title: Susceptibility of selected boreal fruits and berries to the invasive pest Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Drosophila suzukii Matsumara has recently emerged as a major invasive pest species in soft-skinned fruits in berries throughout North America and Europe. Its distribution has spread so rapidly that little is known of the extent of fruit susceptibility, particularly in boreal regions. Populations of D. suzukii increase dramatically in late summer in boreal regions, concurrent with fruiting seasons for commercially and culturally significant fruits and berries. We tested fruit preference and susceptibility of lingonberry, blueberry, chokecherry, sea buckthorn and raspberry fruits to D. suzukii.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Female D. suzukii attempted to oviposit on all fruit types tested. Fruits with lower brix and lower pH levels were preferred in choice tests. Undamaged lingonberries were relatively safe from infestation; however, bruised or frost-damaged fruits were easily penetrated. Sea buckthorn and raspberry fruits were highly preferred.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although blueberry growers have experienced severe economic crop losses due to D. suzukii, we have found that blueberries were the least preferred of the fruits tested. This suggests that D. suzukii are largely opportunistic and highlights the importance of fruit phenology in fruit susceptibility. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Acadia University, Wolfville, NS, Canada.|Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, St John's, NL, Canada.
authors.forename: Catherine M
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7389-9948
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Little
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, St John's, NL, Canada.
authors.forename: Thomas W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.affiliation: Kentville Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Kentville, NS, Canada.
authors.forename: Debra L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Moreau
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Acadia University, Wolfville, NS, Canada.
authors.forename: N Kirk
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Hillier
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D004330:Drosophila / Q000502:physiology*; D005638:Fruit / Q000502:physiology*; D060434:Herbivory; D058507:Host Specificity; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D058865:Introduced Species; D010058:Oviposition; D066188:Taiga
keywords: chokecherry; invasive species; lingonberry; sea buckthorn; spotted-wing drosophila