APPLICATION OF THE F1 STERILE INSECT TECHNIQUE (F1SIT) FOR FIELD HOST RANGE TESTING OF Episimus utilis ZIMMERMAN (LEPIDOPTERA: TORTRICIDAE), A CANDIDATE FOR BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF BRAZILIAN PEPPERTREE By ONOUR ELIZABETH MOERI A THESIS PRESENTED TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA 2007 1 © 2007 Onour Elizabeth Moeri 2 To my parents 3 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I thank my major advisor James P. Cuda and co-adviser William A. Overholt for their support and guidance. I thank my other committee members, James L. Carpenter and Stephanie Bloem for sharing their vast knowledge of inherited sterility and providing an immeasurable amount of support throughout the project. I thank Judy Gillmore and the staff of the weed biological control lab, whom without their help with insect rearing and plant cultivation, this project would not be possible. I thank Dr. Burrell Smittle, Carl Gillis, and Suzanne Fraser at the Florida Accelerator Services and Technology Gainesville, FL for their support and assistance with irradiation of the E. utilis moths. In addition, I thank my family and friends for always being there to listen and provide encouragement. 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS page ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ...............................................................................................................4 LIST OF FIGURES .........................................................................................................................7 ABSTRACT.....................................................................................................................................8 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................10 2 LITERATURE REVIEW .......................................................................................................14 The F1 Sterile Insect Technique (F1SIT) ................................................................................14 Description ......................................................................................................................14 History .............................................................................................................................14 Field Application of F1SIT ..............................................................................................16 Host Range Testing Protocols ................................................................................................19 No-Choice Tests ..............................................................................................................19 Choice Tests ....................................................................................................................20 Open Field Testing ..........................................................................................................20 Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi................................................................................................22 Taxonomy........................................................................................................................22 Common Names ..............................................................................................................23 Description ......................................................................................................................23 Distribution......................................................................................................................23 Environmental Impacts...........................................................................................................24 Ecosystem........................................................................................................................24 Human and Animal Health..............................................................................................25 Beneficial Uses................................................................................................................25 Controlling Brazilian Peppertree ............................................................................................26 Mechanical Control .........................................................................................................26 Physical Control ..............................................................................................................26 Chemical Control.............................................................................................................27 Biological Control ...........................................................................................................27 Episimus utilis Zimmerman....................................................................................................28 Taxonomy........................................................................................................................28 Biology ............................................................................................................................28 History of Introduction of E. utilis ..................................................................................29 5 3 USE OF THE F1 STERILE INSECT TECHNIQUE (F1SIT) AS A TOOL FOR FIELD HOST RANGE TESTING OF Epismus utilis ZIMMERMAN (LEPIDOPTERA: TORTRICIDAE), A CANDIDATE BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AGENT OF BRAZILIAN PEPPERTREE..................................................................................................38 Introduction.............................................................................................................................38 Materials and Methods ...........................................................................................................41 Colony Rearing................................................................................................................41 Radiation Biology Study .................................................................................................42 Statistical Analysis for Radiation Biology Study............................................................44 Inherited Sterility Methodology ......................................................................................45 Statistical Analysis for Inherited Sterility .......................................................................46 Results.....................................................................................................................................46 Radiation Biology Study .................................................................................................46 Inherited Sterility.............................................................................................................46 Discussion...............................................................................................................................47 4 CONCLUSIONS ....................................................................................................................59 LIST OF REFERENCES...............................................................................................................62 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH .........................................................................................................71 6 LIST OF FIGURES Figure page 2-1 Dense stands of Schinus terebinthifolius in Florida...........................................................31 2-2 Morphology of Schinus terebinthifolius ............................................................................32 2-3 Native distribution of Brazilian peppertree in South America by country ........................33 2-4 Worldwide distribution of Brazilian peppertree ................................................................34 2-5 Distribution of Brazilian peppertree in Florida..................................................................35 2-6 A-F. Life cycle of E. utilis .................................................................................................36 2-7 Effect of E. utilis on Brazilian peppertree .........................................................................37 3-1 Results of laboratory no-choice tests performed with E. utilis..........................................50 3-2 Potted BP plant covered by a clear acrylic cylinder. .........................................................51 3-3 Materials used for irradiation of E. utilis moths. ...............................................................52 3-4 Cesium-137 Gammacell® 1000 irradiator (F.A.S.T. Gainesville, FL)...............................52 3-5 Waxed paper oviposition chamber for mating and ovipositing by E. utilis moths............53 3-6 Fecundity (mean number of eggs laid) per mated female of E. utilis adults for three crosses................................................................................................................................54 3-7 Fertility (mean percentage of eggs that hatched) of E. utilis adults for three crosses treated with increasing dose of gamma radiation.. ............................................................55 3-8 Fecundity (mean number of eggs laid) of F1 crosses of E. utilis adults as a result of radiation administered to parental males.. .........................................................................56 3-9 Fertility (mean percentage of eggs that hatched) of F1 crosses of E. utilis adults as a result of radiation administered