Development and improvement of rearing techniques for fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) of economic importance. (19th August 2014) - Cáceres, Carlos
Abstract : The papers presented in this special issue are focused on developing and validating procedures for artificial rearing of selected fruit fly species of economic importance for use in area-wide integrated pest programmes with a sterile insect technique (SIT) component. They are the result of a 5-year coordinated research project (CRP) on 'Development and Improvement of Rearing Techniques for Anastrepha and Bactrocera Fruit Flies' that was coordinated by the Joint FAO/IAEA Programme of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture. Twenty-two CRP participants from 18 countries worked on both basic and advanced rearing procedures of different fruit fly species to overcome technical bottlenecks and to develop appropriate and relevant procedures for use in mass-rearing facilities. A variety of studies were undertaken for three groups of tephritid species: (1) those for which mass-rearing for SIT application was available, but further refinement would be useful; (2) those for which mass-rearing for SIT application was under development in the laboratory, but that had not reached mass-rearing status; and (3) those for which research to develop colonization and rearing methods was needed. Many of the protocols developed or improved during the CRP have been transferred to the different fruit fly mass-rearing facilities worldwide.