Laboratory longevity and competitiveness of Dacus ciliatus Loew (Diptera: Tephritidae) following sub-sterilizing gamma irradiation. Issue 3 (22nd February 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nemny-Lavy, E.; Nestel, D.; Rempoulakis, P.
• Is Part Of: Bulletin of entomological research. Volume 106:Issue 3(2016)
• Page Start: 415
• Page End: 419
• Publication Date: 2016-02-22
• Subjects: Ethiopian fruit fly, -- fried index, -- longevity, -- male competitiveness, -- Sterile Insect Technique; Entomology -- Periodicals; 595.7
• DOI: 10.1017/S0007485316000092
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0007-4853

Abstract

Abstract: The effect of a sub-sterilizing gamma radiation dose on Dacus ciliatus adults was investigated to assess the suitability of the sterile insect technique (SIT) as an alternative method to control this pest. Late pupae (48 h prior to adult emergence) from a laboratory strain were irradiated with 120 Gy of gamma rays emitted by a 60 Co source. Following adult emergence, the mortality of irradiated and non-irradiated cohorts was recorded. Over a period of 50 days after emergence, no significant negative effects of irradiation upon the longevity of male or female laboratory flies were observed. A laboratory competitiveness study (Fried test), using irradiated laboratory and wild males at a ratio of 3:1 was conducted to assess the ability of irradiated males to reduce the egg hatch rates of a wild population. The overall competitiveness was found to be ca. 0.32, suggesting a reduced, but satisfactory, quality of irradiated laboratory as compared with wild males. Based on the above findings, we calculated and proposed effective male release ratios for field application of SIT against D. ciliatus .