Dangerous agricultural pest is already on the borders of Ukraine. Drosophila suzuki made it to neighboring Poland and can easily move to Ukrainian gardens.
Ukrainian berry growers must be prepared for the threat, as a new pest may appear: Drosophila Suzukii.
This insect infects only healthy, intact fruits and can lead to a loss of 40-50% of the crop. In addition, there are no final ways to deal with it.
Drosophila pest Suzuki Drosophila Suzukii.
Drosophila Suzukii is a quarantine organism in Ukraine that no one has seen before within the country. It mainly threatens fruit tree plantations in Western Europe.
But recently, it began to spread in central and eastern parts of Europe and was seen in neighboring Poland. Therefore, Ukrainian farmers are also at risk.
A large number of berry and fruit crops are attacked by a pest, including blackberries, strawberries, blueberries, red and black currants, raspberries, cherries, apricots, plums, nectarines and table grape varieties.
Adult individuals of Drosophila Suzuki are able to cover a distance of 4 km per day, their life span is 20-30 days. During this time, the female is able to lay up to 350 eggs (from 1 to 3 pcs. In one berry) and thus damage from 115 to 350 berries. And this is only one adult female.
The larva eats in the berry until it is fully developed. Juice flows from the berry at this time, and rotting processes begin at the site of damage.
