Pest Control Newsletter No. 62 January 2004 Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture and FAO/IAEA Agriculture and Bio- http://www.iaea.org/programmes/nafa/d4 ISSN 1011-274X technology Laboratory, Seibersdorf http://www.fao.org/WAICENT/Agricul.htm

Contents

A. To the Reader 2 B. Staff 4 C. Forthcoming Events 6 D. Past Events (in 2003) 8 E. Technical Co-operation Projects 10 F. Reporting on Ongoing and Planned Co-ordinated Research Projects (CRPS) and RCMS 17 G. Developments at the Entomology Unit Seibersdorf 34 Damage to the Opuntia cactus by the Cactus (), an exotic inva- H. Special News and Reports 40 sive insect pest species. Inset: C. cactorum laying an egg stick. I. Announcements 48 J. Publications 53 A. To the Reader

The year 2003 has again been a very intense period for all of us working at the Insect Pest Control Sub-programme of the Joint FAO/IAEA Agriculture Programme. As you can see from the content of this newsletter, there are many interesting things to report in terms R&D, normative activities, and the application of area-wide control and SIT. I would like to highlight a number of normative activities in which we are increas- ingly involved. One that stands out during 2003 is the recent publication of “Trap- ping Guidelines for Area-wide Fruit Programmes,” which responds to the request by Member States to harmonize internationally trapping procedures for Tephritid fruit fl ies of economic importance. These pest have a major impact on the international trade of fresh fruits and vegetables, and the guidelines provide strategic guidance and direction to NPPOs, RPPOs and industry on where and how to imple- ment fruit fl y surveys. Using these guidelines in the implementation of surveys will support FAO and IAEA Member States in obtaining international recognition of

their fruit fly control and quarantine activities. Other normative activities, which continue to expand, are DIR-SIT, the international directory of SIT facilities and food irradiation facilities and IDIDAS, the international database on insect disinfestations and sterilization http://www- ididas.iaea.org/IDIDAS/start.htm The number of users interacting each month with these web-based information sources is very significant and they have recently been nominated to compete for the annual FAO Agriculture Department prize in the category of databases and information networks. IDIDAS was also included as a reference in the recently approved IPPC standard on food irradiation (International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 18, FAO. 2003).

A new project is a world-directory of fruit fly workers. A tremendous amount of information is made available each year on Tephritid fruit : new technologies developed, new information on their biology and ecology; new control methods made available, new species identified, new outbreaks recorded and new operational control programmes launched. This site will attempt to collate this information and allow Tephritid fruit fly workers worldwide to keep up-to-date on the most recent developments.

The database will include powerful search engines and will be available on the Internet. Registration is possible electronically through the web site (www.tephritid.org). In order to launch this service, your contribution is needed and we greatly appreciate if you could share this information with colleagues you know work in the fruit fly field. With your help, we are convinced that this database will quickly become an essential tool for Tephritid fruit fly workers worldwide.

Another activity has been the development of more scientific methods for determining when an area achieves a pest-free status. A consultants meeting focused on this topic and a generic procedure has been developed for declaring an area to be “pest-free” following an eradication campaign against an insect pest. This involves a probability model to deal with null trapping results and also a growth model to help verify that pest specimen were not present when control was stopped. Two probability models are developed for a situation in which trapping is proceeding for an insect pest and in which the trapping results are all negative. The models calculate the probability of such negative results if in fact there were insects present. If this probability is sufficiently low, then the hypothesis that insects are present is rejected. The model depends on knowledge of the efficiency of the traps and also the area of attractiveness of the traps. The question is considered of a rebound of an incipient but non- detectable population remaining after control measures are discontinued. Using a growth model, the rate of increase of an insect population starting from one or two insects is examined. In addition, for insects that vector disease, it is suggested that the progress of the vectored disease be monitored to detect continued transmission; this would best be done in conjunction with a disease transmission model.

Other normative and promotional activities under development include guidelines for the design and equipping of fruit fly mass rearing facilities, a book and video on the cactus moth, Cactoblastis cactorum, various standard operational procedure manuals, and the first textbook on the SIT. This last one is a major project, under development for some years, that does not review SIT projects, but rather addresses all SIT components in a generic way. The draft will be completed in 2004 for publication in collaboration with Kluwer.

Moving on to R&D activities, the six-year Coordinated Research Project (CRP) “Genetics Application to Improve the SIT for Tsetse Control/Eradication“ was concluded and the results will be published as a collection of articles in the Journal Genome. Knowledge of tsetse fly genetics has increased dramatically in these past six years. Three major impacts can be identified: (a) the development of

2 genetic tools for studying tsetse flies; (b) the development of tsetse as a model system for studies on insect immunity, and (c) the finding that tsetse populations show an unexpectedly high degree of genetic differentiation. All impacts are noteworthy from a purely scientific point of view, and each has profound consequences for the successful application of the SIT.

We have also had a successful start of the CRP on “Improved and Harmonized Quality Control for Expanded Tsetse Production, Sterilization and Field Application” with thirteen scientists from ten countries participating. During the 1st RCM held in Montpellier, France, participants agreed to focus research during the next six years of this CRP on three major areas of quality control related to a) tsetse diet, b) tsetse rearing, and c) tsetse behaviour.

I would like to call your attention to a new Coordinate Research Project (CRP) on “Improving Sterile Male Performance in Fruit Fly SIT Programmes” that was recommended by a Consultants Meeting and has now been approved for the period (2004-2009). Recent research involving hormonal, nutritional and semiochemical manipulation of emerged sterile flies, to be applied at the emergence / release facilities, has identified significant opportunities to increase sterile male performance to ultimately reduce the cost and increase the effectiveness of SIT programmes. We are encouraging relevant applications for this new CRP. The selection of contract and agreement holders will be based on a good balance between fruit fly action programme staff and scientists conducting basic research in physiology, chemical ecology, microbiology and behaviour.

On behalf of all of us at the Subprogramme, I would like to thank all those of you who are collaborating with us in one way or another for your support and hard work. We look forward to another fruitful year and wish you a very successful 2004.

Jorge Hendrichs Head, Insect Pest Control Section

3

B. STAFF

The Subprogramme staff, consisting of those in the Joint FAO/IAEA Division located in the Vienna International Centre, those in the FAO/IAEA Agricultural and Biotechnology Laboratory in Seibersdorf Laboratory and field experts, are listed below.

Insect Pest Control Section, Joint FAO/IAEA Division P.O. Box 100, A-1400 Vienna, Austria (Tel = +43-1-2600-21628 Fax = +43-1-26007-21632

Jorge Hendrichs Section Head e-mail: [email protected] Udo Feldmann Technical Officer (Tsetse/Screwworm) e-mail: [email protected] Walther Enkerlin Technical Officer (Fruit Flies) e-mail: [email protected] Jean Pierre Cayol Technical Officer (Fruit Flies) e-mail: [email protected] Arnold Dyck Interregional Officer e-mail: [email protected] Marc Vreysen Technical Officer (Tsetse/Screwworm) e-mail: [email protected] Abdeljelil Bakri Data bases/IDIDAS e-mail: [email protected] Marta De Coronado Senior Secretary e-mail: [email protected] Magali Evrard Secretary e-mail: [email protected]

Entomology Unit, FAO/IAEA Agriculture and Biotechnology Laboratory, A-2444 Seibersdorf, Austria (Tel: +43-1-2600 28402; Fax: +43-1-26007 28274) Alan Robinson Unit Head e-mail: [email protected] Gerald Franz Genetics and Molecular Biology e-mail: [email protected] Andrew Parker Tsetse Rearing Technology e-mail: [email protected] Carlos Caceres Fruit Fly Rearing Technology e-mail: [email protected] Gratian Mutika Tsetse Quality Control e-mail: [email protected] Mark Benedict e-mail: [email protected] Mosquito Genetics

4 Herve Bossin Tsetse Virologist/Mosquito genetics e-mail: [email protected] Raimundo Braga Sobrinho Anastrepha Rearing e-mail: [email protected] Bart Knols Mosquito Rearing e-mail: [email protected] Lucia Kruzic Secretary e-mail: [email protected]

Field experts:

James Novy JAM/5/007 Eradication of the New World e-mail: Screwworm, Jamaica [email protected]

John Kabayo RAF/5/051 SIT for Tsetse and e-mail: [email protected] Trypanosomosis Management in Africa

Jesús Reyes RLA/5/045 Establishing Pilot Fruit Fly-Free e-mail: [email protected] and Low Prevalence Areas in Central America and Panama

5

C. FORTHCOMING EVENTS

I. Research Co-ordination Meetings (RCMs)

1. New CRP on “Molecular Fruit Flies of Economic Technologies to Improve The Importance), 11-15 May 2004, Fort Effectiveness of SIT” 19-23 Lauderdale, Florida, USA. 3rd January 2004, Vienna, Austria. 1st RCM. RCM. 4. “Quality assurance of mass 2. “Improvement of codling moth SIT produced and released fruit flies” to facilitate expansion of field 18-22 October 2004, Metapa de application” 8-12 March 2004, Dominguez, Chiapas, . Stellenbosch, South Africa. 2nd Final RCM. RCM. 5. New CRP on “Improving sterile 3. “Development of improved male performance in fruit fly SIT attractants and their integration into programmes” 25-29 October 2004, fruit fly SIT management Guatemala City, Guatemala. 1st programmes” (in conjunction with RCM. Western Hemisphere Meeting on

II. Consultants and Other Planning Meetings

1. Workshop on “Technical and 4. “Guidelines for emergence, Environmental Feasibility of packing and release of sterile flies Sequential Aerosol Treatment for used in areawide suppression/ Tsetse Suppression” 1-5 March eradication programmes” 11-15 2004, Vienna, Austria. May 2004, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA. 2. “Radiation biology studies to optimize sterilization procedures 5. “Generic design and technical in SIT Programmes” 19-23 April guidelines for the location of tsetse 2004, Vienna, Austria. mass rearing facilities” 14-18 June 2004, Vienna, Austria. 3. CRP on “Mass production and pre-release biology of Anopheles arabiensis” 22-27 March 2004, Vienna, Austria. III. Other Meetings/Events

1. Workshop on “Integration of SIT and 2. Fifth Meeting of the National Other Environment Friendly Methods Coordinators of medfly SIT for the Management of Key Citrus projects in the Near East, 18-19 Insect Pests” 17 February 2004, February 2004, Agadir, Agadir, Morocco, in conjunction with Morocco. the 10th International Citrus Congress (15-20 February 2004).

6 3. Regional Workshop on “Using the Male 6. FAO/IAEA Interregional Annihilation Technique to Control Training Course on “The Use of Tephritid Fruit Flies” Reduit, Mauritius, the Sterile Insect and Related February 2004. Techniques for the Integrated Areawide Management of Insect

Pests” 4 May - 8 June 2004, 4. Fifth Meeting of the Working Group University of Florida, Gainesville, on Fruit Flies of the Western Florida, USA. Hemisphere, 16-21 May 2004, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

5. Workshop on “Areawide Application of the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT)” will be held in conjunction with the 15th International Plant Protection Congress in Beijing, China (11-16 May 2004).

7 D. PAST EVENTS (in 2003)

I. Research Co-ordination Meetings (RCMs)

1. “Application of genetics to improve Reared ), 15-19 the SIT for tsetse” 23-27 June September 2003, Montpellier, 2003, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. France. 1st RCM. 4th and final RCM. 4. “Enabling technologies for the 2. “Quality assurance of mass expansion of SIT for old and new produced and released fruit flies” world screwworm” 22-26 19-23 May 2003, Perth, Australia. September 2003, Kluang, . 3rd RCM. 2nd RCM.

3. “Improved and harmonized quality 5. “Use of nuclear techniques for the control for expanded tsetse colonization and production of production, sterilization and field natural enemies” 3-7 November application” (in conjunction with 2003, Vienna, Austria. 3rd RCM. IOBC meeting on QA of Mass

II. Consultants and Other Planning Meetings

1. Third semi-annual meeting of the control of Tephritid fruit flies in the USAID-MERC Management Near East, using the Sterile Insect Committee for the SIT projects in Technique, 26-29 May 2003, the Near East” 3-4 February 2003, Vienna, Austria. Vienna, Austria. 6. Meeting on technical and 2. Third coordination meeting on the management issues of the TC tsetse Central America Fruit Fly Regional project MLI/5/017 “Integrated Project RLA5045, Guatemala City, Control of Trypanoso- 29-30 April 2003. mosis Through the Creation of a Tsetse Fly Free Zone” with 3. Consultants meeting on “Codling participation from Mali, Burkina moth genetic sexing” 5-9 May Faso, PATTEC and FAO/IAEA, 2003, Vienna, Austria. 12-16 May 2003, Vienna, Austria.

