Project Number: 6615-22430-001-08
Project Type: Reimbursable

Start Date: Nov 01, 2002
End Date: Oct 31, 2005

Objective:
To develop methods to incorporate hormone supplement therapy, using juvenile hormone analogs, and an improved diet for adults into mass rearing of sterile males of the Mexican Fruit fly and to prove that the technology improves mating performance of sterile males and increases efficacy of the sterile insect technique (SIT) used to control the Mexican Fruit fly.

Approach:
We will incorporate analogs of insect juvenile hormone into an optimized adult diet developed by us which contains 5% protein. The diet will be fed to groups of sterilized adult male Mexican Fruit flies. Other males will be fed the regular adult diet containing not protein or hormone. Comparisons of sexual communication (chemical analysis pheromone release by males, attraction of females to pheromone released by males), mating efficacy and age at which insects become sexually mature will be conducted by testing males fed either of the above diets. These studies will entail the use of 1000-2000 males and will be conducted in collaboration with the APHIS Mexican Fruit fly rearing facility in Mission Texas. Protocols for delivering the dietary hormone and protein supplements will be optimized for cost effect and increased mating efficacy by working directly with factory managers. The delivery technology will then be transferred to rearing facilities for incorporation into SIT programs.

Project Team

Teal, Peter - Peter

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Crop Protection & Quarantine (304)