La Jolla Virus: The Pathology and Transmission in Its Host Drosophila suzukii

Drosophila suzukii, commonly known as spotted-wing drosophila, has emerged as a highly destructive pests in global fruit and wine production. The effectiveness of chemical control is significantly compromised by rapid resistance development and limited range of insec-ticide options. Biological control presents a promising sustainable alternative., Our pre-vious work suggested the La Jolla virus (LJV) as a suitable candidate for the development of an insect virus-based control option. Here we characterized the natural transmission and pathology of the virus. We tested various modes of horizontal transmission, includ-ing airborne, venereal and oral, and fecal routes. To understand LJV pathology in infected flies, we studied feeding behavior and demonstrated changes in the food absorption compared to non-infected flies. We also investigated the impact on fecundity and egg-to-adult success rate. Altogether, these results collectively improve our understanding of LJV transmission in natural populations and the implication of infected flies in food ingestion and overall fitness.