Can reproductive interference be integrated into the Sterile Insect Technique for pest control? Insights from the spotted wing flyDrosophila suzukii

Abstract

AbstractBACKGROUNDReproductive interference (i.e., sexual interaction between males of one species and females of another species that reduce the fitness of one or both the interacting individuals) is an important species interaction significantly affecting population dynamics and persistence. However, its exploitation in pest control remains overlooked. Here, we investigated the possible integration of reproductive interference into the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) to develop a cross-species SIT. At this aim, we focused on the invasive pest speciesDrosophila suzukiiand usedD. melanogasteras the control species. First, we investigated the effect of irradiation onD. melanogastermale sterility and longevity Then, we tested the mating performance of irradiated males and their ability to reduce theD. suzukiifitness.RESULTSWe found by microcosm experiments that: i) irradiation induced high levels ofD. melanogastermale sterility without reducing longevity; ii) irradiatedD. melanogastermales courtD. suzukiifemales as much asD. suzukiimales and they couple, mate and fecund heterospecific females; iii) irradiatedD. melanogastermales significantly reduce the offspring ofD. suzukiifemales under different species ratios.CONCLUSIONSOur results provide the first foundation to develop cross-species Sterile Insect Technique againstD. suzukiiand fuel to test this approach against other groups of pest species.