In the last few days, the Italian Ministry of Ecological Transition has authorized the release of Ganaspis brasiliensis. It is a parasitoid that attacks Drosophila suzukii and that, in the future, could represent a solution against this pest. At the moment there can only be micro-launches, a few thousand specimens per month. The purpose is to study if there can occur any imbalances in the Italian environment by introducing an insect that was not present until now. In the best case, it will be considered and implemented in a few years, as a defense solution.
Damages by Drosophila
Ganaspis brasiliensis is an insect imported from Switzerland, and it has never been tested in Italy. The Italian territory will represent a pilot experiment and, only if the insect will not cause damages, the Swiss authorities could adopt it in their environment.
The regions that have authorized the launches of the parasitoid are Emilia Romagna, Trentino Alto Adige, Puglia, Sicily, Campania, Valle d'Aosta, Veneto, Piedmont.
It is very odd to notice that against the Drosophila there is no further intensive intervention withTrichopria drosophilae, an insect that is already existing and that has given excellent results against the fruit fly and whose launches have been carried out for several years. It should also be noted that Leptopilona japonica, a larval parasitoid of Drosophila, is now also present.