The spotted wing drosophila (SWD), Drosophila suzukii Matsumura (Diptera: Drosophilidae), is an invasive polyphagous pest of soft-skinned fruit that has started to threaten small fruit production in Europe since 2008. High reproductive capacity, short generation time, and difficulties in visualizing early damage contribute to its rapid spread. Currently, the control strategy against D. suzukii mostly relies on treatment with synthetic insecticides. Keeping in mind that this pest causes the greatest damage during the harvesting period, control using chemicals is not recommended due to the increased risk of high pesticide residue levels in the fruit. With the aim of reducing the use of insecticides, there is a need for developing an environmentally safer way of control. Alternative solutions could rely on the use of essential oils (EOs), which can be used in conventional and organic production systems. Four essential oils, geranium (Pelargonium graveolens), dill (Anethum graveolens), Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), and bergamot (Citrus bergamia), were assessed for their insecticidal effects using four different tests (contact toxicity, fumigant-contact toxicity, repellent effect, and multiple-choice tests). The EOs applied were dissolved in acetone at three different concentrations. The most promising one was the geranium essential oil, which had the best effect in all conducted tests, even at the lowest applied concentration. Geranium oil caused very high mortality (95%), even at the lowest concentration applied, after 24 h in the fumigant-contact test, and it caused a mortality of over 85% in the contact test. It was also noticed that geranium demonstrated a deterrent effect by repelling females from laying eggs for four days after at the lowest applied concentration. Scots pine and dill EOs have moderate to strong effects in most tests. The mortality of 100% was achieved for the highest applied concentration in the fumigant-contact and contact tests. Bergamot EO did not have any significant insecticidal activity. Geranium, Scots pine, and dill have great potential to be used as an environmentally friendly way of controlling D. suzukii as they exhibit deterrent, repellent, and insecticidal effects.

Pesticides in soils raise concerns about the biodiversity, food safety, and contamination of watercourses, contributing to unsustainable land management practices. Monitoring the residue levels in agricultural soils is essential, as this offers valuable insights into the current extent of soil contamination and potential environmental risks attributed to their application. This study aimed to address the occurrence of the currently used herbicides in soil under intensive crop production, comparing the results of monitoring at two depths (0–30 and 30–60 cm) in 2013 and 2023. The research concerned the main agricultural area in Vojvodina Province (Serbia) and evaluated the presence of 41 herbicides in 128 localities. Pesticides were found in all samples, finding even more than six different herbicides per sample. The significant concentrations of s-metolachlor, etofumesate, clomazone, diflufenican, pendimethalin, and terbuthylazine found can be attributed to application practices, as they are typically applied pre-emergence, either through direct soil treatment with or without incorporation. Moreover, the correlation between different depths, herbicide residues, and soil properties was not significant. The decrease in the herbicide residues found in 2023 compared to the residues found in 2013 can be attributed to the implementation of good agricultural practices, which promote sustainable agricultural strategies through controlled pesticide application.

The spotted wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii is an injurious polyphagous pest threatening worldwide soft fruit production. Its high adaptability to new colonized environments, short life cycle, and wide host range are supporting its rapid spread. The most common techniques to reduce its significant economic damage are based on multiple insecticides applications per season, even prior to the harvest, which reduces agroecosystem biodiversity and affects human and animal health. Environmental concerns and regulatory restrictions on insecticide use are driving the need for studies on alternative biological control strategies. This study aimed to assess the effect of T. drosphilae in controlling D. suzukii infestations and its interaction with P. vindemiae, a secondary parasitoid naturally present in Apulia (South Italy). Field experiments were carried out in organic cherry orchards in Gioia del Colle (Bari, Italy) to test the efficacy and adaptability of T. drosphilae following weekly releases of artificially reared individuals. Additionally, the interaction between P. vindemiae and T. drosphilae was studied under laboratory conditions. Results from field experiments showed that D. suzukii populations were significantly lower when both parasitoids were present. However, T. drosophilae was less prone to adaptation, so its presence and parasitism were limited to the post-release period. Laboratory experiments, instead, confirmed the high reduction of D. suzukii populations when both parasitoids are present. However, the co-existence of the two parasitoids resulted in a reduced parasitism rate and offspring production, notably for T. drosophilae. This competitive disadvantage may explain its poor establishment in field conditions. These findings suggest that the field release of the two natural enemies should be carried out with reference to their natural population abundance to not generate competition effects.

Drosophila suzukii Matsumura [spotted wing drosophila (SWD)] was initially documented by Matsumura in 1931. This pest belongs to the order Diptera, family Drosophilidae Kanzawa (1939). The majority of species within this genus are not considered pests as they typically deposit eggs in rotten or damaged fruits. However, SWD lays eggs in undamaged, healthy fruits Crava et al. (2019). This species has a wide distribution across moderate-climate regions Rota-Stabelli et al. (2013).

Mixtures of two or more pesticides are very common in contemporary agriculture. However, changes in their efficacy or biological activity, such as synergism and antagonism, phytotoxicity, persistence, toxicity to non-target organisms, may occur as a consequence. This study was conducted in order to evaluate the compatibility of insecticides (cyantraniliprole - Exirel, chlorantraniliprole - Coragen 20 SC), a fungicide (captan - Merpan 50 WP) and a foliar fertilizer (Folia Stim Mix TE), as well their mixtures, in spray liquids, depending on water quality (well water from two locations in Serbia - Mala Remeta and Cerevic). These products are used to control the most significant peach pests, and as an additional source of nutrients. Water analysis (pH, hardness, electroconductivity, chloride, nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, calcium and iron content) and tests of physico-chemical properties of the spray liquids (pH, suspensibility, dispersibility, surface tension, and electroconductivity) were performed in a laboratory experiment according to standard methods. The physico-chemical properties of the liquids changed depending on water quality and components incorporated in the mixture. However, all tested spray liquids showed consistency and compatibility over a period of 24 hours.

Inappropriate insecticide application can lead to harmful effects on cultivated plants, causing disruptions in physiological and enzymatic processes that ultimately impact overall yield and result in the presence of pesticide residues. During 2020, the influence of six insecticides (cyantraniliprole, chlorantraniliprole, spinetoram, indoxacarb, deltamethrin, pyriproxyfen, and acetamiprid) on the chlorophyll, carotenoids, hydrogen-peroxide, and malondialdehyde in peach leaves was assessed. Insecticides were applied in the recommended dose for the control of Grapholita molesta, the main peach pest. The leaves were sampled three and seven days after the treatment, and laboratory analysis of physiological and biochemical parameters was performed by spectrophotometer on the same day. The obtained results indicate that after three days, chlorophyll (a+b) content decreased (6.9-43.1%), while the carotenoid content increased (3.9-27.4%), compared to the control. After seven days, chlorophyll (a+b) decreased from 7.3 to 38.4%, and also carotenoid in the treatments with deltamethrin, pyriproxyfen, and acetamiprid (3.2-30.6%), while the other treatments showed an increase (3.2-41.9%). The highest increase in hydrogen-peroxide concentration was obtained in the treatments with spinetoram and deltamethrin (50-85%) after seven days. The concentration of malondialdehyde in all samples was higher after three days (31-39.3 nmol/g) compared to the concentration seven days after treatment (30-22.5 nmol/g). Results showed different biochemical reactions in peach leaves due to the applied insecticides. Insecticides caused significant changes in the pigment content; however, these changes were transient, so it is assumed that they do not remarkably affect the plant.