Mating Efficiencies of Variable-sex-ratio, Sterilized Populations of the Mediterranean Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) in the Laboratory

Author: McINNIS D. O.   McDONALD P. T.   TAM S. Y. T.  

Publisher: Entomological Society of America

ISSN: 1938-2901

Source: Annals of the Entomological Society of America, Vol.78, Iss.6, 1985-11, pp. : 831-835

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Abstract

Variable-sex-ratio, sterilized populations of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), were evaluated in the laboratory to assess their abilities to suppress a standard population of nonirradiated flies (20 males and 20 females). New competitiveness formulas were devised that include terms for fecundity and fertility of nonirradiated females in bisexual (mixed males and females) or unisexual (males-only and females- only) sterile fly populations. A separate competitiveness formula for sterile females indicated that these had 2–4% of the efficiency of sterile males. Average fly competitiveness ranged from 0.006 ± 0.001 (females only at a ratio of 9 sterile :1 normal) to 0.58 ± 0.10 (males only at an 18:1 ratio). Implications of potential female effects and various field-release strategies are discussed.

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