Location: Commodity Protection and Quality Research
Project Number: 2034-43000-043-019-I
Project Type: Interagency Reimbursable Agreement
Start Date: Jun 1, 2020
End Date: May 31, 2021
Objective:
The goal of this project is to identify the most important factor(s) limiting performance of sterile NOW and develop and evaluate alternative methods to produce, transport and release sterile moths that maximize field performance. Based on findings from Year 1, project objectives in Year 2 are to: (1) Evaluate the effects of storage, handling and transportation on moth quality; (2) Evaluate moth quality, distribution and competitive ability following aerial release into orchards; (3) Quantify effective sterile:wild overflooding ratios; and (4) Develop mark-recapture methods for NOW. Objectives are incremental, build off each other, and are in some cases contingent upon completion of prior objectives. For instance, Objective 3 is not possible to explore until moth performance has been adequately improved and verified per Objectives 1 and 2.
Approach:
Objective 1 (effects of storage, handling, and transportation of moths) will be investigated using wind tunnel, flight mill, and flight cylinder assays. Objective 2 (moth quality, distribution, and competitive ability) will be examined using field mark-release-recapture methods. Objective 3 (quantify effective sterile:wild overflooding ratio) will not be addressed in the current year. Objective 4 (improve mark-release-recapture methods) will be examined by using fluorescent powders of various colors and quantities along with the currently-used internal dye to determine fluorescent marking techniques that might increase the information obtained in an individual experiment. We will also address Objective 4 by examining whether the fatty acid profile method currently used to distinguish NOW that developed as larvae in walnuts or almonds can also reliably distinguish between the mass rearing diet vs. almonds and/or pistachios.
