Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (Diptera: Drosophilidae) attacks a wide range of host plants, including crops such as blueberries, cherries, caneberries, and strawberries. We evaluated the influence of three temperatures (1.1, 3.9, and 5.0 °C) and four exposure durations (6, 12, 24, and 72 h) that were selected to represent typical grower practices on survival and development time of immature D. suzukii in artificial diet and one temperature and duration (1.67 °C for 72 h) in fruit (blueberries and raspberries). Cold storage at 1.1 °C for 24 h decreased larval survival, but shorter durations generally did not affect larval survival. No eggs or young larvae survived when held for 72 h at 1.1 °C, and fewer older larvae survived after 72 h at 1.1, 3.9, and 5.0 °C than at 20 °C (control). Development time in diet was longer for all life stages following at least 12 h at any of the storage temperatures. In blueberries, no eggs survived to pupation when stored at 1.67 °C for 72 h, and survival of third instars was reduced by 41%. In raspberries, egg, second instar, and third instar survival was significantly reduced following storage at 1.67 °C for 72 h. Drosophila suzukii larval development time was shorter in raspberry than in blueberry, but it was significantly longer in both fruits when stored at 1.67 °C for 72 h. Our results indicate that cold storage can reduce survival and increase development time of immature D. suzukii, and it could be a useful part of an integrated program to manage D. suzukii infestation.

The information that female insects perceive and use during oviposition site selection is complex and varies by species and ecological niche. Even in relatively unexploited niches, females interact directly and indirectly with conspecifics at oviposition sites. These interactions can take the form of host marking and re-assessment of prior oviposition sites during the decision-making process. Considerable research has focused on the niche breadth and host preference of the polyphagous invasive pest Drosophila suzukii Matsumura (Diptera: Drosophilidae), but little information exists on how conspecific signals modulate oviposition behavior. We investigated three layers of social information that female D. suzukii may use in oviposition site selection—(1) pre-existing egg density, (2) pre-existing larval occupation, and (3) host marking by adults. We found that the presence of larvae and host marking, but not egg density, influenced oviposition behavior and that the two factors interacted over time. Adult marking appeared to deter oviposition only in the presence of an unmarked substrate. These results are the first behavioral evidence for a host marking pheromone in a species of Drosophila. These findings may also help elucidate D. suzukii infestation and preference patterns within crop fields and natural areas.

The cotton leafworm Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd) (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae) is consider a polyphagous pest infesting cotton and some important vegetables and field crops in Egypt. The latent effects (LC 25) of three insect growth regulators (IGRS); Runner (24% SC), Virtu (5% SC) and Roxy (10% EC) and three essential plant oils; coriander, basil and mustard oils were evaluated against fourth larval instar until adult emergence and oviposition under laboratory conditions. The influence of LC 25 of tested materials on some biological aspects, nutrition indices for cotton leafworm were evaluated. Novaluron (roxy) showed a great ovicidal activity where recorded the lowest number of laid eggs (611 eggs) compared to control and coriander oil (1103.3 and 871 eggs, respectively). Also, novaluron was the most female oviposition deterrence (23%) and had the highest sterility (68.9%). On the other hand, there was a significant differences between novaluron and tested oils in sterility. Coriander oil recorded the highest feeding deterrence index (FDI) against fourth larval instar which statistically different with all tested treatment, while, tested IGRs had the lowest effect as a feeding deterrent for larvae varied between 7-9%. Relative growth Rate (RGR) had insignificantly varied between tested treatments. Larval duration was significantly elongated when larvae fed on treated castor bean leaves with coriander oil reach to 16.2 days compared to control (13.8 days). While IGRs treatments recorded that shorter larval duration rather than coriander oil, but significantly similar to control. Chromafenozide (virtu) pesticide had the highest larval mortality compared to control and essential plant oils treatments.

The bird cherry-oat aphid, (Rhopalosiphum padi L.) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), is one of the most important and serious polyphagous pest infesting cereals. Antixenosis test for twenty Egyptian wheat cultivars (

No abstract