4. Fourth Meeting of the National 7. Consultants meeting on “Codling Coordinators of medfly SIT moth genetic sexing” 5-9 May projects in the Near East, 20-23 2003, Vienna, Austria. May 2003, Vienna, Austria. 8. GIS and data collection strategy 5. Meeting of representatives of planning workshop for A. Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian arabiensis in Northern Sudan, Territories to define and to draft 18-20 June 2003, Vienna, Austria. regional project proposals for the

8 9. Consultants meeting on the Near East” 22-23 September “Development of guidelines for 2003, Vienna, Austria. verification of tsetse fly free areas and the Trypanosomosis Problem” 11. Consultants meeting on “Improving August 2003, Vienna, Austria. Sterile Male Performance in Fruit Fly SIT Programmes” 20-24 10. Fourth semi-annual meeting of the October 2003, Vienna, Austria. USAID-MERC Management Committee for the SIT projects in

III. Other Meetings/Events

1. Postgraduate Course On Codling Dominguez Chiapas, Mexico. Moth SIT in Neuquen, , 10-14 March 2003. Organized by 8. Tenth workshop of the IOBC The University of Comahue. global working group on “ mass rearing and 2. Fruit fly regional workshop in quality control” 21-24 September Hanoi Viet Nam, 12-14 March 2003, Montpellier, France. 2003, organized by Griffith University, Queensland, Australia. 9. Twenty seventh International Scientific Council for Trypano- 3. International Fruit Fly Workshop in somiasis Research and Control Buenos Aires Argentina, 24-26 (ISCTRC), March 2003. 29 September-3 October 2003, Pretoria, South Africa. 4. FAO Workshop on “Moving from criteria for selection of priority 10. IAEA/USDA Training Course on areas to formulation of tsetse and “Cactus moth, Cactoblastis cacto- trypanosomiasis field programme rum, Surveillance and Control” proposals: Ethiopia Southern Rift 17-21 November 2003, valley-Case Study” Rome, Italy 2-4 Tallahassee, Florida. July 2003. 11. Evaluation and planning meeting 5. FAO/IAEA Regional workshop on on “Transfer of Genetic Sexing “Tephritid Fruit Fly Identification” Mass Rearing Technologies for 4-8 August 2003, Vienna/Seibers- Mexican Fruit Fly Production” dorf, Austria. 4-5 December 2003, Metapa de Dominguez Chiapas, Mexico. 6. Twenty-fifth Anniversary of the Moscamed and Tenth Anniversary 12. USDA Cactus moth, Cactoblastis of the Moscafrut Mass Rearing and cactorum, planning meeting, Sterilization Facilities. 9-11 December 2003, Miami, 9 September 2003, Metapa de Florida. Dominguez Chiapas, Mexico. 13. Meeting of the Working Group on 7. Fifteenth International Training the ISPM 3 Revision. Course on Fruit Flies. International 9-12 December 2003, Rome, Italy. Fruit Fly Training Center, Moscamed Programme, 8-26 September, 2003, Metapa de

9

E. TECHNICAL CO-OPERATION PROJECTS (Highlights of some TCPs)

The Subprogramme has currently technical JAM/5/007 New World Screwworm responsibilities for the following technical Eradication co-operation projects that are managed by the Technical Co-operation Department. JOR/5/009 Upgrading the Area-Wide They fall under five major areas, namely: Control of the Mediterranean Fruit Fly using the Sterile Insect Technique • Tsetse KEN/5/022 Integrated Area-Wide Tsetse • Fruit flies and Trypanosomosis Management in Lambwe Valley • Old and New World Screwworm MAG/5/011 Feasibility Study of SIT- • F-1 Sterility for the Control of Based Integrated Pest Management of Lepidopteran Pests Fruit Flies

• Anopheles arabiensis mosquitoes. MAR/5/009 Control of Diamondback Moth by and Integrated Pest Management Ongoing Operational Projects are: System Including the Sterile Insect Technique ALG/5/019 Control of Date Moth Using the Sterile Insect Technique MAR/5/015 Feasibility Study For Integrated Use of the Sterile Insect BOT/5/002 Support of Tsetse Eradication Technique for Area-Wide Tephritid Fruit from Ngamiland Fly Control

BKF/5/003 Applying Sterile Insect MEX/5/027 Transfer of Genetic Sexing Technique to Create Tsetse Fly Free Zones Mass Rearing Technologies for Fruit Fly Production EGY/5/025 Area-Wide Fruit Fly Control in Eastern Egypt MEX/5/028 Prevention Against Cactus Moth in Mexico ETH/5/012 Integrating SIT for Tsetse Eradication MLI/5/017 Integrated Control of Animal Trypanosomosis Through Creation of a INT/5/145 Insect Pest Control Using the Tsetse Fly Free Zone Sterile Insect Technique PAL/5/002 Area-wide Application of SIT ISR/5/010 Upgrading the Area-Wide for Medfly Control Control of the Mediterranean Fruit Fly using the Sterile Insect Technique RAF/5/051 SIT for Tsetse and Trypanosomosis Management in Africa

RAF/5/052 SIT Development for Control of Anopheles Mosquito

10 RLA/5/045 Preparation for Pilot Fruit Fly- SAF/5/007 Expanding the Use of the Free Areas using the Sterile Insect Sterile Insect Technique against Fruit Pests Technique in Central America in the Western and Northern Cape

RLA/0172 An FAO Technical Co- THA/5/046 Area-Wide Integrated Control operation Project entitled “Establishment of Fruit Flies of Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata) free areas in Belize, Costa Rica UGA/5/024 Integrated Area-Wide Tsetse and Panama” Eradication Programme in the Lake Victoria Basin SAF/5/005 Situation Analysis of the Feasibility and Desirability of Tsetse Fly URT/5/019 Support to National Tsetse and Eradication Trypanosomosis Management.

In keeping with our policy to highlight activities in a few of our Technical Co- operation projects in each Newsletter the following projects are discussed in this issue:

Prevention Against Cactus Moth in Mexico (MEX/5/028)

The cactus moth, Cactoblastis cactorum (), once the best example of successful classical biological control of weeds (solving a major cactus problem in Australia), invaded Florida in 1989 and has been spreading along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts. C. cactorum has become a serious threat to the high diversity of Opuntia (cactus pear) species throughout the world, both native and cultivated. Its presence in the Caribbean and its rapidly expanding range in the southeastern USA, is an imminent threat to the southwestern USA, Mexico, and Central and South America and eventually to other regions of the world. Opuntia cacti are regarded as extremely important plants, especially in arid and semi-arid regions where few subsistence farmers in Central and South plants can be grown. These plants have a America, the Mediterranean, North Africa valuable role in subsistence and and in other countries. This impact would commercial agriculture, in maintaining the result in serious social and economic ecological balance of unique ecosystems, problems. and in soil conservation and combating desertification. Increasing areas with Impacts on biodiversity and ecosystems Opuntia cultivation and reliance on food where Opuntia are dominant components and income from its products, means that of the vegetation, including the center of invasion by C. cactorum has the potential Opuntia radiation, Mexico, also loom to impact large regions and thousands of large. The critical nature of this threat, and timing and scale of the likely response

11 needed, requires immediate action. Although the emphasis may initially focus on Mexico, Cuba, other Caribbean islands and the USA, this does not mean that the threat is less important in other countries. Any effective contingency/control 100 programme will need to be approached on 90 a regional or even an interregional scale. 80 70 60 In July 2002, FAO and IAEA hosted a 50 planning and co-ordination meeting 40 (including representatives of Egg Hatch % 30 environmental organizations) to raise 20 10 awareness of this major environmental 0 threat and the potential of the Sterile Insect 0 50 100 200 300 400 500 Technique (SIT), and to assess the role Gy

SIT/F1. Treat. Females Treat. Males

The Joint FAO/IAEA Division has granted a number of research contracts to research Figure 1. Effect on radiation on institutes in South Africa and the United Cactoblastis cactorum percentage egg States who are working in developing the hatch (from J. E. Carpenter, S. Bloem and basic technological package for effective K.A. Bloem. 2001. Florida Entomologist. survey and control of this pest including a pp 537-542). female pheromone for population monitoring and development of artificial In addition, Mexico presented the IAEA a diets and radiation biology which are basic one-year Reserve Fund Technical Co- elements for future use of the SIT/F1 operation Project Proposal entitled sterility. “Prevention Against Cactus Moth in Mexico” which was approved by the A relevant result from the radiation IAEA Board of Governors in December biology studies is shown in the Figure 1. 2002 for implementation in 2003. Under Showing the typical response of this project the following has been sexes to different radiation achieved: levels. It is clear that the percentage of eggs from which larvae for the parental • A group of five professionals actively generation of C. cactorum were involved in the Mexican Cactus Moth significantly affected by the gender Prevention Campaign, travelled to irradiated and by the dose of irradiation. South Africa on a scientific visit to For each gender the percentage of larval observe cactus moth damage to eclosion declined significantly as the dose Opuntia commercial crops and to get of irradiation increased. This dose effect acquainted with survey and control was greater for irradiated females than for activities applied in South Africa irradiated males. At 200 GY egg hatch was against this pest. close to zero per cent for irradiated females that mated with normal males, whereas egg • A Book Entitled “The Biology, hatch was 32% for irradiated males that History, Threats, Surveillance and mated with normal females. These Control of the Cactus Moth, findings confirm the potential to apply F1 Cactoblastis cactorum” was sterility to this pest. commissioned by IAEA and prepared

12 by Helmuth Zimmerman, Stephanie Bloem and Hildegard Klein. This book is the first in its kind and is a very significant contribution to the fight against this pest. The book will soon be Furthermore, the Mexican Government available in hard copies and on our through the Ministry of Agriculture and the webpage and will be distributed among Ministry of Environment have been active interested Member States. in preparing the infrastructure to prevent introduction and establishment of the pest • A 20 minute video in English on cactus in the country and for eradicating an moth was commissioned by IAEA as eventual introduction of the pest. A Cactus an educational tool and prepared by the Moth National Campaign has been University of Wit-watersrand, recently created by the Mexican Johannesburg, South Africa. The video Government and prevention activities in was translated into Spanish by the high-risk areas, including ports of entry Mexican Plant Protection Directorate. and locations more likely to be affected by The video illustrates the main aspect on natural spread, are underway. A Federal the biology, damage, survey and Law allowing for emergency response control of this pest. The video will activities to be enforced in case an contribute in raising the attention of outbreak occurs, has been published in the Member States where the pest has Mexican Federal Register. recently been introduced and in those that are under the threat of this pest. In the US, Government Wildlife, Plant The video will be reproduced and send Protection and Environmental Agencies to interested Member States. and NGOs are aware of the serious consequences of the pest spreading into the • A Cactoblastis cactorum training Southwest territories and are actively course was held in Tallahassee, Florida, working towards bringing together relevant from 18 to 20 of November 2003. US organizations to draw plans that will Participants included: Eight Plant allow facing this invasive species problem Protection Officials from Mexico and in a jointly and coordinated manner. one from the Dominican Republic.

• A cactus moth impact assessment study, commissioned by IAEA, is being prepared by the National Institute of Invasive Species Science, Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, Colorado State University. This study is needed to show decision makers in public and private organizations in regions/countries at risk, the potential socio-economic and environmental damage that this pest could cause, if no serious efforts are made for containing its spread along its present front of advance along the Gulf of Mexico coast.

13

Integrating SIT for Creating a Tsetse and Trypanosomosis Free Zone in the Ethiopian Southern Rift Valley (ETH/5/012)

The Ethiopian authorities made progress relatively short time (6–8 weeks), confirms with advancing the construction of the that the approach (use of insecticide modular tsetse factory at Kaliti, Addis impregnated targets and / or pour-on Ababa. It is anticipated that the construction formulations of insecticides) is not reaching of the first two rearing modules at Kaliti will the entire tsetse population, as this would be be completed early 2004 and that mass required according to the areawide concept production of G. pallidipes be started as of of integrated pest management (AW IPM). April / May 2004. As some difficulties are The technical and environmental feasibility experienced at Kaliti’s temporary insectary of complementing, prior to the initiation of with mass-rearing the Arba Minch strain of sterile male releases, the current tsetse Glossina pallidipes, the Tororo strain of the suppression activities with other methods, species, colonized at the FAO/IAEA for example sequential (aerial) application of Laboratory at Seibersdorf, remains the ultra low volume formulations of non- current best option for initiating mass persistent insecticides (sequential aerosol rearing of G. pallidipes at Kaliti. technique, SAT) needs to be explored.

The highly dedicated field teams established As the initiation of operational T&T very good cooperation with communities in intervention activities and related the Southern Rift Valley and in the Deme agricultural and livestock development basin. Doing so, they initiated tsetse and efforts in the first 10,500 km² of the STEP trypanosomosis (T&T) supression in large area will necessitate additional funding and parts of block one (approx. 10,500 km²) of support from specialised partners, STEP and the Southern Tsetse Eradication Project the international T&T community, including (STEP) area. Although the apparent FAO and IAEA, initiated efforts towards densities of tsetse in the treated areas joint international fund raising. In particular appeared to decline as a result of the control a result draft concept note was elaborated efforts, the rapid reestablishment of dense and a “road map” for a coordinated tsetse populations in some areas, where international approach of different donors. control operations were discontinued for a

Development of Fruit Fly Pilot Free Zones in Costa Rica to Establish Options for Exports of Fruits and Vegetables Under TCP RLA/5/045.

Costa Rica, as well as the rest of the Central The presence of these pests represent a American countries, are producers of a large real limiting factor to the production, variety of fruits due to its favourable exports and consumption of fruits, thus agroclimatic conditions which, unfortunately, effective control is an unavoidable also favour the establishment and spread of conditions for development of the pests such as the exotic Mediterranean fruit horticultural industry in countries where fly (Ceratitis capitata) and other endemic these pests occur. fruit fly species of the Anastrepha genus.

14 The recognition of areas of low officially declared these areas free from prevalence or free of pests, by the Mediterranean fruit fly in accordance International Plant Protection with the International Phytosanitary Convention (IPPC) of the Food and Norms. Agriculture Organization (FAO), has opened new opportunities for The Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica, commercialisation of agricultural with an extension of 5000 km2, presents commodities between countries in the agroecological conditions which, on one Central American Region and outside hand, would facilitate eradication of the the Region. Mediterranean fruit fly and, on the other, conditions are suitable for commercial In 2001, the Central American countries production of fruits and vegetables. decided to take advantage of the new Given these favourable conditions, in opportunities for commercialisation of July 2002, the government of Costa Rica horticultural products and submitted to decided to initiate an intensive survey to the International Atomic Energy Agency have a clear idea of the fruit fly (IAEA) a Regional Technical Co- phytosanitary status in the Peninsula and opration Project (TCP) Proposal for at the same time to identify locations developing fruit fly free and low with potential to be developed into prevalence areas to establish options for export oriented fruit production areas. A exports of fruits and vegetables. The year later (in August 2003), sterile proposal was approved in that year by Mediterranean fruit flies were the IAEA Board of Governors and an successfully released in the Peninsula as alliance between the Member States and a pilot demonstration trial for future regional and international plant control activities using the sterile insect protection organizations was created for technique (SIT). implementation and coordination of project activities under the umbrella of Credit: This paper appeared in the the IAEA TCP. The organizations that Official Bulletin “Actualidad form part of the alliance are: Fitosanitaria No. 12” of the States Interamerican Institute for Co-operation Phytosanitary Service of the Ministry of in Agriculture (IICA), Food and Agriculture of Costa Rica (M.A.G.) and Agriculture Organization of the United was prepared by Xenia Carro of M.A.G. Nations (FAO) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), through the Moscamed Programme.

