Drosophilid Melting Pot: African Fig Fly Meets Spotted-Wing Drosophila in the U.S.
The African fig fly (Zaprionus indianus) is an invasive fruit fly in North America that has been found commingling with its cousin spotted-wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii), sometimes even using the latter's egg-laying sites for its own. A new profile in the Journal of Integrated Pest Management highlights the African fig fly's biology and range and offers options for management.
Testing Shows Dry, Red Sticky Traps Improve Spotted-Wing Drosophila Monitoring
A new study finds spotted-wing drosophila prefer red, glue-covered monitoring traps made of plastic rectangles or spheres compared to the most commonly used clear deli-cup traps. The findings will advance the pursuit of more efficient and effective monitoring techniques for the pest.
Fruit DNA in Invasive Flies’ Guts Could Help Track Their Dispersal
A recent study at North Carolina State University shows that DNA analysis of spotted-wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii) flies can detect whether they fed on strawberries as much as seven days prior. Researchers hope the proof of concept will lead to more accurate analysis of the invasive pest's dispersal in the field.
Study Shines a (Fluorescent) Light on Invasive Fruit Fly Trapping
To estimate the catch rate of traps for invasive spotted-wing drosophila fruit flies in tart cherry orchards, researchers at Michigan State University first marked thousands of flies with fluorescent dust and released them. Then they counted the recaptured flies under ultraviolet light.
Butterfly Color Patterns Reveal Clues About Genes That Build Insect Wings
New research identifies the genetic code by which butterflies assign color patterns to different parts of their wings
Fallen Fruit Breeds Invasive Flies
By removing potential breeding sites such as fallen fruit, population levels of invasive spotted wing drosophila could be reduced
How Salt, a Coffee Filter, and a Microscope Could Aid in Managing Spotted-Wing Drosophila
By Andrew Porterfield The red-eyed, spotted fly first appeared in the United States in strawberry, raspberry, and blackberry crops in Santa Cruz County, California, in 2008. Then the Southeast Asian […]
Two Artificial Sweeteners Kill Fruit Flies
Continuing their research into potential ingredients for human-safe pesticides, Drexel University researchers recently found an artificial sweetener that, while harmless for male fruit flies, proved particularly lethal for females. Their […]
Exotic Fruit Flies Found for First Time in Los Angeles
A group of researchers from the U.S. and Australia have announced the completely unexpected discovery of two exotic fruit flies in urban Los Angeles in a paper appearing in the […]
Mutational Chain Reaction Can Spread Throughout Insect Populations
By David O’Brochta A report recently published in Science describes a system by which one can introduce mutations into insect genomes and have those mutations quickly spread to all of […]
International Researchers Find Major Fruit Fly Pests to be the Same Species
A global research effort has recently determined that four of the world’s most destructive agricultural pests are actually one and the same. Some of the world’s most damaging pest fruit […]
Discovery May Lead to “Anti-Viagra” for Insects
Kansas State University entomologists have helped identify a neuropeptide named natalisin that regulates the sexual activity and reproductive ability of insects. Using a genetic tool called RNA interference, or RNAi, […]