Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Gamma irradiation of the melon fly: laboratory studies of the sterility and sexual competitiveness of treated adults

Journal Article · · Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am.; (United States)

Five-day-old male melon flies, Dacus cucurbitae Coquillett, treated by gamma irradiation in ambient atmosphere were ca. 99.8 percent sterilized by a dose of 15 krad. The dose required to sterilize 5-day-old females was between 12 and 15 krad. Males treated with a dose of 15 krad did not recover fertility, but males treated with lower doses (from 4-12 krad) did lose sterility. The sexual competitiveness of melon fly males irradiated with 15 krad as 5-day-old adults was ca. /sup 1///sub 2/ that of males sterilized as 2-day-old adults with 8 krad or as pupae 2 days before eclosion with 6 krad. Thus, in a melon fly sterile-release program, no advantage is gained by irradiating flies in the adult stage.

Research Organization:
Hawaiian Fruit Flies Lab., Honolulu
OSTI ID:
7323797
Journal Information:
Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am.; (United States), Journal Name: Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am.; (United States) Vol. 69:4; ISSN AESAA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English