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<p>Biological invasions increasingly threaten ecosystems and agriculture. The spotted-wing drosophila, <i>Drosophila suzukii</i>, has been recognized as a highly polyphagous invasive pest. In South America, many of <i>D. suzukii</i> collecting sites overlap with native cactus species distribution and cacti are available resources throughout the year, including times when the crops are absent. However, <i>D. suzukii</i> capacity to develop on cactus hosts has not been experimentally evaluated. Here we evaluate the prickly pear cactus, <i>O. sulphurea,</i> as a potential alternative host by conducting no-choice oviposition assays and rearing larvae on a semi-natural cactus diet. We compared the viability, developmental time, morphological and reproductive traits, and fatty acid profiles of flies reared on cactus against two laboratory diets. Females laid eggs on cactus tissue, and larvae successfully completed development with fitness parameters and fatty acid profiles of adults comparable to the standard diets. These findings indicate that <i>O. sulphurea</i> could be a suitable breeding resource for <i>D. suzukii</i>, suggesting that it may serve as an alternative host during periods in which cultivated fruits become unavailable. These results may have implications for pest management programs and ecological dynamics.</p>

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A native host for an invasive pest? Assessing the prickly pear cactus (Opuntia sulphurea) as an alternative host for the fruit pest Drosophila suzukii

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年8月5日

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  • Lucas Kreiman,
  • Valeria P. Careaga,
  • Esteban Hasson,
  • Pablo E. Schilman,
  • Julián Mensch

摘要

Biological invasions increasingly threaten ecosystems and agriculture. The spotted-wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii, has been recognized as a highly polyphagous invasive pest. In South America, many of D. suzukii collecting sites overlap with native cactus species distribution and cacti are available resources throughout the year, including times when the crops are absent. However, D. suzukii capacity to develop on cactus hosts has not been experimentally evaluated. Here we evaluate the prickly pear cactus, O. sulphurea, as a potential alternative host by conducting no-choice oviposition assays and rearing larvae on a semi-natural cactus diet. We compared the viability, developmental time, morphological and reproductive traits, and fatty acid profiles of flies reared on cactus against two laboratory diets. Females laid eggs on cactus tissue, and larvae successfully completed development with fitness parameters and fatty acid profiles of adults comparable to the standard diets. These findings indicate that O. sulphurea could be a suitable breeding resource for D. suzukii, suggesting that it may serve as an alternative host during periods in which cultivated fruits become unavailable. These results may have implications for pest management programs and ecological dynamics.