Effect of the sterilizing dose of gamma irradiation on mating performance and female re-mating of mediterranean fruit fly, ceratitis capitata (wied)‎

Abstract EN

The population suppression success of Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wied.) using sterile insect technique (SIT) depends mainly upon the ability of sterilized males to locate and mate with wild females.

The efficiency of the SIT also depends upon the relative frequencies of re-mating by wild females following first mating with sterilized or wild males.

A semi field cage test was conducted to study the effect of three different sterilizing doses of gamma irradiation on the male mating performance.

No significant differences were found in the ability of mating, the mating duration and mating site between the un-irradiated males and irradiated ones with the doses (80, 90 and 100 Gy) The irradiated males with the dose 80 Gy revealed mating ability higher than the irradiated males with the other doses (90 and 100 Gy) although un-irradiated males had a general higher ability than irradiated ones.