Can exotic drosophilids share the same niche of the invasive Drosophila suzukii?

Abstract

The presence of the four exotic drosophilids Chymomyza amoena (Loew), Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura), Zaprionus indianus (Gupta) and Zaprionus tuberculatus Malloch has been investigated in different orchard in Northern Italy for two consecutive years. The presence and the abundance of the population of the drosophilid flies were surveyed with apple cider vinegar (ACV) traps, fruit baited traps and fruit collection. C amoena, Z. tuberculatus and D. suzukii have been identified in the ACV traps in both years. Only D. suzukii and Z. tuberculatus emerged from fruit baited traps. With the exception of D. suzukii, no other exotic drosofilid was captured flickered??? from the fruit collection. Z. indianus was never observed. Analysis of the presence of the different species, seasonal occurrence and sex ratio are provided.

Keywords

• biological invasion
• exotic drosophilids
• Zaprionus indianus
• Zaprionus tuberculatus
• Chymomyza amoena.