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Global Trends in Research on Biological Control Agents of Drosophila suzukii: A Systematic Review
by
, ,
Lenon Morales Abeijon
1
,
Júlia Birkhan
2,
Jana C. Lee
3,
Sérgio Marcelo Ovruski
4 and
Flávio Roberto Mello Garcia
2,*
1
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Fitossanidade, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas 96000, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
2
Departamento de Ecologia, Zoologia e Genética, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas 96000, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
3
Crops Disease and Pest Management Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Corvallis, OR 97330, USA
4
Pilot Plant for Microbiological Industrial Processes and Biotechnology (PROIMI-CONICET), Biological Control Division, Tucumán T4001MVB, Argentina
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Insects 2025, 16(2), 133; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16020133
Submission received: 20 November 2024
/
Revised: 11 January 2025
/
Accepted: 28 January 2025
/
Published: 30 January 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Insect Pest and Vector Management)
Simple Summary
This review reports the main developments in the biological control of spotted-wing drosophila (SWD), Drosophila suzukii, using parasitoids, predatory insects, and entomopathogens. We reviewed research conducted worldwide on the biological control of spotted-wing drosophila over the past decade (2012–2023). We examined 184 publications to see how many focused on each control agent, what methods they used, and where the research was carried out. Most research focused on tiny wasps that attack the pest, the most common being Trichopria drosophilae and Pachycrepoideus vindemmiae, with increasing interest in others like Leptopilina japonica and Ganaspis kimorum. Fifty-five publications examined entomopathogenic agents, while only 15 studied the predatory effects on SWD. Most publications were conducted in controlled environments like labs or greenhouses. The findings show that using these natural enemies can effectively reduce the pest population, especially conservation efforts that support these natural enemies in the environment. The current review is crucial for developing eco-friendly ways to protect crops and reduce reliance on chemical pesticides, benefiting farmers and the environment.
Abstract
It is essential to consolidate knowledge on biological control agents (BCAs) for Drosophila suzukii, to identify gaps, evaluate the effectiveness of existing strategies, and guide future research toward sustainable pest management. The biological control of SWD has been explored through various BCAs, focusing on parasitoids, predators, and entomopathogens. We conducted a systematic review using Web of Science and Scopus (2012–2023) to investigate global research on BCAs of SWD. Our goal was to synthesize and categorize the current scientific production, addressing questions such as (1) publication numbers per BCA group and species, (2) key BCAs, (3) common methodologies (laboratory, field, greenhouse, or combined), (4) research scope, (5) effectiveness of BCAs, and (6) countries conducting research. We found 585 records, 184 of which were suitable for analysis. The most studied BCAs are parasitoids, comprising 64% of publications, with Trichopria drosophilae and Pachycrepoideus vindemmiae being the most researched, followed by Leptopilina japonica and Ganaspis kimorum. Entomopathogens and predators represent 26% and 7% of publications, respectively. Studies under controlled conditions predominate, and surveys, identifications, and characterization of natural enemies are the main research foci, followed by conservation biological control showing the highest effectiveness.
