Research article - Peer-reviewed, 2021
Detection of the spotted wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii, in continental sub-Saharan Africa
Kwadha, Charles A.; Okwaro, Louis A.; Kleman, Isabella; Rehermann, Guillermo; Revadi, Santosh; Ndlela, Shepard; Khamis, Fathiya M.; Nderitu, Peterson W.; Kasina, Muo; George, Momanyi K.; Kithusi, Grace G.; Mohamed, Samira A.; Lattorff, H. Michael G.; Becher, Paul G.Abstract
The spotted wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii Matsumura, is an insect pest of soft-skinned fruit, native to Eastern Asia. Since 2008, a world-wide dispersal of D. suzukii is seen, characterized by the establishment of the pest in many Asian, American and European countries. While the potential for invasion of continental Africa by D. suzukii has been predicted, its presence has only been shown for Morocco in Northern Africa. Knowledge about a possible establishment in other parts of the continent is needed as a basis for pest management. In 2019, we carried out a first survey in three counties in Kenya to monitor for the presence of D. suzukii using traps baited with a blend of apple cider vinegar and red wine. A total of 389 D. suzukii flies were captured in a fruit farm at Nakuru county, with more female flies being trapped than males. We confirmed the morphological identification of D. suzukii using DNA barcoding. In 2020, we performed a follow-up survey at 14 locations in six counties to delimit the distribution of D. suzukii in the main berry growing zones in Kenya. The survey indicated that so far D. suzukii is restricted to Nakuru county where it was initially detected. This is the first study to provide empirical evidence of D. suzukii in continental sub-Saharan Africa, confirming that the pest is expanding its geographic range intercontinentally. Given the high dispersal potential of D. suzukii, a concerted effort to develop management strategies is a necessity for containment of the pest.Keywords
Drosophilidae; Fruit fly; Global; Invasive pest; Soft fruitsPublished in
Journal of Pest Science2021, volume: 94, number: 2, pages: 251-259
Publisher: SPRINGER HEIDELBERG
Authors' information
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Plant Protection Biology
Okwaro, Louis A.
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE)
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Plant Protection Biology
Rehermann, Guillermo (Rehermann Del Rio, Guillermo)
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Plant Protection Biology
Revadi, Santosh
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Plant Protection Biology
Ndlela, Shepard
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE)
Khamis, Fathiya M.
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE)
Nderitu, Peterson W.
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE)
Kasina, Muo
Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation
George, Momanyi K.
KEPHIS Headquarters
Kithusi, Grace G.
Horticultural Crops Directorate (HCD)
Mohamed, Samira A.
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE)
Lattorff, H. Michael G.
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE)
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Plant Protection Biology
UKÄ Subject classification
Ecology
Agricultural Science
Publication Identifiers
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-021-01330-1
URI (permanent link to this page)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/110433