Costa Rica, within the framework of the TCP, established in September 2001 a fruit fly survey network in the areas of Hacienda Los Inocentes and sorrounding areas and in Canton la Cruz, Guanacaste, to assess the incidence of Mediterranean fruit fly and some species of the Anastrepha genus. In July 2003, the Minister of Agriculture of Costa Rica

15 Mitochondrial Diversity Analysis of Glossina palpalis gambiensis from Mali and Senegal Study Partially Funded by Project MALI/5/017

Extract of IAEA report prepared by: mitochondrial variation was measured in 304 flies from three river drainages in E. S. Krasfur and J. G. Marquez Mali and 69 flies from Senegal. Department of Entomology Iowa State University Results showed that there was substantial gene flow among tsetse from Glossina palpalis gambiensis (Gpg) is three river systems in Mali, confirming the vector of trypanosomiasis in the lack of isolation of the various livestock in Mali and much of the West populations of Gpg. Flies probably Africa. disperse widely during the wet season or they may remain in the principle river To plan and implement an SIT systems, but following expansion after programme it is necessary to have the dry season they may disperse from baseline data on the mobility and linked refugia along seasonal streams tendency of tsetse flies to disperse. with onset of the wet season. Further Genetic analysis can be used as indirect sampling is necessary to evaluate these measures of dispersal. possibilities. Populations of Gpg were sampled in Mali and Senegal in 2002 and

16 F. REPORTING ON ONGOING AND PLANNED CO-ORDINATED RESEARCH PROJECTS (CRPs) AND RCMs

Enabling Technologies for the Expansion of SIT for Old and New World Screw- worm. 22-26 September 2003, Malaysia. 2nd RCM

The 2nd RCM of the CRP was held at the has also been made on the analysis of Institute Haiwan, Malaysia from 22 to sex pheromones and on classical 26 September 2003. The CRP has mapping of visible mutations. It was participants from Iran, Venezuela, USA, reported that the NWS research activities Brazil, UK, Indonesia, Sweden and currently being carried out at the Uruguay. Kluang was chosen because of USDA/ARS laboratory in Lincoln, the presence of an Old World Nebraska will move to Panama early in Screwworm (OWS) rearing facility that 2004. It is not clear how this will impact was constructed in collaboration with the on the implementation of NWS R&D Australian Government as part of its under the CRP. preparedness programme for OWS invasion. The facility was used to Population genetics of OWS has been produce flies for a small-scale successful carried out using isozymes, field evaluation of the SIT. mitochondrial DNA and a nuclear gene, and all the data show a low level of The RCM was opened by Dato Dr. genetic variability over the whole Matta bin Abd Rahman, 2nd Deputy geographic range of this species. These Director General of Veterinary Services, data strongly suggest that OWS is one Malaysia, and Dr. Ahmad Salleh, biological species over the whole of its Director of the Institute Haiwan. The range, a situation very favourable to any growing importance of the (OWS) was future SIT programme that may be stressed in relation to the planned initiated. expansion of livestock rearing in Malaysia as described in a recent Sampling strategy for both NWS and economic analysis. OWS was extensively discussed as it a very important consideration when Population genetics of the New World conclusions from a genetic analysis are Screwworm (NWS) is an important drawn. Further population genetic component of the CRP and many more analysis will be essential to enable the samples have now been analysed geographic source of any new although the sampling is far from infestations to be identified and a set of complete. Several new laboratory sampling guidelines was formulated. populations from different areas of Venezuela have now been established. The myiasis fly, , The first transgenic strains have now continues to expand its distribution in been produced in this species and two Crete and Morocco. The infestation in microsatellite DNA libraries are at Crete is of recent origin whilst that in different stages of construction. Progress Morocco appears to be older and there

17 may have been multiple introductions as work has started on the development of there are significant genetic differences polytene chromosome analysis for NWS. between the central and Northern A website for the CRP is now available populations. http://www.ex.ac.uk/~jrsteve0/iaea/ind ex.html The next meeting of the group Fellowship exchanges between will be in early 2005 and it was laboratories involved in the CRP have suggested that this would be in been completed since the last RCM and Montevideo, Uruguay.

Use of Nuclear Techniques in Biological Control. 3-7 November 2003, Vienna, Austria. 3rd RCM

Considerable progress was reported in that are easier or more economical to relation to the various applications of rear. nuclear techniques in biological control: Progress: Initial data showed that A. REARING irradiation of Galleria mellonella larvae 1. Artificial Diet Sterilization: Use, with doses from 60-80 Gy allowed Storage and Extension of Shelf Life normal development of the endoparasitoid Venturia canescens while Problem: Artificial diet often has a extremely limited development is limited shelf life and table life. possible in the non-irradiated larvae. Irradiation of Plodia interpunctella and Progress: Artificial diet often has a Ephestia kuehniella larvae with doses of limited shelf life. Gamma radiation and 400 and 600 Gy increased emergence of X-rays can provide a non-destructive V. canescens compared to non-irradiated means of killing microbial contaminants controls. This effect might be due to that may degrade artificial diet or impair suppression of host immune response in insect growth. Initial research has the host larvae. Irradiation of 4th instar indicated that for situations where larvae infuscatellus with a dose of prolonged shelf life is not required, 60-80 Gy enhanced parasitization by freezing or ultra low freezing may be Cotesia flavipes, thus achieving a higher simpler and more efficacious. However, productivity of in the situations during rearing where longer laboratory. shelf life is required still need to be further explored. 3. Extension of Storage Time for Hosts or Prey 2. Suppression of Host Immune Reactions Problem: Normal host/prey development limits storage of host/prey Problem: Host immune reactions may material. reduce rearing efficiency or prevent the use of factitious or non-habitual hosts Progress: Studies on Ephestia kuehniella, Spodoptera litura, Sitotroga cerealella, and Musca domestica showed that irradiation caused a prolongation in the development of host stages suitable

18 for parasitization, thus facilitating the further emergence of the from use of these hosts under mass rearing UV-sterilized host was significantly conditions. Doses between 75 and 150 enhanced. Irradiation with 250 Gy to H. Gy used to inhibit potato sprouting can armigera eggs can prolong the period of also increase the incubation period of parasitization by T. chilonis. The potato tuber moth P. opercullela. developmental time of F1 larvae of L. 4. Extension of Host Suitability dispar irradiated in the first instar was extended, thus extending the period Problem: Normal host development available to the natural enemy complex. limits the time interval when a host is suitable for parasitization. 5. More Efficient Utilization of Sub- Products from SIT Mass-Rearing Progress: Results have shown that radiation can be used to delay normal Problem: Insect mass-rearing programs insect development and extend the time often produce relatively large numbers when a given host stage is suitable for of substandard material or have excess use by parasitoids. These examples are production of particular life stages that related to the use of parasitoids in are discarded. poultry production to control Musca domestica, to control Anastrepha spp. in Progress: Discard material may be mixed fruit orchards, and to control irradiated and used to support the Ephestia kuehniella and Plodia production of natural enemies. Research interpunctella in mills and warehouses. has shown that this approach is in fact In addition, radiation has been used to viable. Examples include the use of extend the time Sitotroga cereallela as excess egg production in Ceratitis factitious host is available for capitata and Anastrepha ludens mass- chilonis to control Chilo rearing facilities to produce egg infuscatellus and two other parasitoids, as well as the use of remnant borer species, Tryporhiza nivella and larvae and pupae to produce larval and Emmalocerra depressella. Irradiation of pupal parasitoids. Anastrepha spp. 3rd instars with a dose 6. Physiological and/or Behavioural of 45 Gy allowed extending the Stimulation Effects of Low Doses of parasitisation period and increase under Radiation to Natural Enemies mass rearing conditions the quantity and quality of D. longicaudata produced. Problem: Field performance of Irradiation of B. carambolae eggs with laboratory-reared parasitoids and 30-50 Gy extended the larval period predators is a concern. available for parasitization of P. incisi. Irradiation of the uzi fly pupae with Progress: In Trichogramma evanescens doses ranging from 0.5-8 Gy allowed and Habrobracon hebetor a low dose of extending the parasitization period and radiation increased adult longevity and increased the progeny production of N. oviposition when parasitizing 2-day old thymus. UV-sterilization of the host E. kuehniella eggs irradiated with 20 and eggs markedly increased the 40 Gy for T. evanescens and 7.5 to 15 parasitization capacity of T. chilonis Gy for adults H. hebetor. The effects are with respect to unsterilized host eggs of manifested mainly in the females of H. Corcyra cephalonica and S. litura, and hebetor. In Trichogramma chilonis a

19 low dose of radiation (100-200 mGy) The technique was used in experiments altered the sex ratio in favour of females. to separate parasitoid larvae from Irradiation of adults V. canescens with 3 associated factors in vitro and re- Gy significantly increased the rate of combine them by implanting them into parasitism of E. kuehniella larvae. new hosts. Pseudparasitization prevented When infective juveniles of the encapsulation of implanted parasitoids; entomopathogenic nematode but only the complete recombination of Steinernema glaseri were irradiated and larvae with both, teratocytes and bioassayed one week post-irradiation polydnavirus/venom allowed successful faster host morbidity and mortality was emergence of parasitoids. Separation and observed at doses of 1.5 and 2.5 Gy (the recombination of parasitoid and effect being distinctly evident at 2.5 Gy). associated factors is currently used to Increased harvesting of irradiated study parasitoid-induced alterations of infective juveniles of S. glaseri at 2.5 Gy juvenile hormone metabolism of L. was also noticed when compared to the dispar. control. Pseudoparasitization was used to study 7. Use of Radiation as a Tool to Study interaction of L. dispar host larvae with Host-Natural Enemy Interactions various entomopathogenic micros- poridia. It slightly but significantly Problem: Behavioural and physiological increased spore production of the studied interactions between host and parasitoids microsporidia in the host. However, are complex, often difficult to study and semi-permissive hosts did not become not well understood. fully permissive. Progress: Irradiation of Glyptapanteles B. HANDLING-SHIPMENT-RELEASE liparidis wasps (24, 48, and 96 Gy, AND TRADE respectively) caused temporary 1. Reproductive Sterilization of sterilization and a reduction in Host/Factitious Hosts/Prey oviposition. Irradiation reduced total number of eggs laid per female but did The Problem: Continued development not reduce longevity. Effects of and emergence of non-parasitized fertile "pseudoparasitization" of Lymantria hosts, factitious hosts, as well as of dispar larvae by irradiated female wasps unused prey (pest) insects during rearing (i.e. injection of sterilized eggs together of natural enemies often require with polydnavirus and venom) indicate additional steps in handling, thereby that this method can be used to study the decreasing the efficiency of rearing influence of parasitoid associated systems. factors. Progress: During rearing of natural Pseudoparasitism of L. dispar larvae enemies it is often the case that not all of caused delayed larval development, the host material is parasitized or morphological abnormities and high consumed, requiring additional steps in mortality during pupation or in the pupal handling prior to shipment of the natural stage. The immune response (hemocytic enemies to prevent the release of pest encapsulation and hemolymph melan- insects. Radiation has been successfully ization) of the host larva was suppressed used to reproductively sterilize Ephestia by pseudoparasitization. kuehniella, Plodia interpunctella,

20 Spodoptera litura, Bactrocera oleae the enemies with host/prey material will sugarcane borers in order to rear their lead to introduction of non-native, parasitoids . Radiation has also been pesticide resistant or new strains of pest used to sterilize the hosts used to rear insects into new areas or countries. This parasitoids of Musca domestica. This may exacerbate the ever-stricter technology is also being implemented quarantine regulations required to obtain for the mass production of two larval permits for natural enemy shipment. fruit fly parasitoids, Dichasmimorpha longicaudata and Doryctobracon Progress: Research on the use of pest crawfordi, being shipped to a number of mite T. urticae eggs to provision countries. Another option for the shipments of several species of prevention of the emergence of the host predatory mites has confirmed that in the production of D. longicaudata radiation at a dose of 280 Gy or less, could be the irradiation at 25 Gy of eggs depending on the age of the host eggs, of A. ludens. can be used to eliminate the risk of introducing fertile pest mites or other These uses of natural enemies, without insects, or other hitch-hiking arthropods, the simultaneous release of pest insects, and at the same time allow the inclusion have only been made possible by the of nutritional supplements in the form of application of radiation. In addition, the host material to maintain quality. This application of radiation to the production application of radiation will help of natural enemies has reduced handling facilitate and encourage the national and costs, allowed for earlier shipping, and international trade of natural enemies. provided a cleaner product to the customer. 4. Shipping of Sterilized Pests/Factitious Hosts or Prey (in the Absence of Natural 2. Provisioning Shipments of Natural Enemies) Enemies with Sterilized Artificial Diets The Problem: There exists a real or The Problem: Artificial diets have a perceived risk that shipping fertile hosts short table-life and, as such, are or prey material will lead to accidental problematic to use for rearing and introduction of non-native, pesticide shipment of natural enemies. resistant or different strains of pest insects into new areas or countries. This Progress: Research has not been carried may exacerbate the ever-stricter out in this area. However, it is quarantine regulations required to obtain envisioned that radiation can be used to permits for shipment of insects. preserve the quality of the diet over longer time periods, thereby extending Progress: There are commercial needs the acceptability and suitability of the and opportunities to ship sterile artificial diet to the natural enemies host/prey material in the absence of during shipments. natural enemies for use and redistribution by smaller rearing 3. Provisioning Shipments of Natural facilities and to standardize host material Enemy with Sterilized Host/Prey to insure product quality. No research has been carried out in this area, The Problem: There exists a real or however, it is known that some perceived risk that shipping natural commercial biological control

21 companies are making use of this that this may also apply for codling moth technology. One potential example is and false codling moth. the shipment of sterile Musca domestica pupae to rear their parasitoids in other 2. Supplement Hosts for Natural locations. Enemies Prior to Pest Population Outbreak C. FIELD APPLICATION OF REPRODUCTIVELY STERILIZED The Problem: Many insect pests have HOSTS TO ENHANCE BIOLOGICAL demonstrated cyclic population CONTROL outbreaks. Although these outbreaks 1. Combination of Augmentative may be predicted, effective and environmentally friendly control Releases: SIT/F1 Sterility + Natural Enemies strategies are needed to reduces the effects of these economically damaging The Problem: Agricultural and forest events. production is adversely affected by many insect pests which have Progress: Pests with demonstrated traditionally been controlled with a cyclic population outbreaks may be heavy emphasis on chemical pesticides. controlled if the number of natural Resistance to most insecticides has been enemies could be increased prior to the documented, leading to increased use outbreak. Releasing sterile insects as rates, which in return can exacerbate the hosts for the natural enemies could adverse affects of pesticides on the increase the number of natural enemies environment. without increasing the risk that the released pest will cause economic Progress: Nuclear techniques (SIT/F1 damage in the future. Doses of radiation sterility) and augmentative releases of required to reproductively sterilize pest natural enemies are compatible strategies eggs and larvae were determined. that can yield both additive and Irradiated Lymantria dispar eggs, as well synergistic effects. Laboratory studies as F1 eggs and larvae resulting from and field trials with Helicoverpa irradiated parents were studied in the armigera, Helicoverpa zea, Phthorimaea field and found to be acceptable and operculella, Lymantria dispar, suitable as host for natural enemies. Spodoptera litura, Spodoptera exigua, and Plutella xylostella indicated that 3. Supplemental Hosts for Seasonal progeny from irradiated were Maintenance of Natural Enemies acceptable as hosts for egg and larval The Problem: Pest populations can vary parasitoids. Experimental proof under greatly from generation to generation. laboratory conditions showed that F 1 During periods of low pest densities, sterility and Trichogramma releases are population levels of their natural effective in suppressing P. opercullela. enemies can be reduced to very low In addition, L. dispar larvae that were levels. The low population levels of reproductively sterilized by irradiation natural enemies are then unable to were found to be suitable carriers for the effectively respond in a timely manner to transmission of nuclear polyhedrosis the next outbreak in the pest population. virus to field pests populations. Laboratory and field cage results suggest

