Abstract
- Context and need for work The effects and extent of the
impacts of agricultural insect pests in and around cropping systems is
a rich field of study. However, little research exists on the presence
and consequence of pest insects in undisturbed landscapes distant from
crop hosts. Research in such areas may yield novel or key insights on
pest behavior or ecology that is not evident from agroecosystem-based
studies.
- Approach and methods Using the invasive fruit pestDrosophila suzukii (Matsumura) as a case study, we investigated
the presence and resource use patterns of this agricultural pest in
wild blackberries growing within the southern Appalachian Mountain
range of North Carolina over two years.
- Main results We found D. suzukii throughout the
sampled range with higher levels of infestation (D. suzukiieggs/g fruit) in all ripeness stages in natural areas as compared to
cultivated blackberry samples, but especially in under-ripe fruit.
- Main results We also explored a direct comparison of
oviposition preference between wild and cultivated fruit and found
higher oviposition in wild berries when equal weights of fruit were
offered, but oviposition was higher in cultivated berries when fruit
number was equal.
- Synthesis and applications D. suzukii were wide-spread
in previously unsampled remote, forest habitats. Forest populations
laid more eggs in unripe wild-grown blackberries throughout the year
than populations infesting cultivated berries. This suggests D.
suzukii may change its oviposition and foraging behavior in relation
to fruit type. Additionally, as D. suzukii exploits a common
forest fruit prior to ripeness, further research is needed to explore
how this affects wild food web dynamics and spillover to regional
agroecosystems.