First report of Drosophila suzukii in Uruguay
During summer 2013, studies on drosophilids were conducted in Montevideo city and in a rural area (Empalme Maldonado) in the department of Canelones, Uruguay. In Montevideo, flies were collected using banana-baited traps. In the rural area, over-ripened, decayed or damaged blueberries (Vaccinium ashei) were collected from the ground and taken to the laboratory. Trapped and emerging flies were then identified. As a result, several specimens of Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae – EPPO A2 List) were found. In traps, D. suzukii represented only a small percentage among drosophilid species (0.5%) but was the most abundant species (96%) emerging from blueberries. This is the first time that D. suzukii is reported from Uruguay.
The situation of Drosophila suzukii in Uruguay can be described as follows: Present, first found in 2013 in the southern part of the country (Montevideo city, department of Canelones).
Sources
González G, Mary AL, Goñi B (2015) Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) found in Uruguay. Drosophila Information Service no. 98, 103-107.