In Italy, the Ministry of Ecological Transition has authorized the release of the parasitoid Ganaspis brasiliensis, imported last year from Switzerland, and which according to studies is capable of fighting the invasive small Asian fruit fly Drosophila suzukii, which causes considerable damage to the crops of blueberries and other fruits in the world.

Trento and others

The official authorization reached the Agriculture Service of the Autonomous Province of Trento, that with the Edmund Mach Foundation (FEM) represents Trentino at the national table to combat the Drosophila suzukii, coordinated by the Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l'Analisi dell'Economia Agraria (CREA), although there are other regions that have also obtained authorization together with the autonomous provinces of Trento and Bolzano, such as Veneto, Val d'Aosta, Piedmont, Emilia Romagna, Campania, Sicily and Puglia.

The FEM

The news of this authorization was very well received at the Mach Foundation, where for months its researchers and technicians have been working in quarantine chambers to breed and multiply these micro hymenopterans, native to the Far East, which are a harmless vespina (moth). for humans.

To materialize these releases of Ganaspis brasiliensis in the territory, the specific authorization of the Ministry of Ecological Transition to evaluate the analysis of direct and indirect risks linked to the release of Biologic control Applied on biodiversity, so the FEM prepared a detailed risk assessment document, which describes the biological and ecological characteristics of the species  Ganaspis brasiliensis  and the possible impacts on the ecosystem.

Process and follow-up

The representatives of the seven regions and two autonomous provinces of Trento and Bolzano participating in the national group for the launch of the antagonist to the Drosophila suzukii signed and sent the release request to Ministry of Ecological Transition at the beginning of May 2021, together with the risk study prepared by the FEM. The process involved the participation of several official instances, such as the Higher Institute for Research and Environmental Protection (ISPRA), the regional and provincial environmental protection agencies (ARPA and APPA) and finally the Ministries of Environment and Agriculture.

According to the FEM, after the release of the parasitoid, a multi-year follow-up program to safely assess any impact on the local ecosystems and its efficacy against Drosophila suzukii. The next step, regarding the results and the effect of the Ganaspis brasiliensis on Drosophila suzukiiIt will be a monitoring plan and a detailed report that will be sent to the Ministry no later than December 2021.