Mating competitiveness of irradiated Anastrepha ludens
In Texas, US, laboratory and field cage experiments were carried out to compare the mating competitiveness of irradiated and unirradiated Anastrepha ludens (EPPO A1 quarantine pest). Two laboratory colonies of the pest were divided into irradiated and unirradiated groups and then tested in competition against feral A. ludens. It was found that the unirradiated flies were very competitive with the feral flies. Irradiated males were only one fifth to one third as successful in mating as the feral flies and produced only 65% as much pheromone as unirradiated flies.
Sources
Moreno, D.S.; Sanchez, M.; Robacker, D.C.; Worley, J. (1991) Mating competitiveness of irridiated Mexican fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae). ;
Journal of Economic Entomology 84, 1227-1234.