Large-arena field cage releases of a candidate classical biological control agent for spotted wing drosophila suggest low risk to non-target species

Classical biological control, i.e., the introduction of natural enemies from an invasive pest’s area of origin, has been proposed repeatedly to control the spotted wing drosophila Drosophila suzukii in the Americas and in Europe. Results from surveys in Asia and laboratory experiments suggest the parasitoid G1 Ganaspis cf. brasiliensis as a suitable biological control agent. To study the host specificity of the parasitoid under semi-field conditions, we conducted large-arena field cage releases. Parasitoids were released into cages at three dates in August 2021 in two regions of Switzerland. Released parasitoids had the choice to parasitize either D. suzukii larvae in fresh fruits (blueberries or elderberries) or the non-target native species D. melanogaster in decomposing fruits. The results were unequivocal in that apparent parasitism of D. suzukii larvae feeding in fresh fruits was on average 15%, whereas only one parasitoid emerged from D. melanogaster feeding on decomposing fruits (0.02% parasitism). Thus, the results support findings from previous laboratory experiments that G1 G. cf. brasiliensis is highly specific to D. suzukii larvae feeding in fresh fruits and parasitism of the closely related D. melanogaster feeding on decomposing fruits is very rare. Because in its invaded range, D. suzukii is the only Drosophila species that can attack and develop in undamaged fresh fruits, we conclude that open field releases of the parasitoid G1 G. cf. brasiliensis should not pose significant risks to non-targets.