22 Progress: During periods of low pest conducted to determine the optimum densities, population levels of natural dose required to sterilize the natural enemies can be very low and unable to enemy pest (uzi fly). respond to an increase in the pest D. FACILITATION OF CLASSICAL population. Irradiated Helicoverpa BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AND armigera and Plutella xylostella moths NATURAL ENEMY MONITORING released in the field laid eggs that served as host for feral egg parasitoids and 1. Use of Reproductively Inactivated caused the parasitoid population to Agents for Final Confirmation of Host increase. The provision of supplemental Specificity of Potential Exotic Biological hosts to T. chilonis in the field enhanced Control Agents the survival of the parasitoids in Problem: The importation of exotic sugarcane fields, which proved effective natural enemies, particularly insect for the management of several species of herbivores of plant pests, is becoming sugarcane borers. Eggs laid by false increasingly difficult due to concerns codling moths (FCM) treated with over the possibility that imported natural gamma radiation were found to be enemies may shift and become pests of acceptable and suitable for development beneficial or protected species. In some of the egg parasitoid cases, despite extensive and positive pre- Trichogrammatoidea cryptophlebiae release studies, promising biological under laboratory conditions. Field-cage control agents are ultimately rejected evaluations are planned for early 2004 to because of remaining doubts about their ascertain the effect of combined releases host specificity. of FCM F1 sterility and T. cryptophlebiae in South Africa. A pilot Progress: A model system including study in 25 ha of citrus where both Opuntia spp. and the cactus moth technologies will be applied together is (Cactoblastis cactorum) has been planned for October 2004. developed to study the host range of an exotic herbivore. Radiation biology 4. SIT Against Natural Enemy Pest studies have been initiated to determine The Problem: In certain cases where an the optimum dose at which females are insect provides a useful service, natural sterilized and males remain partially enemies of the useful insect are fertile and produce sterile progeny. The considered to be a pest. Examples of sterilizing doses of radiation for males this relationship would include and females have been determined. The parasitoids of the silkworm, Bombyx level of F1 adult sterility resulting from mori, Varroa mites that attack substerilizing doses applied to the honeybees, or natural enemies of weed parents are under evaluation. Other herbivores. potential model systems are being considered including a Pyralidae for the Progress: In certain cases where an biological control of Brazilian pepper insect provides a useful service, natural tree currently in quarantine in Florida. enemies of the useful insect are considered to be a pest (example: 2. Use of Sterilized Hosts for parasitoid of , the uzi fly). Exploration of New Natural Enemies Radiation biology studies were and for Monitoring Natural Enemy Field Populations

23 Problem: The collection of new exotic pathogens). Reproductively inactivated natural enemies or the monitoring of larvae (400 and 600 Gy) of Ephestia field populations of native natural kuehniella and Plodia interpunctella enemies is sometimes complicated by were placed in warehouses and mills to the fact that hosts are rare or difficult to monitor the number of V. canescens and locate. H. hebetor throughout the season. Sterilized larvae of Anastrepha spp. and Progress: Monitoring of field Bactrocera spp. will be used to monitor populations of natural enemies is populations of natural enemies. The sometimes complicated by the fact that doses to reproductively inactivate hosts are rare or difficult to locate. Cactoblastis cactorum have been Radiation biology studies were determined. Experiments are planned to conducted to determine appropriate determine whether sterile egg sticks (laid doses to reproductively inactivate certain by irradiated adults) can be used to life stages. Lymantria dispar larvae survey for generalist egg parasitoids resulting from male parents irradiated at occurring in the generally infested area. 30 and 120 Gy were used in the field for monitoring the number and type of natural enemies (parasitoids and

New CRP on “Molecular Technologies to Improve The Effectiveness of SIT” 19-23 January 2004, Vienna, Austria. 1st RCM

The past ten years have seen an improved transgenic strains for eventual explosion in the use of molecular use in SIT programmes. biology in all biological sciences; especially in the fields of medicine and The two previous CRPs have provided agriculture and particular emphasis has the groundwork for this new proposal been placed on gene transfer technology. that will facilitate moving the field of the The recognition that the development of use of transgenic insects from the gene transfer techniques in pest insects laboratory towards field application. may lead to improvements in the SIT, During the implementation of the encouraged the Joint FAO/IAEA previous CRP highly efficient vectors Division to support and co-ordinate for pest insect transformation have been activities in this field by funding two developed and widely applicable transformation markers have been CRPs. Scientific progress in the field is identified. These developments have now such that transgenic technology in made the screening of putative pest insects can be moved from the transgenic individuals in any pest laboratory to initial evaluations of strains species extremely efficient and have led under operational conditions of large to the creation of transgenic strains in scale rearing and in contained field-cage more than 10 pest insect species. In situations to assess mating many pest insects molecular analyses of competitiveness of the transgenic strains. important gene systems have produced The new CRP will address these areas useful biological reagents for the with the objective of delivering development of transgenic strains. The project will involve transfer of

24 transgenic strains to larger rearing transgenic insects for pest situations, evaluation in contained field- management. cage conditions and initial model studies on the impact of transgenic insects on Expected research outputs: the environment. • A collection of characterized The new CRP will also begin the first molecular reagents and major studies on the biological fitness of promoters/regulatory elements to transgenic insects. Whilst not directly be used for the expression of focused on risk assessment issues, the effector genes or selectable data produced will be of considerable markers in pest insects. importance to the development of a regulatory framework for any eventual • Increased knowledge of open field release of transgenic insects. molecular mechanisms of sex In order to maximize the chance that determination and dosage transgenic technology can be effectively compensation in pest insects. transferred to field programmes, participation of operational SIT • Data on the interaction between managers, regulators, ecologists and the transgene and the whole host other stakeholders will be encouraged. genome in target pest insects.

Overall objectives of the CRP: • Development and definition of systems to maintain stability and To move transgenic insect technology strain integrity under large scale from the laboratory gradually towards rearing. the field for the eventual management of insect pests through the improvement of • Transgenic strains of pest insects the SIT. including: a) genetically marked strains, b) male producing strains Specific objectives: and c) refractory strains.

• To improve gene transfer • Data on transgene stability and technology for the safe and fitness of transgenic strains effective use of transgenic or during large scale rearing and paratransgenic insects in pest contained evaluation. management. • Mathematical models to predict • To assess the performance of the interactions between transgenic strains in large-scale transgenic and wild type rearing and under contained populations in the environment. field-cage conditions. • Knowledge and data to support • To define ecological and risk assessment analysis for the population concepts and models eventual release of transgenic associated with the release of insect strains.

25 Expected duration: 5 years (2003-2008); Details of the IAEA Research Co- first RCM is planned 19-23 January ordination Programme can be found in 2004, Vienna, Austria. the IAEA web site: http:\\crp- dev.iaea.org.

New CRP on “Improving Sterile Male Performance in Fruit Fly SIT programmes” 25-29 October 2004, Guatemala City, Guatemala. 1st RCM

Following a Consultants Meeting release that will follow—either from the recommendation (see Section H), the ground, or by air. Containers for ground IAEA Research Contracts Committee release are typically small, either bags or has approved the initiation of a new CRP boxes, and hold up to several thousand in 2004. individuals. Fly density and the amount of surface area available for flies to rest The objective of the proposed CRP is to on are important factors to consider in ultimately reduce the cost and increase order to avoid overcrowding and the effectiveness of SIT programmes by stressing the flies. An advantage of improving the performance of sterile ground-released flies is that once the fly males through manipulations pupae are set up they require no further implemented at the emergence and handling, except perhaps to add release facilities. Thus, the focus of the additional food or water. Aerial release proposed CRP will be the developmental of flies is usually more complicated, as period from the late pupal stage of mass- the flies must be transferred from initial produced fruit flies through to field holding containers to aerial drop boxes release. The proposed CRP will focus on by temporarily anaesthetizing the flies, the ten tephritid fruit fly species usually with cold. An exception to this currently the target of operational SIT procedure is the use of small bags or programmes, and thus is very distinct boxes, which can be loaded directly into from another CRP foreseen to start in plane and torn open at the time of 2005 involving the development of release. The latter may be needed, or antecedent rearing process control alternative methods of anaesthetizing the procedures for fruit fly pest species for flies, in cases where a cold fly which the SIT is not yet available. knockdown procedure is a problem, as recently described for 2 species of Anastrepha (ludens and suspensa) (P. a) The Abiotic Environment Teal, unpub. data), and for Bactrocera papayae (Tan & Nishida, 1998) and B. From the time that the sterile fly pupae carambolae (Wee & Tan, 2000). In reach the distribution centres, they are these cases, male pheromone quantity or subject to the abiotic environment into quality is affected by even brief cold which they are placed. This treatments to young adults. environment includes the type and size of the fly holding container, and the The ambient environmental conditions in specific ambient conditions of the the fly holding room are also potentially holding room. The type of holding critical. Such parameters as light container will depend on the kind of fly intensity, the light:dark cycle (if any),

26 temperature, humidity, and barometric Teal et al., 2000). Topical application of pressure may all play important roles in juvenile hormone or the mimics conditioning the flies for their vital role methoprene or fenoxycarb, accelerates in the field: surviving and attracting, reproductive development and sexual courting, and copulating with wild signalling in sterile males by at least 5 females. Much remains unknown about days. Incorporation of methoprene into the effects of manipulating these adult diets results in similar acceleration environmental parameters, either of development. Furthermore, sterile separately or in combination, on males fed methoprene release subsequent male quality in the field. significantly more pheromone and are considerably more attractive to fertile b) The Biotic Environment females between the ages of 3-11 days than are sterile males denied access to b.1. Hormones hormone in the diet. Additionally, significantly more wild females are Age is a significant factor affecting attracted to sterile treated males (6-10 sexual signalling and reproduction in days old) fed hormone than to wild numerous tephritid species. For males (16-20 days old) fed the same diet, example, members of the Anastrepha except lacking hormone on each day of a genus typically require between two and four-day test. Effects of methoprene are three weeks to become sexually mature. optimal when as little as 0.05% (AI) is Although mass rearing results in incorporated in the adult diet. This, selection of strains which become coupled with the relatively low cost sexually mature much earlier than wild associated with the purchase of flies, the most rapidly developing strains methoprene in a water-soluble of A. suspensa and A. ludens still require formulation, indicates that incorporation more than 7 days to become sexually of hormone supplements into adult mature. This delay between adult emergence protocols may be a cost emergence and sexual maturity poses a effective way to improve the efficacy of significant problem for SIT programmes the SIT. because males must be held for a long period of time prior to release, or have to b.2. Nutrients be released before becoming sexually mature, resulting in fewer surviving to Both male and female tephritids are maturity and copulation. anautogenous, emerge as adults with undeveloped gonads, and relying on Clearly, development of cost effective foraging during adult life to provide the methods to accelerate sexual maturity in protein needed for gonadal and released flies would have a significant accessory gland development (Yuval & positive impact on the efficacy of the Drew, 2000). In addition to protein, SIT. Recent research on a number of carbohydrates must be frequently tropical Anastrepha species (A. ludens, ingested to fuel metabolic activities. A. suspensa and A. obliqua) has shown Recent studies on species from several that juvenile hormone is a critical tephritid genera (Anastrepha, hormone regulating sexual maturity and Bactrocera, Rhagoletis and Ceratitis) sexual signalling in these species (e.g. indicate that providing protein nutrition

27 to males in the days following eclosion pheromonal components - trans coniferyl can enhance male reproductive success. alcohol and 2-allyl-4,5-dimethoxphenol These studies have been extended to in the crop (Tan, 2000). The metabolites sterile male Mediterranean fruit flies, are stored in the rectal gland and Ceratitis capitata, establishing the subsequently released during fanning potential for including protein in the diet performed during courtship. These offered sterile males in the release components improved the mating facility (Kaspi & Yuval, 2000), although competitiveness of males by at least the optimal dosage and form of three fold when compared with ME- presentation still needs to be established deprived males. It is envisaged that (Papadopoulos et al., 1998; Shelly & providing sterile males with a source of Kennely, 2002). Furthermore, recent ME to feed on before release will place studies indicate that several species of them on at least an even playing field bacteria are common residents in the against wild males, thereby potentially tephritid gut, and may make a significant reducing the number or frequency of contribution to fly fitness (Drew & sterile males released. To date, the role Yuval, 2000; Lauzon et al., 2000). of ME as a precursor to boost sex pheromone in B. correcta and B. Currently, sterile males of most species philippinensis is not fully understood nor are usually offered a pre-release diet of whether improving male production highly concentrated sucrose, presented mating competitiveness can be realized. in an agar block. The formulation and testing of optimal pre-release diets, Other advantages of ME feeding are containing sugar, protein and bacteria related to survival. One of the (and possibly other ingredients) in components, 2-allyl-4,5-dimethoxyphe- proportions that will result in enhanced nol, acts as a very potent allomone to sterile male performance in the field, deter vertebrate predators (Tan & will be developed in the proposed CRP. Nishida, 1996; Wee & Tan, 2001). Furthermore, feeding on ME b.3. Semiochemicals significantly reduces male response to ME in male annihilation traps, thus Most pest species of Bactrocera are potentially allowing simultaneous attracted to two major natural attractants, application of the SIT and male raspberry ketone (RK) and methyl annihilation methods. eugenol (ME) (Tan, 2000 a & b; Tan et al., 2002). Species attracted to RK, such Recent findings have shown that ginger as B. cucurbitae and B. tryoni, sequester root oil and the oil contained in the the chemical into the pheromonal flavedo region (peel) of citrus fruit system. However, the process of enhance considerably the mating sequestration of RK has, thus far, not competitiveness of wild or mass-reared been observed to contribute significantly C. capitata males (Katsoyannos et al., to the improvement of male mating or 1997; Papadopoulos et al., 2001; Shelly, competitiveness in courting females. 2002). Once exposed (by contact or Ingestion of ME by Bactrocera dorsalis vapour), males acquire a strong mating has been studied intensively. ME is advantage over unexposed males and converted to two major booster sex retain it for a number of days.

