Soil emergence of Drosophila suzukii adults: a susceptible period for entomopathogenic nematodes infection

Drosophila suzukii is a global invasive pest of soft-skinned and small stone fruits. Fly larvae fall from fruit to the soil to pupate, after which time adults emerge. Biological control of D. suzukii larvae with entomopathogenic nematodes has been reported in previous studies with positive results, but susceptibility of adults has still not been evaluated. In this study, the susceptibility of mature adults to Heterorhabditis bacteriophora,...