Safe repellents that protect fruit from spotted wing Drosophila found
Monday, June 22, 2015 - 10:40
in Biology & Nature
A safe repellent that protects fruits from D. suzukii has been identified by scienitsts: Butyl anthranilate (BA), a pleasant-smelling chemical compound produced naturally in fruits in small amounts. In their lab experiments, the scientists found BA warded off D. suzukii from blueberries coated with it. The finding, when extrapolated to other agricultural pests, could provide a strategy for controlling them and increasing the productivity of crops and fruit.