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Sterilization of melon flies: mating competitiveness after treatment with tepa or gamma irradiation and ratios of treated to untreated flies producing population suppression. [Dacus cucurbitae]

Journal Article · · J. Environ. Sci. Health, Part A; (United States)

Male melon flies, Dacus cucurbitae Coquillett, treated with a single dose of the chemosterilant tepa (tris(l-aziridinyl) phosphine oxide), or with gamma irradiation, either single or fractionated doses, did not differ significantly in sexual competitiveness as determined by percentage hatch of eggs. Mating competitiveness of males treated by either method ranged from 53 to 66 percent of that of untreated males. In another study, melon flies (males and females) sterilized with 0.0125 percent tepa, the threshold dose for both sexes, completely suppressed a population when the ratio was 16:16:1:1 (sterile males-sterile females-untreated males-untreated females) as determined by no egg hatch.

Research Organization:
Hawaiian Fruit Flies Lab., Honolulu, HI
OSTI ID:
7340441
Journal Information:
J. Environ. Sci. Health, Part A; (United States), Journal Name: J. Environ. Sci. Health, Part A; (United States) Vol. A11:1; ISSN JESED
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English