Drosophila suzukii has had a massive impact on US agriculture since its arrival in 2008. Growers seek to implement sustainable IPM strategies that effectively reduce the impact of SWD. Biological control using parasitoid wasps is a strategy that offers a long-term solution for growers. Challenges associated with biocontrol using parasitoids is the variability in successful establishment. Ganaspis kimorum, is an attractive biocontrol agent for SWD ecologically because it is expected to have a limited nontarget effect on native drosophilids. To support the successful establishment of G. kimorum, techniques designed to enhance its ability to persist long-term in local ecosystems are valuable. An augmentorium is a device that can support the establishment of parasitoids, consisting of a sturdy cage in which SWD-infested fruit are placed along with parasitoids. The augmentorium is designed with a selective mesh screen that has holes large enough for parasitoids to enter/exit, but too small for SWD to enter/exit. Augmentoria thus promote the wasp’s reproductive cycle without increasing SWD presence. Placing augmentoria at strategic intervals allows growers to promote biocontrol agent establishment and provide a contained host in the field for any release of parasitoids. In this study, we intend to design an augmentorium that effectively facilitates the reproduction of parasitoid wasps in the field. We did not observe a meaningful difference in pest or parasitoid populations between sites with an augmentorium and the control sites in initial experimental trials. It is presumed that further refinement is necessary in the design of our augmentorium.
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