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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Gainesville, Florida » Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology » Chemistry Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #225126
Title: Review of development of hormone therapy and protein supplements in improving efficacy of SIT for tephritid fruit flies.

Author
item Teal, Peter
item CARDOSO-PEREIRA, RUI - IAEA
item SEGURA, DIEGO - IAEA
item HAQ, IHSAN - IAEA
item WORNOAYPORN, VIWAT - IAEA
item ROBINSON, ALAN - IAEA
item HENDRICHS, JORGE - IAEA

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/1/2008
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: We have been studying the physiological mechanisms responsible for coordination of reproductive maturity and sex pheromone communication in males of tephritid flies in order to develop methods for acceleration of reproductive maturity among sterilized males. We have discovered that the juvenile hormone mimic methoprene can accelerate the rate of sexual maturity in some but not all speices. Additionally, we have determined that incorporation of protein into the diet fed to sterile adults has an important role in to improvement of sexual performance in all species. These results have led to development of a novel strategy to accelerate reproductive development of laboratory reared sterile flies by incorporating methoprene supplement therapy and protein diets for use in mass rearing protocols. This paper discusses benefits and drawbacks for each of the systems for a number of economically important Tephritid flies.