Biological Basis of the Sterile Insect Technique

• Published in: Sterile Insect Technique pp. 113 - 142
• Main Authors: Lance, D. R., McInnis, D. O.
• Format: Book Chapter
• Language: English; Japanese
• Published: Routledge 05.01.2021
• Edition: 2
• Subjects: Pest Population; Sterile Insects; Sterile Insect Releases; False Codling Moth; Codling Moth; CI; Mediterranean Fruit Flies Ceratitis Capitata; Fly Emergence; Pest Biology; World Screwworm; Late Stage Pupae; Wild Males; Germ Cell Differentiation Gene; Sterile Males; Boll Weevil; Isolated Infestation; Wild Females; Mexican Fruit Fly; Wild Insects; Mediterranean Fruit Fly; Accessory Gland Protein; Sit
• ISBN: 9780367474348; 9780367762261; 0367474344; 0367762269
• DOI: 10.1201/9781003035572-4

In principle, the sterile insect technique (SIT) is applicable to controlling a wide variety of sexually reproducing insect pests, but biological factors, interacting with socio-economic and political forces, restrict its practical use to a narrower set of pest species and situations. This chapter reviews how the biology and ecology of a given pest affect the feasibility and logistics of developing and using the SIT against that pest insect. The subjects of pest abundance, distribution, and population dynamics are discussed in relation to producing and delivering sufficient sterile insects to control target populations. Pest movement and distribution are considered as factors that influence the feasibility and design of SIT projects, including the need for population- or area-wide management approaches. Biological characteristics, that affect the ability of sterile insects to interact with wild populations, are presented, including the nature of mating systems of pests, behavioural and physiological consequences of mass production and sterilization, and mechanisms that males use to block a female’s acquisition and/or use of sperm from other males. An adequate knowledge of the biology of the pest species and potential target populations is needed, both for making sound decisions on the suitability of integrating the SIT into an area-wide integrated pest management (AW-IPM) programme, and on the efficiency and effectiveness of applying the technique. This chapter reviews the biology and ecology of a given pest affect the feasibility and logistics of developing and using the sterile insect technique (SIT) against that pest insect. Although economic and political considerations may drive decisions on when and where the technique is developed and deployed, these biological issues ultimately determine both the logistical feasibility and economics of whether the SIT can contribute to the suppression of a given pest population. In principle, the SIT is applicable to controlling a wide variety of sexually reproducing insect pests, but biological factors, interacting with socio-economic and political forces, restrict its practical use to a narrower set of pest species and situations. The successful application of the SIT requires: the ability to rear, sterilize, and distribute the number of insects that will achieve a sufficiently high cc overflooding” ratio in the field, and that the sterile males can successfully compete and mate with their wild counterparts.