Journal of Economic Entomology (2020) 113, 2163-2170

Yair Contreras-Navarro, Diana Pérez-Staples, Dina Orozco-Dávila and Francisco Díaz-Fleischer (2020)
Pre- and post-copulatory competitiveness of the genetic sexing strain Tapachula-7 of Anastrepha ludens (Diptera: Tephritidae)
Journal of Economic Entomology 113 (5), 2163-2170
Abstract: Anastrepha ludens (Loew) (Diptera: Tephritidae) is an endemic pest of Mexico, attacking several fruits of economic importance. The Sterile Insect Technique (SIT), consisting of mass-rearing, irradiation and release of adults, is used to control this pest in affected areas. Currently, a genetic sexing strain (Tapachula 7, Tap-7) consisting only of A. ludens males is being released, yet we lack information on its sexual performance at the early ages when they are released and on its post copulatory behavior in terms of sperm transfer and mating inhibition. Here, sexual competitiveness at young ages and ability to inhibit female re-mating was compared between sterile Tap-7, Standard Bisexual (SB), or wild males both in laboratory and field cage conditions. Sperm stored by females mating with wild, Tap-7, or SB strain males was also compared. Six-day-old sterile Tap-7 males had low mating rates, however, by 7 d of age 80% of males had mated. Tap-7 males were just as likely as wild males to inhibit wild female re-mating. In field cages, sterile Tap-7 males mated faster than wild and sterile males from the SB strain and had comparable mating success to wild males. Females mated to sterile Tap-7 males stored more sperm than those mated to sterile SB males. Females mated to wild males stored more sperm than females mated to any other type of male. Mass-rearing had a greater effect on decreasing sperm stored by females than irradiation. We recommend continuing the release of the GSS strain of A. ludens.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Diana Perez-Staples, Francisco Diaz-Fleischer

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
control - general
rearing/culturing/mass production

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Anastrepha ludens		Mexico