Biological control (acclimatization and conservation) against Drosophila suzukii and the codling moth Cydia pomonella
Insects as allies against pests in our orchards
The principle
Rather than relying solely on pesticides, the project aims to introduce beneficial insects from elsewhere into the natural environment: parasitoids that lay their eggs in the cocoons of pests, which they then feed on and eliminate naturally. This is known as biological control through acclimatization. Once acclimatized, it is necessary to find the most favorable agricultural conditions for the proliferation of this parasitoid to help it spread. This is called biological control through conservation.
Our targets
Two major orchard pests:
- The spotted wing drosophila (or spotted wing fruit fly), which attacks red fruits and cherries
- The codling moth, whose larvae bore into apples, pears, and walnuts
Our project
We introduce these beneficial insects into pilot orchards and monitor their acclimatization in order to:
- Verify that they are well suited to our regions
- Understand how they control pest populations in a sustainable manner
- Define the best conditions for their large-scale deployment
The goal
Create natural and sustainable protection for orchards that:
- Significantly reduces pest populations
- Greatly reduces pesticide use
- Costs producers nothing once the beneficial insects are established
This project is funded by the Ecophyto II plan (Office Français de la Biodiversité) and will run from 2023 to 2025.
