ABSTRACT

The mass-production and sterilization of insects, as well as subsequent shipment, adult emergence, holding, feeding, collection, and field-release activities based at production or emergence and release facilities (ERFs), are vital components of applying the sterile insect technique (SIT). Mass-rearing, and these post-factory SIT activities, have evolved into a well-established modular/industrial process that has adapted and adopted manufacturing principles such as the development of standard operational procedures (SOPs) and quality control (QC) standards, allowing a common understanding/agreement between producers and users of sterile insects at satellite ERFs. Shipment practices for short- and long-distance transport are well documented, and it is likely that they will continue to be developed and improved for current and new insect species according to their biological needs. Procedures for insect emergence, feeding, and holding for sexual maturation of sterile insects (including the designs of new holding containers) have gradually evolved because of a better understanding of their biological requirements. ERFs specialize in insect emergence, holding, providing food and water to the adults, maturation, and collection for release. For some target pests, such as moths, adults can be collected after emergence for direct transport and release, without previous holding and feeding of adults. Release of sterile insects varies depending on the species and the nature of the area-wide integrated pest management programme (AW-IPM). This chapter also reviews the methods of release — static, ground, and aerial (using aircraft with fixed-wing or rotary-wing, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)). Recently, developed technology has allowed prototyping of release equipment designed for UAVs. New release boxes and machines for a wide range of insect species have been developed, aiming to optimize equipment that enables variation in release densities, and takes into account other operational considerations according to the needs of action programmes. New ground- and aerial-release equipment has been tested and put into operation -- increasing the quality of the released insects. Through the use of combined GPS/GIS, dedicated software, and devices plugged into computers and the internet, additional progress has been made in implementing electronic/navigating equipment that enables knowing the precise location of insect releases and recording the conditions of their aerial broadcast. These developments enable the delivery, monitoring, and supervision of releasing sterile insects, with the results available in real time. The private sector has actively participated and demonstrated continued interest in the provision and processing of sterile insects, as well as aerial GPS/GIS guided release.