ABSTRACT
The release of good quality insects is of paramount importance for the success of the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT). SIT related insect quality is affected negatively by artificial rearing, sterilization, and handling procedures for release. The selected large flies maintained their size for several generations of artificial rearing. The latter improvement remained unchanged for more than twenty generations of artifical rearing after the selection procedures had been terminated. Significant differences in life history traits have been detected not only between wild and laboratory Mediterranean fruit fly but also among wild populations. The established quality tests provide some estimate of field performance. The real field performance of genetic sexing males, or of sterile flies in general, can be evaluated only under completely natural conditions. The control results were excellent, with infestation levels similar to or even lower than those in the repeatedly air-sprayed control plantations.