28 Interestingly, commercial essential oils distribution facilities. Commonly, this from citrus have a similar effect on means the use of buckets each males. containing several hundred up to a thousand individuals held in These oils are especially and at the same environmentally controlled rooms. time very effective, so it would be Larger containers (e.g. PARC boxes) worthwhile trying their potential in containing several tens of thousands of ongoing SIT programmes. If sterile flies may also be used to make larger males become more competitive point releases in fly ‘hot-spot’ areas. following exposure to the oils a smaller number of them would be required to be Aerial fly releases are necessarily used released. One active ingredient in ginger in large scale SIT programmes around root oil has been identified as α-copaene, the world. This method invariably a potent male attractant. However, these means that the pupae arriving at oils contain a number of other volatile distribution facilities will be held in substances that may have similar temporary containers, such as PARC enhancing effects on males. The boxes or the more recently developed composition of citrus peel oil and the emergence towers, until just prior to effects of the various components must aerial release. In the case of aerial be examined. releases, the flies must be extracted from the temporary containers through the use There are no known effective mating of cold fly knockdown methods, and enhancing semiochemicals for then transferred to aerial drop boxes, Anastrepha. However, the dramatic which are transported to waiting aircraft. mating enhancing effects seen with These methods, while operationally Bactrocera species and Ceratitis suggest convenient, may not be always optimal that similar compounds may exist in the in terms of the success of the SIT. For Anastrepha ecological sphere and await example, as noted above, in some discovery. species, (notably Anastrepha ludens, A. suspensa and several Bactrocera c. Release Methods species), cold knockdown treatment adversely affects sexual competitiveness. Tephritid fruit flies can be distributed in Therefore, one of the goals of the the field by either aerial or ground proposed CRP is to integrate the release release methods. Ground release methods with the other manipulations methods are simpler but much less discussed above, tailoring the release effective when large or topographically method according to the biology of each difficult areas need to be covered with fly species. sterile flies. Ground distribution can be accomplished by either point or roving Specific R&D Activities releases of flies from containers designed to be handled easily by R&D activities will focus on the ten personnel. In the case of ground tephritid species currently targeted by releases, flies are released from the same active SIT programmes in the different containers into which the pupae are regions of the world. Consequently, packaged when they are received at the basic research needs to be conducted on

29 those species for which the results of supplemental treatment such as a such pre-release manipulations are hormone or semiochemical (see below) unknown or limited. Concurrently, for may affect the choice of the most those species where promising efficient method by interacting with the applications have surfaced, these should fly holding conditions (e.g. the size of be applied, initially in pilot tests and the container or the manner in which the eventually incorporated in standard supplement is applied to the flies). procedures in ongoing SIT operations. In all these activities, it is of cardinal 1.b Fly release conditions: importance to use the global standards, as established in the international If flies need to be transferred from manual on fruit fly quality control holding containers to aerial drop boxes, (FAO/IAEA/USDA 2003), regarding standard and new ways to anaesthetize male performance for the following the flies should be investigated (e.g. use traits: Survival, Dispersal and of carbon dioxide or nitrogen gas instead Copulation/Insemination. of cold knockdown) for species known to be sensitive to cold treatments. For 1. Abiotic and Fly Release R&D these species, alternatives to the use of anaesthesia in the first place should be The following activities should be investigated, i.e. transferring the flies undertaken to manipulate the fly holding directly to awaiting release aircraft, as is conditions at the distribution centres, as the case for ground releases. Since well as the procedures for finally aerial releases are the principal means of releasing the flies into the field. Strong sterile fly release in all large-scale action emphasis should be placed on resulting programmes, efforts should be directed fly quality rather than simply operational to find efficient means of aerially convenience. dropping flies for ongoing programmes in which only ground releases are 1.a Fly holding conditions: currently operational.

Several ambient environmental para- After consuming methyl eugenol, meters, including temperature, relative Bactrocera fruit flies require 2-6 hours humidity, barometric pressure and to convert methyl eugenol to its illumination should be varied in metabolite(s) and to transport them via controlled experiments and the final the haemolymph to the rectal gland for field quality of the resulting sterile males storage and subsequent release during assessed. The size (volume) of the courtship. During this period, shifting containers and resulting fly density the flies and transporting them for aerial should be varied and tested as well. release may affect the eventual Experiments to pre-adapt late-stage sequestration of the metabolite - thus pupae or adults to specific field negating the mating competitive conditions, e.g. high or low temperature, advantage of exposed released flies. As light intensity, barometric pressure, such, research should be conducted to: i) should be carried out and compared to determine whether the process of booster results from insects held under standard sex pheromonal components reaching conditions. Of course, the addition of a the rectal gland can be affected by

30 chilling; and ii) determine the ideal This, coupled with the relative low cost length of time after post-treatment to associated with the purchase of chill (if any) and then release sterile flies methoprene, in a water soluble (this may reduce unnecessary fly formulation, indicate that incorporation retention time in a mass rearing facility). of hormone supplements into adult holding protocols may be a cost effective 2. Hormonal R&D way to improve efficacy of the SIT. At this juncture, information available for Experiments on Anastrepha suspensa A. suspensa and A. ludens is sufficient to and A. ludens have shown the utility of allow for the : incorporation of methoprene into the adult diet. Sterile males, between 3-11 • Development of efficient large-scale days old, fed a methoprene containing methods for incorporation of diet, released significantly more methoprene into adult diets. pheromone and were significantly more attractive to fertile females than were • Conducting of pilot scale tests that sterile males denied hormone in the diet. allow assessment of efficacy of the The juvenile hormone and its mimics methods. have some beneficial effects, but they have been known to induce • Conducting of cost benefit analyses morphological intermediates—larval- to determine feasibility of the pupal and pupal-adult forms, when method. larvae and pupae are exposed at critical periods (just before and after pupation). For other target species (A. obliqua, A. As such, incorporating juvenile hormone fraterculus, C. capitata and Bactrocera or its analogue into larval diet is not spp.) a significant amount of basic feasible. To overcome this problem, one research must be conducted prior to the or two day old pupae can be treated with implementation of hormone supplements different residual doses of a juvenile into SIT release programmes. These hormone or its analogue. If the cost of studies should include: juvenile hormone is high, the efficacy of some of its commercial analogues should first be analysed. Besides this, the • Behavioural and chemical cost effectiveness of residual treatment assessments of the effects of with the leaves of Cyperus spp.—weeds methoprene to determine the age at which contain substantial amounts of which males become sexually juvenile hormone III (Toong et al., mature and if the reproductive 1988), an ideal substitute for juvenile parameters are sufficiently improved hormone, should be investigated. Should to make the sterile males more residual treatment of pupae with juvenile competitive with wild flies. hormone appear not to be a viable • Determine the minimum dose and option, incorporating juvenile hormone length of time required to optimise or its analogue into adult diet may be a reproductive performance and viable option to induce early maturity in minimize time for maturation. male flies. • Assess the efficacy of the technology by comparing mating success of

31 sterile males with wild females with resident in their digestive system. While the former either provided with this interaction is largely unknown, it hormone supplement or not. has become evident that several dominant species (such as Klebsiella • Determine if hormone supplements oxytoca and Enterobacter agglomerans) should be incorporated into adult in this array of microorganisms may diets or provided in other ways contribute significantly to fly health and (spray applications to pupae, reproductive performance. Due to the provided in water provided to adults, conditions in mass rearing facilities, etc.). these important bacteria are not present • Develop efficient large-scale (at least not in large quantities) in the gut methods for incorporation of of sterile males at the time of release. methoprene into adult diets. One research component of this CRP will be to investigate the utility of • Conduct pilot scale tests that allow inoculating sterile males with bacteria, assessment of the method. by quantifying the manner in which such • Conduct cost benefit analyses to inoculation affects subsequent survival determine feasibility of the method. and copulatory success. 3. Nutritional R&D 4. Semiochemical R&D

4.a. Volatile oils To date several experiments and observations have pointed to the Orange peel oil and ginger root oil beneficial effect of providing sterile exposure to males was found to enhance males with protein before their release. considerably C. capitata male mating The objective of the research proposed ability and competitiveness compared to for this CRP will be to establish the best unexposed males. These findings may source of this protein nutrition and the have an important impact on the success form in which it is presented to the of medfly SIT programmes and merits sterile males. In light of the complex further research. interactions between diet, sexual performance and survival, these studies Future research should address: will strive to find the diet that provides the best cost effective balance between • The behavioural, physiological and these three factors. In addition, the ecological basis of the observed possibility of using inexpensive, locally phenomenon. available sources of nutrients (such as leftovers from fruit processing • The active compounds involved. industries), to replace expensive yeast • The parameters involved when hydrolysates will be examined. As work applying such substances. with the medfly progresses towards implementation in field programmes, • Ways of incorporating them into the basic research on post-teneral diets and pre-release treatments in SIT sexual performance of males in other programmes. species will be conducted. • Possible other effects on fly Tephritid fruit flies maintain intimate behaviour including longevity, associations with a complex microflora dispersal and general performance.

32 • The cost-benefit of incorporating feed on methyl eugenol. The peak these supplements into SIT period of attraction of wild flies to operations. methyl eugenol traps is between 0800 and 1100 hour for B. papayae (=B. • Other plant derived chemicals with dorsalis) and the feeding period lasts for similar effects. 45 seconds to 7 minutes. These optimal 4.b Methyl eugenol ranges for feeding periods need to be determined for each target species that Methyl eugenol (ME) is not soluble in may differ from B. papayae. water. Since methyl eugenol is beneficial by increasing male sexual A suitable and cost effective absorbent competitiveness and at the same time for dispensing methyl eugenol emulsion toxic at high concentrations, it is needs to be identified through research. important to find an effective dose of With the right absorbent, a proper methyl eugenol that simultaneously does method of dispensing the methyl not kill male flies and yet is sufficiently eugenol into fly cages has to be high to significantly reduce the tendency developed in order to avoid of flies to respond to ME sources (e.g. contaminating male fly bodies (which ME monitoring traps). To simulate a may lead to death). The dispensing plant source of methyl eugenol, a technology employed should be for a suitable emulsifier (which does not short period of less than an hour. induce mortality) needs to be identified. Emulsions of methyl eugenol of various Expected duration: 5 years (2004-2009); concentrations can then be tested on First RCM is planned 25-29 October male flies to determine the optimum 2004, Guatemala City, Guatemala. concentration of methyl eugenol to achieve the desired mating The deadline to submit research competitiveness against wild males. proposals is April 2004; forms for research contracts or agreements can be At sexual maturity, male flies are found under http:\\crp-dev.iaea.org. strongly attracted to and compulsively

33 G. DEVELOPMENTS AT THE ENTOMOLOGY UNIT SEIBERSDORF

Tsetse R&D

Survival of Glossina pallidipes apportioned into holding cages to irradiated and exposed to low observe survival without feeding. temperature Survival was recorded on the morning after return to normal colony conditions. Investigations into the possibility of using the chilled adult release system are Chilling using a thermos flask had a continuing as an alternative to releasing small impact on survival that was nearly sterile tsetse flies in cardboard boxes similar to chilling in small cages, (Newsletters 58 & 61). Exposure of whereas chilling in the expanded adult male tsetse flies to low temperature polystyrene container resulted in low should be for as little duration as is survival rates by the following morning possible so that the fitness of the after removal from the chilling chamber. released sterile flies is not unduly It was possible to maintain the flies in an compromised. It is also necessary to inactive state during radiation when ensure that losses are minimised during chilled in a thermos flask whereas the bulk irradiation of chilled adult flies. flies became active in the expanded After the previous experiments to polystyrene container by the time determine responses of tsetse flies to irradiation was completed. It was thus individual treatments of sterile males, an determined that it was necessary to use a attempt was made to simulate the real container that allowed the low situation of adult male handling in an temperature environment to persist operational programme. Adult Glossina through the brief irradiation period and pallidipes males were chilled prior to brief exposure to higher temperature irradiation in a cobalt-60 gamma source. during transportation. Generally, the For irradiation the flies were placed in survivors were active up to seven days small rearing cages or in an insulated after removal from the chilling chamber expanded polystyrene (Styropore) without any feeding. This series of cylindrical container or thermos flask. experiments has confirmed that a release The latter two containers fitted snugly strategy can be developed which into the radiation chamber. Flies were includes the chilling of sterile males for irradiated with a dose of 120 Gy at up to 6 hours. The next phase is to approximately 20Gy/minute at room include the prototype chilled adult temperature and then placed in an machine in the evaluation. incubation chamber for up to six hours at Salivary gland hypertrophy virus 4.5°C and relative humidity fluctuating about 50%. The flies were then returned Following the successful viral to normal colony holding conditions and purification from salivary glands of the flies irradiated in the large containers

34 infected G. pallidipes flies, partial two categories did not correlate with sex, cloning and sequencing of the genome of and subsequent spectra did not show the the salivary gland hypertrophy virus same division. A new collaboration has (SGHV) was performed at the been initiated with Dr Floyd Dowell, Laboratoire de Pathologie Comparee USDA-ARS, through Dr W. Wirtz, (Prof. M. Bergoin), Univ. Montpellier II, CDC, Atlanta. Dr. Dowell’s unit in France. Using primers derived from the Kansas is involved with the processing virus-specific sequences, a PCR-based and sorting of grain, and they have diagnostic was developed. Dr. H. developed a system utilizing near- Bossin, who joined the Entomology Unit infrared (NIR) spectroscopy to identify last June, has focused his efforts on the corn grains infested with beetle larvae. use of this very sensitive detection The system is currently a prototype, but method to detect the presence of SGHV it is due to be commercialized early in in infected flies in a non-invasive 2004. Three version of the machine manner. After optimization of the PCR currently exist, one requiring hand procedure using extracted tsetse DNA loading and two with automatic feed. Of that required the fly to be sacrificed, the automatic feed versions, one handles investigations of alternate sources of about 60 samples per minute, the second viral templates leaving the fly intact about 60,000 per minute but with were initiated. Tsetse meconium (first reduced resolution. excretion from the emerging teneral fly), This system shows great potential for saliva, and pupal cases have been identifying other insects also, and it was collected and are currently being tested. proposed to try the system on tsetse Although, tsetse saliva has already pupae. Three batches of 100 pupae were proven to be a reliable template source shipped to Atlanta and forwarded to for the detection of virus infected flies, Kansas. The batches were about 10, 20 its collection is cumbersome and usually and 30 days post larviposition on arrival affects the fly viability. In its current in Kansas, and therefore about 21, 11 developing stage the tsetse virus PCR and 1 day before emergence. Using the diagnostic tool is already used to test at slower automatic machine all the pupae an experimental scale to see if it is were scanned and the first batch returned possible to develop a virus-free colony to Atlanta for emergence and sexing. of this species. In addition to these The sex of the first 90 emerged flies was investigations, experiments are reported back to Dr Dowell to use for underway to understand the specifics of calibrating the identification system. viral transmission under mass-rearing Based on this initial calibration, the conditions, especially the role played by remaining 7 emerged flies of the first horizontal transmission through batch of 100 (three were unemerged) membrane feeding. were correctly classified. The remaining

batches were rescanned at approximately Pupal sexing 10 day intervals and returned to Atlanta

for sexing. Using the same calibration The initial attempts to sex pupae, the second and third batch’s sex was reported in the last Newsletter, proved predicted with 85 – 90% accuracy, for unsuccessful on further investigation. both the spectra taken just before The apparent division of the spectra into

