Seasonal variability of Drosophila parasitoids in agricultural and semi-natural environments in Poland
2025
Koźbiał,Wioleta | Wójcik-Gront,Elżbieta | Lewandowski,Mariusz
The spotted wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii) is an invasive pest causing significant damage to soft fruit crops in Europe. Native parasitoids may contribute to its biological control, yet information on their distribution and seasonal activity in Central Europe remains limited. This study aimed to investigate the species composition and seasonal dynamics of Drosophila parasitoids in agricultural and adjacent semi-natural habitats in Poland. Fieldwork was conducted during the early, middle, and late vegetation seasons in 2021–2022 using self-constructed traps baited with Drosophila melanogaster and D. hydei as hosts. Parasitoids emerging from collected traps were identified and quantified. Three hymenopteran parasitoid species were recorded: the larval parasitoid Asobara tabida and the pupal parasitoids Trichopria drosophilae and Pachycrepoideus vindemmiae. P. vindemmiae was the most abundant species, particularly in mid-season and in semi-natural areas. T. drosophilae dominated in the early season, while A. tabida was consistently less numerous. The overall parasitoid abundance was significantly higher in semi-natural habitats compared to agricultural sites. The structure of parasitoid assemblages changed with the season, with the highest species evenness in early and mid-season samples. These results highlight the influence of habitat type and seasonality on parasitoid occurrence and suggest that certain native species, especially P. vindemmiae and T. drosophilae, could contribute to the conservation biological control of D. suzukii. Promoting semi-natural refuges may enhance the presence and persistence of beneficial parasitoids in agricultural landscapes.
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