Project Number: 6615-22430-001-06
Project Type: Reimbursable

Start Date: Jun 01, 2002
End Date: Sep 30, 2004

Objective:
Improve efficacy of the sterile insect technique (SIT) method for control of Mediterranean and other Tephritid fruit flies by developing and incorporating hormone supplement thearpy techniques, using juvenile hormone mimics, into mass rearing protocols used to produce sterile flies. We have documented that these therapeutic techniques accelerate development of reproductive competence and sexual signaling in the Caribbean, Mexican and Mediterranean fruit flies.

Approach:
Will develop a hormone application method to mass rear using the Caribbean Fruit Fly as a model. Preliminary work indicates tha tincorporating hormone into food sources fed to adults after eclosion is the most facile method of hormone delivery. Will develop an application method on a small sacle (500-1000 flies). Subsets from these flies are being subjected to quality control (QC) assessments using laboratory bioassays to determine mating age, if hormone treated males are effective in mating two or more times and if virgin females choose mated hormone treated males are effective in mating two or more times and if virgin females choose mated hormone treated males over virgin untreated males. Will apply the method to rearing of Mediterranean and Mexican Fruit Flies at APHIS rearing facilities in Tapachula, Mexico and El Pino, Guatemala and Mission, Texas.

Project Team

Teal, Peter - Peter

Project Annual Reports

FY 2003

Related National Programs

Crop Protection & Quarantine (304)