Mugwort essential oil and its major constituent, eucalyptol, elicits oviposition avoidance of Drosophila suzukii

Abstract: Drosophila suzukii is notoriously a pest that causes serious damage to soft-skinned fruits. However, the management of this key pest currently relies on chemical insecticides that seriously cause pest resistance and environmental hazards. In the present study we reported the potential of Artemisia argyi (mugwort) essential oil to act as deterrent for D. suzukii oviposition. First, we identified that eucalyptol of mugwort essential oil efficiently induced the oviposition avoidance of D. suzukii. Second, the ovipositional aversion to eucalyptol was mediated by the activation of olfactory neurons in adult. Moreover, we found that eucalyptol potentially arrested the development of the fly progeny and impaired the survival and lifespan of flies through intestinal dysplasia. Finally, the result of field trials showed that mugwort essential oil had a deterrent effect on vineyard flies. Overall, our findings show that eucalyptol potentially acted as a biological control agent against D. suzukii by deterring oviposition, highlighting fundamental concepts of integrated pest management programs against D. suzukii.