D3261: Laboratory rearing methods for Ganaspis brasiliensis, a biological control agent for spotted wing Drosophila

Drosophila suzukii, or Spotted Wing Drosophila(SWD), is an invasive fruit fly that has established itself as a major crop pest of soft skinned fruits in Europe, parts of Africa and the Americas. Regular applications of pesticides have proven too costly and minimally effective for SWD, due to their infestation of crops from populations reproducing on wild fruit(cherries,blackberries,mulberry etc.) found on forest and crop edges.Thus,a biological control agent was sought to partner with pesticide application and minimize reinfestation. After foreign exploration across SWD’s native range,a larval parasitoid, Ganaspis brasiliensis was found to be the most host specific. Several biotypes of Ganaspis brasiliensis were discovered (G1-G5) and it was determined that G1 and G3 reflected the highest host specificity, with G1 being the most selective. G1 was then permitted for field release in the United States and parts of Europe, while G3 remains a promising additional option for permitting in the future. With the approval for field release for G1 and the continued testing of G3, a need arose for effective laboratory rearing methods for both biotypes. This poster provides detailed instruction on rearing methods for G1 and G3.