35 emergence and the second batch spectra independently of the main colony to taken 11 days before emergence. measure all performance parameters. This work will be followed up with a TPU3-2 drawings available visit by Dr Dowell to Seibersdorf, which will allow us to take many more spectra The full design details for the latest and improve the calibration. The modification to the Tsetse Production ultimate objective to provide a system to Unit 3 (TPU3-2) are now available on sex the pupae at least 5 days prior to our web site: emergence, to allow separate handling of (http://www.iaea.org.programmes/d4/ind males and females, and accurate sex ex.html) under News on the left ratio loading of production cages. navigation bar. The full technical drawings and material specifications are DNA microsatellites available in Adobe Acrobat® Portable

These are extremely useful DNA Document Format® so that they may be sequences for population genetic easily viewed and printed without analysis and will be valuable tools for special software. These drawings and developing a good understanding of specifications are copyright of the gene flow in field populations of tsetse. Agency, but they may be copied, distributed and utilized so long as the High molecular weight DNA was copyright notice is not removed or extracted from G. pallidipes, G. fuscipes, obscured and no charge is made for such G. tachinoides and G. palpalis and a distribution or use. No changes should company was contracted to construct be made without approval from the micro-satellite enriched DNA libraries. Agency. These latest changes involve These have now been produced and a only changes in the construction detail minimum of 25 microsatellite intended to reduce the cost, and have no sequences/species has been identified. effect on the operation of the system. These sequences can be made available to interested parties. A new tsetse rearing laboratory Prototype tsetse rearing container A tsetse rearing laboratory has been After extensive testing and adjustment, established at the Institute of Zoology, the temperature and humidity conditions Slovak Academy of Science (IZ-SAS), inside the shipping container are now Bratislava. The Unit provided technical satisfactory for tsetse rearing. A small input to the design of the laboratory and sample of flies held for three days in the is now supplying regular shipments of container showed no evidence of any G. pallidipes pupae in order to establish toxic substance or contamination. A a colony of this important species. The small colony of Glossina fuscipes group at IZ-SAS will carry out R and D fuscipes is now being held in the rearing on blood diet and supply facilities in container to assess overall performance. Africa with tsetse pupae for colony This colony will be maintained development. Fruit Fly R&D.

Reproductive compatibility among There were clear mating Anastrepha fraterculus populations incompatibilities between A fraterculus populations sampled from six 6 locations

36 in Central and South America. Flies pupae per week and two fellows from from two Brazilian populations Brazil have been trained in the mass (Piracicaba and Bahia), were sexually rearing of GSS. During their training, active at different times of the day and experiments were conducted to improve no matings involving the two the thermal treatment for male-only populations were observed. However, production, and a comparison was made subsequent studies indicated of the QC profile of all available GSS. A that the population from Bahia belonged first assessment of mating compatibility to the species, Anastrepha sororcula. It in field cages between wild flies from was also found that the A. fraterculus Central-North area of Brazil and the from Colombia were sexually active at Vienna-8 Mix-2003 GSS was carried sunset; the first reported case in which out. The results of the field cage tests this species was found to mate in the late have shown high sexual activity during afternoon. The peak of mating activity of the test but low level of compatibility A. fraterculus from Peru was during the between the two strains. These tests will midday with the other populations be repeated at Seibersdorf and in Brazil. showing a peak in the beginning of the In addition, work is continuing to day. However, even within the develop diets for A. fraterculus and C. populations that mated in the morning capitata that are based on ingredients the degree of sexual isolation could be available in Brazil. These ingredients quite high. The indices of relative have been shipped to Seibersdorf for performance showed, in general, that the testing. Many different larval diets for different populations were equally active the two species have been tested on a during the tests. This result strongly small scale and a few have been chosen supports the suggestion that for mass rearing evaluation. Adult diet incompatibility among the populations is for A. fraterculus is important for egg not due to a side effect of one population viability and various products from being more sexually active than the other Brazil are undergoing testing. under the test conditions. In addition, taxonomic, DNA and pheromone Replacement of genetic background in analyses are being carried out on the a medfly GSS different populations. In practical terms, these results strongly suggest that any All medfly genetic sexing strains (GSS) SIT approach against A fraterculus will were generated with a wild type strain have to pay particular attention to the originating from Egypt. This strain was geographic origin of colonies used for colonised in 1963 and there is concern sterilization and release. that this long colonization period may prove detrimental to the GSS. Generally, Support for SIT technology in Brazil three arguments are considered why the genetic background of the GSS needs to The Government of Brazil is considering be exchanged: a) mating incompatibility the implementation of SIT technology with target populations other than Egypt, for fruit flies in the Rio San Francisco b) host preference and c) genetic Valley, one of the biggest tropical fruit diversity. However, it was demonstrated exportation areas in Brazil. A fruit fly that with the potential exception mass rearing complex is planned to described below none of the wild type produce 250 x106 sterile medfly male

37 populations tested so far showed any recombination between the wp tsl mating incompatibility with GSS. With chromosome and its Madeira counterpart respect to the second argument, it is can also lead to the unlinking of these believed that host preference is two markers, i.e. the tsl mutation can be determined more by the seasonal lost. To avoid this a crossing scheme availability of hosts rather than by was devised where first a 5th genetic factors. The third argument may chromosome balancer (labelled with the be relevant as genetic diversity is homozygous lethal mutant, Sergeant, considered to be an important factor for Sr2) is outcrossed with Madeira material. the overall vigour of the insects. Such a balancer chromosome carries Although no direct experimental multiple inversions covering virtually evidence exists that shows the benefit of the entire length of chromosome 5 and outcrossing on, for example, mating thereby renders most or even all performance, the sexing strains are recombinants inviable. generally outcrossed with a mixture of Currently this cross is in generation 11 different wild type populations before and it can be calculated that only 0.05% being supplied to facilities. of the original Egypt background is still One potential case exists where a GSS present. In the next phase the outcrossed seems to show some incompatibility balancer strain will be crossed with the with the target population. Field cage translocation strain that was outcrossed tests with wild flies from Madeira island in parallel to the Madeira strain. This showed that GSS males mate less cross produces translocation males efficiently with wild females than it where the free autosome is labelled with would be expected from the data that Sr2 [T(Y;5)/balancer-Sr2; Madeira were obtained in the many tests with background] and these will be used to other wild populations. To try to solve outcross the homozygous wp tsl strain this problem, crosses were initiated to (D53). In this way the wp tsl replace the genetic background of a GSS chromosome is always opposite to the with genetic material from Madeira. This balancer and, secondly, the flies that required that the two strains that carry carry the wp tsl can always be detected the two components of a GSS, i.e. the and used for the following cross. Such a homozygous wp tsl strain and the scheme is necessary because each translocation strain, have to be outcrossing step dilutes not only the backcrossed repeatedly with a wild type Egypt background but also the number strain from Madeira. Each consecutive of wp tsl chromosomes in the outcrossed cross reduces the amount of remaining population. If the scheme is used as Egypt material by 50%. However, this described here, the resulting strain is applies only for the chromosomes that also labelled with a specific are not involved in the sexing mitochondrial haplotype that can be used mechanism. The translocated Y to differentiate this strain from most wild chromosome will not be exchanged at all populations, e.g. this internal marker can and the two 5th chromosomes, one be used to detect contamination of the attached to the Y and the other carrying mass reared colony or it allows to wp and tsl, will be replaced only determine whether insects detected in partially if recombination with a the field are from the target population Madeira homologue occurs. However,

38 or are released flies. The construction of the strain will be completed in 2004.

Mosquito R&D

The mosquito rearing facility was subsequent transfer to Seibersdorf. A completed in June and a colony of new staff member, Mr B. Knols, from Anopheles arabiensis has now been the Netherlands joined the mosquito successfully established. Initial studies group in July and as of 2004 the are being carried out on the basic rearing mosquito activities will be funded from a parameters for this species and the first new Agency project. This will enable a fellow has completed his studies on small expansion of the group to take water quality assessment and its impact place. It is planned to hold a consultant’s on larval rearing. A colony of An meeting on mosquito rearing in the first arabiensis from Reunion has been quarter of 2004. established in Durban, South Africa for

39 H. SPECIAL NEWS AND REPORTS

Consultants Meetings

Consultants Meeting on “Development Of Guidelines for Verification of Tsetse Fly Free Areas and the Trypanosomosis Problem” August 2003, Vienna, Austria.

The technical feasibility of creating capture certain tsetse fly species; c) other tsetse free zones was demonstrated a few known parameters like trapping duration years ago on the island of Zanzibar, and intensity; and d) information on the which—as repeated entomological, disease incidence and experience in parasitological and serological surveys epidemiology (parasitological and confirmed—is "accepted" to be free of serological surveys as a key component tsetse flies and trypanosomosis of indirect sampling for presence of the transmission since 1997. The tsetse vectors). establishment of AU-PATTEC resulted A meeting of international consultants in proposals on the creation of tsetse free was held at IAEA in Vienna, Austria, zones in identified priority intervention from 25-29 August 2003 for proposing areas (areas with high development action for a standardized decision potential for productive and sustainable process that will eventually permit agriculture and livestock systems). declaring areas free of tsetse and the Some aspects regarding proposals to disease they transmit. create tsetse fly free zones on mainland Using the OIE established phased Africa remain subject to controversial procedure for declaring areas free of, for discussions. Among these is the example Rinderpest, entomological and question when and based on which serological activities were identified that criteria one can confidently assume and need to be conducted: a) prior to the eventually declare an area free of tsetse intervention against tsetse and flies. trypanosomosis; b) during the ongoing It is difficult/impossible to “prove zero,” intervention campaign and c) two phases i.e. the absence of tsetse flies or the after completion of the operations disease they transmit. The various (“assumption of provisional freedom” known data, play a role in decision and “declaration of freedom”). The making, including a) information intensity of and duration of the relevant to the reproductive rate of tsetse respective monitoring and sampling for under known environmental conditions tsetse presence and disease presence/ (which would permit calculating the absence differs in the respective phases time required for a tsetse population to based on statistic probability models. increase from its lowest possible level to th The findings were outlined at the 9 a density at which it would be detectable meeting of the PAAT Advisory Group by trapping); b) the known/assumed (PAG) in Pretoria, South Africa, 24-25 relative efficiency of different traps to September 2003. PAG welcomed the

40 FAO/IAEA initiative and proposed to PAAT) for international scientific use the PAAT-L (the e-mail link of review of the consultants meeting report.

Consultants Meeting on “Improving Sterile Male Performance in Fruit Fly SIT Programmes” 20-24 October 2003, Vienna, Austria

Integrated application of the sterile emergence period includes the shipment insect technique (SIT) against fruit fly of late stage pupae, pupal and fly pests is gaining momentum, with active emergence handling procedures at the programmes targeting ten species in the field distribution sites, and the release of Americas, Europe, Middle East, Asia, the sterile flies into target field Africa and Australia. Accordingly, populations. During this period, several billion sterile male insects are manipulation is possible of: a) the being mass reared and irradiated in abiotic environment; b) the biotic factories around the world, shipped (as environment, to include hormonal, pupae) to their destination, or in nutritional and semiochemical emergence facilities, and then released supplements; and c) the release methods. into the field, where they are expected to copulate wild females. Thus an The Consultants Meeting industrial process, consisting of recommendations were the following: numerous complex steps, must a) Given the current demand for ultimately achieve a biological goal. The improving the cost-effectiveness of exigencies of the industrial process often current SIT application against major affect the biological qualities of the final tephritid fruit fly pests of product, and although a number of international importance, a CRP on quality control and quality assurance improving sterile male performance protocols have been developed to ensure is recommended. that the released flies are of the highest quality, high ratios of sterile to wild b) In the light of recent advances in males are needed for the technique to be Dipteran physiology, chemical effective. Indeed, there is a general ecology and behaviour, the consensus that the SIT is an evolving consultants identified the pre-release science, and much can still be done to period as one that is amenable to improve the efficacy of the technique. manipulations that will significantly enhance sterile male performance. Recent research has identified a critical c) Research and development under the period in the process during which the CRP should be directed toward an sterile males may be manipulated in a improved understanding of these manner that will significantly improve processes in tephritid fruit flies and their copulatory success following developing defined protocols for use release. This is the period that begins in operational SIT programmes. with the arrival of pupae at the emergence facility and ends with their d) The initial focus should be on the release in the field. The breakpoint of identified ten pest species of the late pupal stage is useful both Anastrepha, Bactrocera and conceptually and practically. This post-

41 Ceratitis that are currently the target f) The establishment of a future of SIT action programmes. separate CRP or individual contracts to target the important colonization, e) The selection of CRP contract and agreement holders should be based filter or mother colony management on a good balance between action and strain selection issues, that will programme personnel and scientists not be addressed by the proposed conducting basic research in CRP. physiology, chemical ecology, microbiology and behaviour. Workshops and Co-ordination Meetings

Workshop on “Tephritid Fruit Fly Identification,” FAO/IAEA Laboratories, Seibersdorf, 4-8 August 2003

