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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Hilo, Hawaii » Daniel K. Inouye U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center » Tropical Crop and Commodity Protection Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #183221

Title: DEVELOPMENT AND FIELD RELEASE OF GENETIC SEXING STRAINS OF THE MELON FLY, BACTROCERA CUCURBITAE, AND ORIENTAL FRUIT FLY, B. DORSALIS, IN HAWAII

Author
item McInnis, Donald
item Tam, Steven
item LEBLANC, L - APHIS
item Komatsu, Jason
item Lim, Ron
item MAU, R - APHIS

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/15/2005
Publication Date: 2/16/2005
Citation: Mcinnis, D.O., Tam, S.Y., Leblanc, L., Komatsu, J., Lim, R.R., Mau, R. 2005. Development and field release of genetic sexing strains of the melon fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae, and oriental fruit fly, B. dorsalis, in Hawaii. Oral presentation at the Pacific Entomology Conference, Honolulu, Hawaii, February, 2005. Abstract.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Research on the melon fly and oriental fruit fly continued in the areas of aromatherapy and gengenetic sexing. However, results have, unfortunately, shown no effect on adult mating perperformance after larval exposure to methyl eugenol in their diet. Melon fly studies continued with the the pupal color sexing strain, now over 3 years old. Quality control studies indicated that the strain mamass-rears adequately, and is very competitive with wild flies based on field cage studies of mating abiability and survival. Open field studies were conducted between 2002-2004 on 3 Hawaiian islands in in increasingly larger test areas and with increasing numbers of sterile males released (up to 1,51,500,000/wk) . Results indicated that the sexing strain significantly impacted the wild population, caucausing high induced sterility above 75% in both residential and commercial areas vegetable grogrowing areas of Hawaii. Currently, we are switching from mass-rearing the melon fly to the orioriental fruit fly sexing strain, and releasing the latter in citrus orchards on Oahu, HI, to assess the the field fitness of the strain.