Artificial Intelligence Performs Key Step in Fruit Fly Management
Determining the precise age of mass-reared fruit flies is a critical step in managing them in the wild via the sterile insect technique. Researchers in Mexico have applied machine-learning algorithms that can accurately measure the age of fruit fly pupae to properly time irradiation.
Why Flight Testing is an Important Step in Sterile Insect Technique
Releasing millions of sterile insects to interfere with a wild pest population won't work if irradiating the insects also hinders their flight capacity. A new study shows this may be the case with navel orangeworm moths (Amyelois transitella), and further fine-tuning will be necessary to build a successful sterile insect technique operation to manage the pest.
How Science Wiped Out the Invasive Pink Bollworm in the U.S.
Collaboration and a combination of transgenic cotton and sterile insect releases helped to eradicate the invasive pink bollworm.
To Control Lekking Fruit Flies, Male Size Matters (Except When it Doesn’t)
A study of two significant pest fruit fly species finds that the size of males influences female mating choice in one of the species, but not in the other—important knowledge for fine-tuning management efforts for both species via the sterile insect technique.