The workshop was attended by nine Middle East region. One session of the participants from Israel, Jordan and the workshop was dedicated to training on Palestinian Territories, all of them the differentiation between wild and personnel of the Plant Protection sterile and mated/unmated medfly Authorities involved in the detection, specimens (by Kevin Hoffman). The monitoring and/or control operations of personnel trained gained basic Tephritid fruit flies in their respective knowledge in the taxonomy of Tephritid locations. After a general presentation fruit fly species as well as in the on the taxonomy and importance of the respective identification of sterile and Tephritidae, the participants received wild medfly adults to support the current hands-on training and lectures on the medfly control projects, as well as the Dacini (by Ian White) and the operations relevant to detection of exotic Ceratitidini (by Marc De Meyer) species fruit fly species. of potential economic importance to the

Other Important News and Reports

Twenty-fifth Anniversary of the Moscamed and Tenth Anniversary of the Moscafrut Mass Rearing and Sterilization Facilities

The Mediterranean fruit fly mass rearing were build in 1978 and 1993, and sterilization facility, know as the respectively. “Metapa” Production Plant after the The Metapa facility, with its average name of the small town where the production of 500 million sterile flies per facility is located in southern Mexico, week, was the corner stone of the medfly and the Anastrepha production facility eradication programme (Moscamed know as “Moscafrut,” a short name for Programme) that the Mexico and USA the Spanish term “moscas de la fruta,” governments initiated in 1977 and that celebrated their Twenty-fifth and Tenth concluded with the eradication of the Anniversary of operations since they pest from the state of Chiapas and from

42 Mexico in 1982. Since 1982, sterile medflies produced in the Metapa facility together with sterile medflies produced in El Pino (the USDA facility located in Guatemala), have been the source of sterile flies for the 300km long and 100km wide sterile fly barrier which has for 20 years prevented wild medfly populations from spreading from the Guatemala and Mexico border region towards the interior of Mexico and the US. This regional pogramme has been supported by the IAEA and FAO through Technical Cooperation Projects (TCPs) since its foundation in 1977. It the eradication of medfly outbreaks in was through one of these TCP’s that the these states. sterile insect technology (SIT) was transferred from the Joint FAO/IAEA In 1992, the Mexican Government Entomology Laboratories in Seibersdorf, decided to launch the Mexican National Austria, to Mexico in 1978. Fruit Fly Campaign aimed at controlling, through the use of SIT, endemic fruits In the past 25 years, the Metapa factory flies of economic importance for the has produced a total of 650 billion sterile Mexican fruit industry. One of the first medflies, the vast majority sterile male steps taken by the Campaign was the and female flies from a bisexual strain. construction and operation of the Recently, in the past two years, the Moscafrut mass rearing and sterilization facility has been adapted for mass facility, which started production in rearing of 300 million sterile males per 1993. Since this year, the facility has week of a genetic sexing tsl only male been producing a weekly average of 150 strain. This is done by shipping eggs from El Pino facility in Guatemala to the Metapa facility in Chiapas. El Pino facility has had an only male tsl genetic sexing breeding strain for the past 7 years and is currently producing around 2.5 billion sterile male flies per week. This facility is the largest fruit fly mass rearing and sterilization facility in the world. The Metapa facility, apart from being one important source of continuous million sterile Mexican fruit flies (A. supply of sterile medflies for the ludens). Through the application of an Moscamed Programme, has, in the past, integrated fruit fly management supplied sterile medflies to the states of approach, including the release of sterile California and Florida, contributing to flies, it has been possible to develop and

43 maintain the States of Chihuahua, integrated approach including the release Sonora and Baja California of sterile flies. (576,000km2) as fruit fly free areas in As part of Anniversary celebrations the Northwest Mexico. From these areas Mexican Government decided to fruits and vegetables are being now dedicate the sterile insect production exported to the US without quarantine facilities to two persons that were restrictions. Furthermore, through an instrumental in the efforts to control fruit agreement between the National Fruit flies in Mexico using an integrated Fly Campaign and the California approach based on the SIT. The Metapa Department of Food and Agriculture mass rearing facility was named after (CDFA), the facility supplies sterile Jorge Gutierrez Samperio, former Mexican fruit fly to the state of Director General for Plant Protection in California to assist in Mexfly outbreak Mexico, and the Moscafrut facility after eradication efforts. The facility has the Dieter Enkerlin, Emeritus Professor of capacity to mass rear and sterilize West parasitology in Monterrey, Mexico and Indian fruit fly (A. obliqua), which is a Plant Protection Advisor for the key pest of mango in Mexico. A. obliqua Mexican Government. The contributions free areas were developed in the that these two men have made in the southern tip of the Peninsula of Baja field of plant protection in Mexico and California and from the northern tip of Latin America will remain as a legacy the state of Sinaloa, where commercial for future generations. mango is grown for exports, using an

Control of Melon Fly (Bactrocera cucurbitae Diptera: Tephritidae) with Insecticidal Baits in Afghanistan

In Afghanistan in 1996, the country had such as Metasystox (demeton-S-methyl) been in crisis for 17 years, a civil war and were often expired products. The was continuing and, by this time, the use of such product gave poor control infrastructure of the country was in ruins (around 60% in Herat province) and was and the agriculture sector had not assumed to result in fruits contaminated received support for development since with insecticide residues. the 1970’s. Female flies are unable to develop eggs Melons are grown throughout much of unless they feed on a protein rich diet. Afghanistan. The melon fly is the key Between 1996 and 1998 the authors pest of this crop and it has a patchy developed, in selected melon fields in distribution throughout the melon Herat Province, Afghanistan, a method growing area and, where it occurs, is a to control melon flies based on a home- problem for farmers. In Afghanistan in made poisonous proteinaceos bait and in an uncontrolled outbreak, all the melons 1999 demonstrated its use to farmers. in a field can be infested with the larvae The bait of hydrolysed protein was made of this fly. based on a meat broth prepared from camel or cow meat. Olfactory lures were In 1996, the only control measure available to farmers from the bazaars added in the form of the smell of were persistent, systemic insecticides Cucurbitaceae (cucumber juice) and

44 rotten protein (ammonia) prepared from By the end of the 1998 season the results fermented urine (the urine was latter of field trials showed that the poisoned replaced by 20 g of urea diluted in 500 baits were giving a satisfactory level of ml of water because of rejection from control of the fly with less than 10% the village Mullah, farmers and infested fruits in treated field compared consumers). An insecticide (malathion with 90% in untreated fields. 50WP and 100WP) was added so as not Not all farmers were convinced that the to mask the smell of the lures. The bait treatment had any value for them, most was then splashed around the vegetative likely because of the distribution of the parts of melon plants. The malathion fly, which is considered a bigger was the preferred insecticide due to its problem in some areas than in others. availability, low vapour pressure, For some farmers the application of baits odourless, and due to it having no prepared in this way applied to food systematic activity thus with no risk of plants was a taboo. translocation into the fruit if applied to the leaves of the plant. The cost of preparation of three liters of bait is ca. US $2.0 sufficient to conduct Baits were applied early in the morning 25 to 30 applications to 0.2 hectare (1 by splashing with a brush. Maximum jerib of land). Farmers made from six to droplet size was about 10mm. The first nine applications over the season. application was made 7 July and Production is about 20 MT per hectare repeated every 10 days (8 applications) (4 MT per jirab) and melons are sold at until 18 September. Twenty fruits were about 16kg per dollar so the output is chosen randomly and infested fruits worth US $1,250 per hectare (US $250 counted. Results show that where no per jirab). The value of this control control takes place total crop loss is measure to the farmer (90% of the crop) possible. If treatment starts during is, therefore, about US $1,125 per flowering stage, before fruit set, then hectare (225 per jerib). better control is obtained than if the first treatment is applied when plants are Credits: This paper was written by 1 2 already producing fruit. Baits containing Barry Stride , Zaheer Habibi and Gul 3 50g ai per liter gave as good control as Ahmad . It was published in the those containing 100g ai per liter. Baits November/December 2002 volume 44 applied at distances of 10m gave as good number 6 of the International Pest control as spraying every fifth plant or Control Publication of CEPA and sparying all the plants. FAOPMA. The work was funded by UNDP and implemented as part of the In order to reduce further the population FAO crops programme in Afghanistan. of melon flies, field sanitation should be given high priority: destruction of 1. Formerly Senior Technical Adviser unmarketable and infested fruit from the (Plant Protection) for the field by deep burial or feeding to cattle FAO/UNDP national crops and the ploughing of fields to destroy programme for Afghanistan, 1995- pupae. It is important that every farmer 2000. Can be contacted at in the area follows the same procedures [email protected] to reduce the population of the melon fly.

45 2. National Officer (Plant Protection), 3. Technical Assistant, c/o FAO Sub- c/o FAO Sub-office, Herat, office, Herat, Afghanistan. Afghanistan

The West Indian Fruit Fly (WIFF) Anastrepha obliqua in Grenada: Initial Assessment for an Eradication Plan

The West Indian Fruit Fly (WIFF), • Based on the low counts in traps and fruit infestation levels the fruit fly appears to be in a colonization stage. • Fruits of the genus Spondias (hog plums, red plums and yellow plums), which are considered to be the main hosts for this fruit fly species, are wide spread in the island. Guava trees can be found all over the island and infestations have been detected in this fruit in different areas. Availability of suitable hosts

throughout the year and favourable Anastrepha obliqua, was detected in the climatic conditions will allow rapid Caribbean Island of Grenada in April increase and spread of the pest. 2002, by the Pest Management Unit • Technically, eradication of the WIFF (PMU) of the Ministry of Agriculture, using the SIT is possible for the Lands, and Forestry and Fisheries. Just following reasons: 1) The conditions after the first fly find, a trapping network offered by an island in terms of was established to assess the distribution reducing the risk of reinfestations is of the fly in the country. Agriculture, a major advantage; 2) an exotic pest although only 10% of the GDP, is still still going through a colonization an important economic activity of the stage is unstable and can be more population. easily controlled; 3) population Given the seriousness of the problem, levels are still low which is an the Ministry of Agriculture requested advantage, however, populations IICA for an expert mission to confirm would need to be further suppressed the findings and recommend possible in order for SIT to be effective; and control options including eradication 4) SIT technology for this fruit fly using the sterile insect technique (SIT). species is available and has been The main findings and recommendations used in Mexico for eradication of were the following: this species from localized areas in the northwest part of the country. • Trapping data indicates that the • Eradication of WIFF from Grenada WIFF is wide-spread in the island has political support and the Ministry covering approximately 310 square of Agriculture has the basic kilometres. infrastructure to carry out an

46 eradication programme in what is a This information was extracted from the relatively small infested area. The report prepared by the IICA fruit fly effective control of the pink expert (Dr. Aldo Malavasi) who visited mealybug using an area-wide Grenada in January 2003. biocontrol approach has set a positive precedent. Adaptation to Artificial Rearing During Successive Generations in the West Indian Sweetpotato Weevil Euscepes postfasciatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Shimoji, Y. and Miyatake, T. 60%) were consistently high throughout the test period. Comparison of fecundity Fruit Fly Eradication Project Office, and pre-oviposition periods indicated Okinawa Prefectural Government, 123 that females from the artificially reared Maji, Naha, Okinawa 902-0072, Japan. strain at generation 14 oviposited more and earlier in life than those from the Abstract: An eradication project has base stock. These difference resulted been initiated in the southeastern island from an increase in frequency (100%) of of Japan to contain the West Indian females that laid eggs without standard sweetpotato weevil, Euscepes oviposition substrate in the artificially postfasciatus, using the sterile insect reared strain. Adaptation to an artificial technique (SIT). This article reports on diet is discussed in relation to the rearing this insect for over 14 successive oviposition behaviour of E. postfasciatus generations on an artificial diet, an and the success of SIT against this element required for successful use of weevil. SIT. The fecundity of reared weevils Paper available in: Annals of the increased with each generation. Egg Entomological Society of America. hatch (85-95%) and adult yield (30- 95(6): 735-739.

47 I. ANNOUNCEMENTS

MEETINGS, SYMPOSIA, CONFERENCES

Integration of SIT and Other Environment Friendly Methods for the Management of Key Citrus Insect Pests, Agadir, Morocco, 17 February 2004

A workshop entitled “Integration of SIT and Other Environment Friendly Methods for the Management of Key Citrus Insect Pests” will be held by the IAEA in Agadir, Morocco, on February 17th, 2004, as part of the 10th International Citrus Congress (February 15-20, 2004). Through lectures and discussion, the workshop will aim at addressing the use of the SIT as an IPM tool for area-wide suppression of insect pests. Among others, the progress of some SIT-based medfly control programs, the research done in various fields like trapping and medfly ecology, and the use of complementary methods within an area-wide suppression strategy will be discussed. Some of the F1 sterility for the suppression of the presentations will also address the recent false codling moth, a major pest of developments in the potential use of the citrus.

A five-day Workshop on “Principles and Procedures for Rearing Quality Insects” Mississippi State University, 22-26 March 2004

The workshop is designed to meet the instructors possess extensive scientific needs of insectary managers and other and practical experience in rearing personnel involved with insect rearing, phytophagous and entomophagous especially those aspiring to become insects. rearing specialists. The course is offered by the Department This is the first university course of its of Entomology and Plant Pathology at type that focuses on the science and Mississippi State University in technology of insect rearing. partnership with the USDA-ARS Biological Control and Mass Rearing The five days of instruction will cover Research Unit. all major aspects of insect rearing. The

48 For more information, please contact:

Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology P.O. Box 9775 Mississippi State, MS 3972 Phone: +1 (662) 325-2085 Fax: +1 (662) 325-8837 Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.msstate.edu/Entomology/Re aringwksp.htm

5th Meeting of the Working Group on Fruit Flies of the Western Hemisphere. 16-21 May 2004, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

Dear Colleague, well as other genera of pest tephritid fruit flies. We invite you to join us. Mark your calendar and make plans to attend the 5th Meeting of the Working Who Should Attend: Group on Fruit Flies of the Western The conference is designed to bring Hemisphere scheduled 16-21 May 2004 together entomologists, chemists, in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, USA. The geneticists, biologists, taxonomists, web link has been provided below to consultants, managers and regulators keep you up-to-date on information who are actively involved in all aspects regarding the conference and to assist of tephritid fruit fly detection. you with making arrangements for your participation. Conference Objectives: This working group meeting will In addition to presentations and provide numerous opportunities for discussions of current research and participants to share up-to-date regulatory activities, the participants will information and research, and to discuss develop a prioritized list of research common concerns with colleagues from needs. The improved communication the western hemisphere. This exchange and discussion among the participants of information is vital to the continued that will advance the science related to research and management activities to the understanding and mitigation of formulate new goals and approaches to exotic pest fruit flies that threaten management strategies and action agricultural prosperity. programs for Mediterranean fruit flies as

49 Participants will interact in an instructions posted on the working group interdisciplinary setting to summarize web site. and review the state-of-the-art in On-line registration and program research and management activities and information is posted on our conference to formulate new goals and approaches web site to management strategies and action programs for the Mediterranean fruit http://www.conference.ifas.ufl.edu/flies flies as well as Anastrepha, Bactrocera, Rhagoletis and other genera of pest Jennifer M. Anderson tephritid fruit flies. Conference Coordinator Call for Abstracts: University of Florida/IFAS Office of Conferences & Institutes (OCI) All individuals involved in research and PO Box 110750 aspects of tephritid fruit fly detection, Gainesville, FL 32611-0750 control and eradication programs are Phone: +1 (352) 392-5930 strongly encouraged to submit an Fax: +1 (352) 392-9734 abstract for consideration as a poster Email: [email protected] presentation. Abstracts must be http://www.conference.ifas.ufl.edu submitted electronically by March 5,

2004 following the detailed submission

Workshop on SIT in Conjunction with the 15th International Plant Protection Congress, Beijing, China, 11-16 May 2004

A workshop on area-wide application of include: fruit flies in Thailand, the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) will , Australia and South Africa, be held in conjunction with the 15th red palm weevils in , and sweet International Plant Protection Congress potato weevils in Japan. Also there will in Beijing, China 11-16 May 2004. The be a review of other insect pest species, First Great Gathering for Plant especially moth species, against which Protection in the 21stCentury. there is a potential to apply the SIT.

