Phytoparasitica (2001) 29, 78-79

R. Kaspi and B. Yuval (2001)
Improvement of copulatory success of sterile male Mediterranean fruit flies by protein feeding
Phytoparasitica 29 (1), 78-79
18th Conference of the Entomological Society of Israel, May 18, 2000, Bet Dagan, Israel, lecture
Abstract: Control management based on the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) is employed successfully in Israel and around the world. The efficiency of these programs depends largely on the sterile male's mating success within leks in the field. In the present study, we examined how the adult males' (TSL strain) diet and size affect their mating success in field cages, and how this diet affects their mating success and survival after 24 h of starvation. Males that were fed a mixture of sucrose and protein hydrolysate (2:1) were more likely to emit pheromone (calling) in the lek, and copulate, than males fed on sugar only. Moreover, larger males were more likely to be chosen by females as mates than smaller males. Sterile males who had access to water and apples following 4 days of feeding on protein and/or sugar were significantly more likely to copulate than starved competitors who had access to water alone. In addition, after 24 h of starvation, males that were fed on a mixture of protein and sugar for 4 consecutive days suffered a higher mortality rate than males fed on sugar for 4 days. This result becomes insignificant when protein is separated from sucrose, and the males are given the opportunity to regulate adequately the amount of protein that they require. We concluded that a well calculated addition of protein to the sterile flies' sugar-based diet may improve their mating success and, consequently, increase the efficiency of control programs based on the release of sterile males.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): Boaz Yuval

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

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Ceratitis capitata