Growing with growers since 1946
  • November 2012 Issue
  • Story by Richard Lehnert
  • B.C.’s Sterile Insect Release program evolves

    Sterile insect release and mating disruption are being compared in British Columbia.

    [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”] In sterile insect release, male insects made sterile by exposure to gamma radiation are released in huge numbers to compete with normal wild males. When the sterile males win the mating game, females lay infertile eggs. In mating disruption, female sex hormones are released in such volume that males can’t find females hidden in the overwhelming flood of perfume, so females go unmated and can’t lay fertile eggs. In both cases, reproduction is disrupted as infertile […]

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