The Workshop will be part of the IPPC Congress website: Section on Orchard Pest Management. http://www.ipmchina.net/ippc/index.htm Presentations on SIT projects will

FAO/IAEA Interregional Training Course on “The Use of the Sterile Insect and Related Techniques for the Integrated Areawide Management of Insect Pests” University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA, 4 May – 8 June 2004

Nominations should be submitted on the endorsed by and returned through the standard IAEA application form for official channels (Ministry of Foreign training courses available on the web Affairs, Ministry of Agriculture, site: (http://www- National Atomic Energy Authority, tc.iaea.org/tcweb/participation/astrainee/ Office of the United Nations default.asp). Completed forms should be Development Programme or Office of

50 the FAO). Nomination forms must be January 2004. A course prospectus is received by the IAEA, P.O. Box 100, A- available upon request. 1400, Vienna, Austria not later than 5

OTHER ITEMS

Trapping Guideline for Area-Wide Fruit Fly Programmes

During the 3rd Western Hemisphere Fruit providing objective information on fruit Fly Workshop on Fruit Flies of fly survey tools to NPPO’s and industry Economic Importance, held July 1999 in in FAO and IAEA Member States. Guatemala City, representatives of These Trapping Guidelines are to be National Plant Protection Organizations considered as a “working” document to (NPPO’s) of 21 participating FAO and be regularly updated as survey IAEA Member States expressed techniques continue to improve and difficulties as a result of a lack of experience in fruit fly control uniformity in the application of the programmes evolves. various trapping methodologies to survey fruit flies of economic The guidelines are now available in hard importance. They recognized the acute copies upon request to the Insect Pest need for some harmonization of trapping Control Subprogarmme and can be procedures in view of the increasing fruit downloaded from the IPCS webpage fly related trans-boundary interactions http://www.iaea.org/programmes/nafa/d resulting from the rapidly growing 4/index.html travel, transport, tourism and trade. Thus they requested FAO and IAEA too develop some guidelines in support of their fruit fly survey activities for the various pest fruit flies.

These Trapping Guidelines for Fruit Flies of Economic Importance, developed in response to this request, provide strategic guidance and direction on where and how to implement surveys in support of fruit fly control and quarantine activities. This document is the summation of recommendations put forth by a multi-national group of fruit fly workers that has the goal of

51 Recent SIT Video Now Available in French and Spanish Versions

The English teaching video “The Sterile Technique de l’Insecte Stérile). Copies, Insect Technique. An environment in PAL, NTSC and SECAM formats, are friendly method of insect pest available on request from the section. suppression and eradication” is now also Contact one of the secretaries to obtain a available in Spanish (La Técnica del free copy. Insecto Estéril) and in French (La

Video on the Eradication of Tsetse from Zanzibar Available on the Web

Biting the fly—video on the success achieved in eradication of the tsetse fly from the island of Zanzibar. To see the video go to: http://adminonline.iaea.org/videoclips/ clip _gallery.htm

52 J. PUBLICATIONS In Press BAKRI, A.J. AND J. HENDRICHS. ENKERLIN W.R. AND M.M. QUINLAN. Radiation Dose for Sterilization and Development of an International Disinfestation of Tephritid Fruit Flies. Standard to Facilitate the Transbound- In: Proceedings of the 6th International ary Shipment of Sterile Insects. In: Symposium on Fruit Flies of Economic Proceedings of the 6th International Importance, May 6-10, 2002, Stellen- Symposium on Fruit Flies of Economic bosch, South Africa. Importance, May 6-10, 2002, BENEDICT, M.Q. AND A.S. Stellenbosch, South Africa. ROBINSON. The first releases of NIYAZI, N., C. CACERES, A. transgenic mosquitoes: An argument for DELPRAT, V. WORNOAYPORN, E. the sterile insect technique. (Trends in RAMIREZ SANTOS, G. FRANZ and Parasit. ) A.S. ROBINSON (2003). Genetics and CACERES, C., J. P. CAYOL, W. mating competitiveness of Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae) strains ENKERLIN, G. FRANZ, J. 2 HENDRICHS AND A. S. ROBINSON. carrying the marker Sergeant, Sr . (Ann. Comparison of Mediterranean Fruit Fly Entomol. Soc. Am.) Bisexual and Genetic Sexing Strains: ROBINSON, A.S. Mutations and their use Development, Evaluation and Econo- in insect control. (Mutation Res.) mics. In th : Proceedings of the 6 Interna- ROBINSON, A.S. and P.W. ATKINSON. tional Symposium on Fruit Flies of Insect transgenesis and its potential role Economic Importance, May 6-10, 2002, in agriculture and human health. (Insect Stellenbosch, South Africa. Biochem and Molec. Biol.) CAYOL, J.P., Y. RÖSSLER, M. WEISS, SUTANTAWONG, M., W. ORANKA- M. BAHDOUSHEH, M. OMARI, M. NOK, W.R. ENKERLIN, V. HAMALAWI AND A. WORNOAYPORN AND C. ALMUGHAYYAR. Fruit fly control CACERES. The Sterile Insect and monitoring in the Near East: shared Technique for Control of the Oriental concern of a regional transboundary th Fruit Fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) problem. In: Proceedings of the 6 in Mango Orchards of Ratchaburi International Symposium on Fruit Flies Province, Thailand. In: Proceedings of of Economic Importance, May 6-10, th the 6 International Fruit Fly 2002, Stellenbosch, South Africa. Symposium, May 6-10, 2002, CAYOL, J.P., W. ENKERLIN, A. BAKRI Stellenbosch, South Africa. AND J. HENDRICHS. Les mouches VREYSEN V, A.S. ROBINSON J, des fruits (Diptera, Tephritidae): , , HENDRICHS AND U. FELDMANN ravageurs d’importance économique Activities of the Joint FAO/IAEA pour l’agrumiculture. In : Proceedings Programme of Nuclear Techniques in of the CIRAD-CLAM Professional Food and Agriculture in support of New Meeting on “The Quality of Fresh and and Old World Screwworm Eradication Processed Citrus Fruits: New Responses programmes. Proceedings International to the Expectations of Professionals”. Screwworm Symposium, 28-29 August October 10-11, 2002, Montpellier, 2002, Tuxtla Gutierrez, Mexico. France.

53

2003 ABILA P.P., KIENDREBEOGO M., published by Research Institute for MUTIKA G.N., PARKER, A.G. and Subtropics, Naha, Japan. 122 pp. A.S. ROBINSON (2003). The effect of HENDRICHS, J. and A.S. ROBINSON age on the mating competitiveness of (2003). Sterile Insect Technique. In: V.H. male Glossina fuscipes fuscipes and G. Resh & R.T. Carde, (eds.). Encyclo- palpalis palpalis. J. Insect Sci. 3:13. pedia of Entomology, p. 1074-1079 BENEDICT, M.Q. and A.S. ROBINSON Academic Press/Elsevier Science, USA. (2003). The first releases of transgenic IAEA (2003a). Trapping guidelines for mosquitoes: An argument for the sterile area-wide fruit fly programmes. Vienna: insect technique. Trends in Parasit. IAEA. 19:349-355. IAEA (2003b). Improved attractants for ENKERLIN W., A. BAKRI, C. enhancing tsetse fly suppression: Final CACERES, J. P. CAYOL, A. DYCK, report of a co-ordinated research project U. FELDMANN, G. FRANZ, A. 1996-2002. IAEA-TECDOC-1373. PARKER, A. ROBINSON, M. Vienna: IAEA. September 2003. VREYSEN AND J. HENDRICHS (2003). Insect Pest Intervention Using IAEA (2003c). Automation for tsetse mass The Sterile Insect Technique: Current rearing for use in sterile insect Status on Research and on Operational technique programmes: Final report of a Programs in the World. In: "Recent co-ordinated research project Trends on Sterile Insect Technique and 1995-2001. IAEA-TECDOC-1353. Area-Wide Integrated Pest Management Vienna: IAEA. May 2003. Economic Feasibility, Control Projects, QUINLAN, M. M. AND W. ENKERLIN Farmer Organization and Bactrocera (2003). The Commercialization of SIT. dorsalis Complex Control Study " Book In: Recent Trends on Sterile Insect published by Research Institute for Technique and Area-Wide Integrated Subtropics, Naha, Japan. 122 pp. Pest Management Economic Feasibility, ENKERLIN, W. (2003). Economics Of Control Projects, Farmer Organization Area-Wide SIT Control Programs. In: and Bactrocera dorsalis Complex Recent Trends on Sterile Insect Control Study. Book published by Technique and Area-Wide Integrated Research Institute for Subtropics, Naha, Pest Management - Economic Feasibi- Japan. 122 pp. lity, Control Projects, Farmer Organi- zation and Bactrocera dorsalis Complex Control Study. Book 2002 CAYOL, J.P., P. CORONADO AND M. method for the area-wide integrated TAHER (2002). Sexual compatibility in management of insect pests of medfly (Diptera: Tephritidae) from economic significance. In: Proceedings different origins. Fla. Entomol. 85(1): of the 2nd International Conference on 51-57. the alternative control methods against CAYOL, J.P., J. HENDRICHS, W. plant pests and diseases. 4-7 March ENKERLIN, A. DYCK, AND M. 2002, Lille, France, p. 593-600. VERYSEN (2002). The Sterile Insect FAY, H.A.C. AND V. WORNOAYPORN Technique: an environment friendly (2002). Inert reusable substrates as

54 potential replacements for wheat bran in ROBINSON, A.S. (2002) Mutations and larval diets for Mediterranean fruit fly, their use in insect control. Mut. Res. Ceratitis capitata (Weid.) (Dipt., 511:113-132. Tephritidae). J. Appl. Ent 126:92-96. ROBINSON, A.S. (2000). Transgenic FRANZ G. (2002). Recombination Medi-terranean fruit flies for the sterile between homologous autosomes in insect technique. Proceedings of “The medfly (Ceratitis capitata) males: 7th International Symposium on Type-1 recombination and the Biosafety of Transgenic Organisms” implication for the stability of genetic Beijing. 10-16 October 2002. p. 195- sexing strains. Genetica. 116:73-84. 210. HENDRICHS, J., ROBINSON, A.S. RODRIGUERO, M.S., VERA, M.T., RIAL, CAYOL, J.P. AND W. ENKERLIN E., CAYOL, J.P, AND J.C. VILARDI (2002). Medfly areawide sterile insect (2002). Sexual selection on multivariate technique programmes for prevention, phenotype in wild and mass-reared suppression or eradication: the Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae). importance of mating behavior studies. Heredity, 89:480-487. Fla. Entomol. 85(1):1-13. RODRIGUERO, M.S., VILARDI, J.C. HENDRICHS, J. AND A.S. ROBINSON VERA, M.T. CAYOL, J.P. AND E. (2002). Sterile Insect Technique. RIAL (2002). Morphometric traits and Encyclopedia of Entomology. USA: sexual selection in medfly (Diptera: Elsevier. Tephritidae) under field cage LUX, S.A., MUNYIRI, F.N. VILARDI, conditions. 85(1):143-149. J.C. LIEDO, P. ECONO-MOPOULOS, ROBINSON, A.S. (2002). Introduction. A. HASSON, O. QUILICI, S. GAGGL, Genetica. 116:1-3. K. CAYOL, J.P. AND P. RENDON ROBINSON, A.S. (2002). Genetic sexing (2002). Consistency in courtship pattern strains in medfly, Ceratitis capitata, among populations of medfly (Diptera: sterile insect technique field Tephritidae): comparisons among wild programmes. Genetica. 116:5-13. strains and strains mass-reared for SIT operations. Fla. Entomol. TODD, E.S., ROBINSON, A.S. 85(1):113-125. CACERES, C. WORNOAYPORN, V. AND A. ISLAM (2002). Exposure to OLET, P.A., OPIYO, E. AND A.S. ginger root oil enhances mating success ROBINSON (2002). Sexual receptivity of male Mediterranean fruit flies and age in Glossina pallidipes Austen (Diptera: Tephritidae) from a genetic (Diptera: Glossinidae). J. Appl. sexing strain. Florida Ent. 85:440-445. Entomol. 126:1-5. MUTIKA, G. N., E. OPIYO AND A.S. ROBINSON (2002). Effect of low temperature treatment on male pupae and adults of Glossina pallidipes (Diptera:Glossinidae). Entomol. Sci. 5:209-214. ROBINSON, A.S., CAYOL J.P. AND J. HENDRICHS (2002). Recent findings on medfly sexual behavior: implications for SIT. Fla. Entomol. 85(1):171-181.

55

Insect Pest Control Newsletter No. 62 The IPC Newsletter is prepared twice a year by the Insect Pest Control Section, Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture and FAO/IAEA Agriculture and Biotechnology Laboratory, Seibersdorf. International Atomic Energy Agency Wagramer Strasse 5, P.O. Box 5, A-1400 Vienna, Austria

Printed by the IAEA in Austria,

January 2004 04-01571

56