Conned by the enemy: the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae lures and kills Drosophila suzukii.
Farid IM, Ndlela S, Becher PG, Weldon CW, Azrag AG, Schiöth HB, Mohamed SA, Ekesi S.
Biocontrol
The strawberries, blueberries, and cherries at your farmers market are under constant threat from an invasive fly that ruins fruit from the inside out — and this fungus could replace the pesticide sprays currently used to protect them.
Scientists tested five strains of a naturally occurring fungus against the spotted wing drosophila, a tiny fly originally from Asia that has spread across Europe, the Americas, and now Africa, where it destroys soft fruits like raspberries, blueberries, and cherries. One strain in particular — already sold commercially for other pests — killed the flies quickly, spread from infected flies to healthy ones, and even released airborne chemicals that attracted flies toward it like a trap. This means the fungus could work as a two-in-one biocontrol: a killer that also acts as bait.
Key Findings
The fastest-acting fungal strain (ICIPE 78) killed 50% of spotted wing drosophila in under 5 days (MLT₅₀ = 4.75 ± 1.03 days).
ICIPE 78 spread horizontally from infected 'donor' flies to healthy flies, and reduced the fertility of infected females.
Sporulating fungal cadavers actively attracted and infected healthy flies, suggesting a self-amplifying trap mechanism.
chevron_right Technical Summary
A naturally occurring soil fungus called Metarhizium anisopliae can kill spotted wing drosophila, a fruit fly devastating berry and cherry crops worldwide, and one strain even lures the flies to their deaths using attractive chemical signals.
Abstract Preview
<h4>Background</h4>Drosophila suzukii, commonly known as spotted wing drosophila (SWD), is a highly invasive and economically major pest that inflicts significant damage on soft-skinned fruit crops...
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