The spotted wing fruit fly (Drosophila suzukii) and the walnut husk fly (Rhagoletis completa) are important pest insects in orchards. Drosophila suzukii affects a wide range of fruit crops, from cherries in spring to elderberries in autumn. Under optimal conditions, populations can increase rapidly, with up to 15 generations developing each year. A single generation cycle can be completed within 8 to 14 days.
The use of insecticides against these pests is often limited by the number of available active ingredients and restrictions on the number of applications. To address this challenge, a bait and kill strategy has been developed that combines a special feeding lure with a reduced dosage of insecticide.
This approach allows a lower amount of insecticide to be applied while maintaining the possibility of carrying out additional treatments when necessary. As a result, the number of applications can be increased without increasing the total amount of active ingredients used.
At present, these applications are only being used in trials. In Austria, there are currently no approved indications for applying reduced amounts of an active ingredient across an area. Nevertheless, this novel approach offers a potential alternative for pest management and is considered highly relevant for future political discussions.
