Scientific publications
Adly M. M. Abd‐Alla
Other affiliations: FAO/IAEA Agriculture and Biotechnology Laboratories
Anne Geiger
Other affiliations: Université de Montpellier · Institut de Recherche pour le Développement
David S. Haymer
Salvador Herrero
Anders Anders Johannes
Fathiya M. Khamis
Other affiliations: University of Pretoria
Pablo Liedo
Anna R. Malacrida
Thiago Mastrangelo
Soumaïla Pagabeleguem
Other affiliations: Ministère de l'Agriculture · Université de Dédougou
Edwin Ramírez-Santos
Vera I. D. Ros
Diego F. Segura
Other affiliations: Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
George Tsiamis
Brian L. Weiss
Insect Science
Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) applications against major insect pests and disease vectors rely on the cost-effective production of high-quality sterile males. This largely depends on the optimal management of target pest colonies by maximizing the benefits provided by a genetically rich and pathogen-free mother colony, the presence of symbiotic microorganisms, and efficient domestication, mass-rearing, irradiation, and release processes. At the same time microbial (bacteria, fungi, microsporidia, and viruses) pathogen outbreaks should be minimized or eliminated, and the use of hazardous chemicals restricted. The optimization of the colony management strategies for different SIT target insects will ensure a standardized high-quality mass-rearing process and the cost-effective production of sterile males with enhanced field performance and male mating competitiveness. The aims of the Coordinated Research Project (CRP) were to develop best practices for insect colony management for the cost-effective production of high-quality sterile males for SIT applications against major insect pests and disease vectors through a multidisciplinary approach involving entomologists, geneticists, ecologists, microbiologists, pathologists, virologists, and mass-rearing experts.
