Genetic biocontrol of invasive spotted wing drosophila

Background

Researchers are working towards genetic control of a major fruit pest, the spotted wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii, SWD), by interfering with its ability to reproduce. By preventing new generations from developing, this technology has the potential to drastically reduce Minnesota’s spotted wing drosophila population.

Scientists tested the new method with a related species, the common fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) and later adapted to SWD. The technology holds promise for field application tests (phase 2) and future expansion into other pest and insect models. Research will also produce valuable secondary information about the genetic diversity within seasonal spotted wing drosophila populations, which could help determine the starting point of invasion.

The second phase of this project focuses on the novel approach of biocontrol called “engineered genetic incompatibility” (EGI). EGI leverages the latest genetic tools to engineer species-like barriers to reproduction. Researchers continued their efforts to produce an EGI strain of SWD based on earlier successes using the related species D. melanogaster.

Questions remain about scientific and economic issues that may impact the development and success of any genetic biocontrol campaign against SWD, including the method developed by this team. In particular, it is important  to understand how genetic and behavioral diversity in wild populations of SWD will impact the effectiveness of a genetic biocontrol treatment.

Outcomes

This research team has demonstrated a powerful new approach to combat invasive insect pests. As a proof of concept, genetically engineered D. melanogaster male insects can successfully mate with wild females, who would not have offspring. This can reduce a wild population and it is applicable to any sexually reproducing insect. They have made progress translating what they learned from D. melanogaster to D. suzukii and made their first transgenic SWD flies.

The team has also invented a new approach to sequencing genomes that allowed them to sequence the relevant genes from over 10,000 wild flies. The data is being used in the engineering efforts for SWD.

By the end date of the project, researchers: 

• Generated the first Engineered Genetic Incompatibility-like genotypes of SWD.
• Built and tested a machine-vision automated fly behavior annotator to be able to test wild-caught flies for assortative mating phenotypes.
• Collected SWD from across the eastern US states and began testing the flies for behavioral differences that would work against genetic biocontrol. They have found significant differences in mating activity and fecundity between wild populations and long-time lab populations. 

This line of research will continue through an additional project that started in 2026.

Publications

• Differentiating Drosophila suzukii morphs and their flight capabilities (dissertation, 2021)
• HUGE pipeline to measure temporal genetic variation in Drosophila suzukii populations for genetic biocontrol applications (Frontiers in Insect Science, 2022)
• Genetically engineered insects with sex-selection and genetic incompatibility enable population suppression (eLife, 2022)
• Modeling-informed Engineered Genetic Incompatibility strategies to overcome resistance in the invasive Drosophila suzukii (Frontiers in Insect Science, 2022)
• Predicting thresholds for population replacement gene drives (BMC Biology, 2024)
• Dynamic timelines required for development of new insect genetic pest control technologies (Entomologia Generalis, 2026)

Outreach

• Upper Midwest Invasive Species Conference, 2020
• MN DNR Invasive Species Working Group, 2020
• FNIH Global GeneConvene Virtual Institute, 2020
• Seminar for the UMN Department of Entomology, 2021
• Minnesota Department of Natural Resources update meeting, 2021
• Engineering Biology Research Consortium annual meeting, 2022
• Gordon Research Conference on Genetic Biocontrol, 2022
• Stakeholder workshop on genetic biocontrol of aquatic invasive species at UMN, 2022
• Black Carp Working Group, 2023
• Canadian National Department of Fisheries and Oceanography Genomics Conference, 2023
• STEM presentation to 5 elementary classrooms in Falcon Heights, MN and Cloquet, MN, 2023
• National Science Foundation, Established Program to Simulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), 2024
• 23rd International Conference on Aquatic Invasive Species, 2024
• Departmental seminar at Kansas State University, 2024
• Departmental seminar, Washington State University, 2025
• Entomological Society of America, 2024
• International Congress of Entomology, 2024
• Genome Writer’s Guild, 2024
• International Conference on Aquatic Invasive Species, 2024
• Entomological Society of America - North Central Branch, 2024
• University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, 2024
• Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center Showcase, 2025
• Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Aquatic Invasive Species Unit Webinar, 2025
• Gordon Research Conference on Genetic Biocontrol, 2026

News and media

• Unlocking new routes to pest control: How bioengineered flies could transform agriculture (MITPPC, 2024)
• ‘A plague to be reckoned with’: UMN research creates a buzz with invasive fruit fly research (The Minnesota Daily, 2020)
• Research reveals high cost of invasive species for Minnesota-grown raspberries (MITPPC)
• Synthetic species made to shun sex with wild organisms (Nature News, 2018)
• Scientists are engineering GMO species to self-destruct after breeding in the wild (ScienceAlert, 2018)
• GMO Safety Factor Prevents Fruitful Interbreeding in the Wild (Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News, 2017)
• New way to prevent genetically engineered and unaltered organisms from producing offspring (EurekAlert!, 2017)