganaspis brasiliensis and Leptopilina japonica in the United States. Journal of Hymenoptera Research. 91: 1125. doi: 10.3897/jhr.91.82812
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Submitted Year Published: 2023 Citation: Hopper, K. R., Wang, X.-G., Kenis, M., Seehausen, L., Abram, P., Daane. K. M., Buffington, M., and Hoelmer, K. A., 2023. Genome divergence and reproductive incompatibility between populations of Ganaspis nr. brasiliensis. Evolutionary Applications (submitted)
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Sriram, A., Voyvot, S., Johnson, B. C., Chowdhury, S. M., Fanning, P. D., & Lee, J. C. (2023). Mesh covers on sentinel parasitoid traps prevent Drosophila suzukii movement and impact parasitism by Ganaspis brasiliensis and Pachycrepoideus vindemiae. Biocontrol Science and Technology, 1-11.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: Rogers, M. Integrated pest management in organic horticulture. Guest lecture for ENT 3211/5211: Insect Pest Management. 5 April 2023.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: Rogers, M. Organic management strategies for insect pests in small fruit. MN Agriculture Experiment Station Seminar, Dept. of Horticultural Science Seminar Series. 19 April 2023.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: Rogers, M. Organic research and teaching update. Minnesota Dept. of Agriculture Organic Taskforce. 29 June 2023.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: Jones, C. and A. Sial. 2023. Releases of Ganaspis brasiliensis In South Georgia to Help Control Spotted-Wing Drosophila Populations (Poster). 2023 Georgia Blueberry Growers Meeting (~180 attendees)
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: Lee, J., and Rendon D. (2023) Updates on research at the USDA to growers. North Willamette Research and Extension Center, Aurora, OR. July 26, 2023.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: Lee, J. 2023. Predators and pathogens for SWD control presentation by J. Lee. to OREI student webinar series. June 29, 2023.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: Lee, J. 2023. SWD control with stingers, sterility and sweets presentation to growers. Oregon Caneberry Workshop, Salem, OR. Mar 10, 2023. ~100 people
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: Walton, V.M. 2023. Presentation to growers at the Oregon Caneberry Workshop, Salem, OR. Mar 10, 2023. ~100 people
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: Walton, V.M. 2023. Presentation to growers at the Oregon Blueberry Workshop, Clatskanie, OR. ~80 people
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: Fanning, P. 2023. New tools in the management of spotted-wing Drosophila. Talk to growers at the Blueberry Hill Farm day, Jonesboro, Maine, 6/22/2023. (132 people).
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: Fanning, P. 2023. Insect management in organic production. Talk to growers at the Dresden ME, 5/12/2023. (11 people).
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: Fanning, P. 2023. Controlling springtime insects. Fanning, P., Talk to growers at the Union ME, 5/10/2023. (16 people).
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: Fanning, P. 2023. Insect IPM in blueberry. Talk to growers at the Downeast IPM and Crop Management Field Meeting, 4/17/2023. (9 people).
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: Johnson, B., and Fanning, P. 2023. Spotted-wing Drosophila and Biological Control. Maine Invasive Species Network meeting. 23 March 2023. Oral Presentation. (47 people).
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: Fanning, P., 2023. Insect Pest Management in Wild Blueberry. Wild Blueberry Conference Bangor Maine. 22 February 2023. Oral Presentation. (53 people).
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: Fanning, P., and Annis, S. 2023. Climate change and pest observations. Wild Blueberry Conference Bangor Maine. 22 February 2023. Oral Presentation. (44 people).
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: Isaacs, R. Small fruit insect pest efficacy trials. Trevor Nichols Research Center. September 19, 2023. 20 growers and agchem technical reps.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: Isaacs, R and Van Timmeren, S. Update on spotted wing Drosophila biological control. Blueberry Field Day 2022. Trevor Nichols Research Center. September 6, 2023. 40 attendees.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: Isaacs, R. Keeping up with the changing pest landscape in Michigan fruit crops. Michigan Agribusiness Association. The Lansing Center, Lansing, MI. March 2023. 28 people.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: Prade, P., and C. Rodriguez-Saona. 2023. Spotted-wing drosophila classical biological control. New Jersey Blueberry Open House. Hammonton, NJ, March 8, 2023. Attendance = 120.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: Brown, J., and O. E. Liburd. 2023. Towards the biocontrol of Drosophila suzukii in North-central Florida natural areas using Ganaspis brasiliensis, March 12-15. SEB-ESA, Little Rock Arkansas.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: Lambert, A., J. Brown, L. Daucan , and O. E. Liburd. 2023. Biological control potential of SWD with natural enemies including entomopathogenic nematodes. March 12-15. SEB-ESA, Little Rock Arkansas.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: Isaacs, R., Perkins, J. and Van Timmeren, S. Preparing for blueberry insect management in 2022. SW Michigan Hort Days. Benton Harbor, MI. February 3, 2022. 15 growers (online)
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: Rodriguez-Saona, C., P. Prade, K. Hamby, D. Biddinger, K. Regan, and K. Demchak. 2023. Efforts to establish a natural enemy of spotted-wing drosophila in the Mid-Atlantic and beyond. Proceedings of the Mid-Atlantic Fruit & Vegetable Convention. Hershey, PA.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: Rodriguez-Saona, C., and P. Prade. 2023. Efforts to release a spotted-wing drosophila parasitoid in New Jersey. Proceedings of the Atlantic Coast Agricultural Convention and Trade Show. Atlantic City, NJ.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2022 Citation: Hogg, B. N. et al. Releases of Pachycrepoideus vindemiae for augmentative biological control of spotted wing drosophila. Annual Entomological Society of America meeting. Vancouver, BC, November 2022.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2022 Citation: Stahl, J. M. et al. Setting the stage: An overview of spotted-wing drosophila biocontrol efforts. Entomological Society of American & Entomological Society of Canada Annual Meeting. Vancouver, Canada. Nov 2022
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2022 Citation: Lee, J. et al. Areawide releases of Ganaspis brasiliensis in the West Coast. Entomological Society of American & Entomological Society of Canada Annual Meeting. Vancouver, Canada. Nov 2022
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2022 Citation: Daane et al. Classical biological control of the spotted-wing drosophila in USA. Entomological Society of American & Entomological Society of Canada Annual Meeting. Vancouver, Canada. Nov 2022
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2022 Citation: Fanning, P., Johnson, B., Prade, P., Rodriguez-Saona, C. and Loeb, G. Progress towards classical biological control for spotted wing drosophila in the northeastern United States. Invited talk at ESA annual meeting in Vancouver, Canada on 15 November, 2022 as part of symposium titled Biocontrol of Drosophila suzukii: status updates on natural enemies and ecological considerations.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: A Bioeconomic Model for Sustainable Control of Drosophila suzukii in Organic Blueberry Production. Agricultural and Applied Economics Association (AAEA) Annual Meeting (Selected Paper Presentation). Washington D.C. 2023.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: Prade, P., and C. Rodriguez-Saona. 2023. Survey of Drosophila suzukii parasitoids in New Jersey prior and after the release of Ganaspis brasiliensis. Entomological Society of America, Eastern Branch Meeting. Providence, RI, March 20, 2023.