Suppression of Ceratitis capitata populations
The concurrent release of sterile Mediterranean fruit flies and the braconid larval parasitoid Diachasmimorpha tryoni was investigated on Maui, Hawaii (US) as a means to suppress a wild Ceratitis capitata (EPPO A2 pest) population in a certain area of the island.
Three million irradiated Medflies were released per week on a 13 kmý area at a ratio of 76 sterile to one wild fly. Additionally, 388.000 parasitoids were released every week. The statistical comparison with a control area showed that the concurrent release of sterile flies and parasitoids caused a significantly lower egg hatching of the fruit flies, a significantly higher parasitism of the fruit flies in fruit samples and a significantly lower mean recovery rate of C. capitata per kilogram fruit.
The authors suggest that the concurrent release of sterile Mediterranean fruit flies and the parasitoid D. tryoni could represent a valuable approach for the eradication of established C. capitata populations.
Sources
Wong, T.T.Y.; Ramadan, M.M.; Herr, J.C.; McInnis, D.O. (1992) Suppression of a Mediterranean fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) population with concurrent parasitoid and sterile fly releases in Kula, Maui, Hawaii.
Journal of Economic Entomology 85, 1671-1681.