USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has prepared a final environmental assessment (EA) that addresses the environmental impacts of releasing the insect Ganaspis brasiliensis to manage spotted-wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii) populations in the contiguous United States. After careful analysis, APHIS has determined that releasing this biological control agent in the continental U.S. is not likely to harm the environment. APHIS projects that releasing G. brasiliensis will reduce spotted-wing drosophila populations in the U.S. This small wasp poses no risk to humans, livestock, or wildlife. It only feeds on the invasive spotted-wing drosophila and related nonnative species. This finding allowed APHIS to approve permits for the initial release of G. brasiliensis into the environment to manage the spotted-wing drosophila.
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