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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 #204699
Title: Quality Management Systems for the Fruit Fly Sterile Insect Technique

Author
item CACERES, CARLOS - IAEA
item McInnis, Donald
item SHELLY, TODD - USDA-APHIS
item Jang, Eric
item ROBINSON, A - IAEA
item HENDRICHS, J - IAEA

Submitted to: Florida Entomologist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/30/2006
Publication Date: 3/1/2007
Citation: Caceres, C., Mcinnis, D.O., Shelly, T., Jang, E.B., Robinson, A., Hendrichs, J. 2007. Quality Management Systems for the Fruit Fly Sterile Insect Technique. Florida Entomologist. 90(1):1-9.

Interpretive Summary: The papers presented in this issue are focused on developing and validating procedures to improve the overall quality of sterile fruit flies for use in area-wide integrated pest management programs with a sterile insect technique (SIT) component. Participants in the CRP from 16 countries came from both basic and applied fields of expertise to ensure that appropriate and relevant procedures were developed. A variety of studies was undertaken to develop protocols to assess strain compatibility and to improve colonization procedures and strain management. The main objective was to increase the efficiency of operational fruit fly programs using sterile insects and to reduce their cost by improving performance or efficiency in insect nutrition, irradiation protocols, field dispersal and survival, and enhancing sterile male mating competitiveness.

Technical Abstract: Participants in the CRP from 16 countries came from both basic and applied fields of expertise to ensure that appropriate and relevant procedures were developed. A variety of studies was undertaken to develop protocols to assess strain compatibility and to improve colonization procedures and strain management. Specific studies addressed issues related to insect nutrition, irradiation protocols, field dispersal and survival, field cage behavior assessments, and enhancement of mating competitiveness. The main objective was to increase the efficiency of operational fruit fly programs using sterile insects and to reduce their cost. Many of the protocols developed or improved during the CRP will be incorporated into the international quality control manual for sterile tephritid fruit flies, standardizing key components of the production, sterilization, shipment, handling, and release of sterile insects.