ABSTRACT
Insects and mites that are mass-produced under factory-like conditions are those arthropods primarily employed in biological control, such as phytophages, parasitoids, and predators, or it may be the target pest insect itself that has been reared and then sexually sterilized for use in the sterile insect technique (SIT). Dormancy is one of the major strategies employed by insects and mites to survive harsh environmental conditions; it can be used in devising cold storage methods to facilitate mass-rearing. Accumulation, shipment, and release of sexually sterile insects as part of a SIT or integrated pest management (IPM) program often present mammoth logistical problems. Past cold storage successes, the discovery of promising exotic parasitoids, predators, and phytophages, and the necessity to continue to improve mass-rearing procedures all indicate that a sustained effort should be exerted in developing low temperature storage methods to facilitate the most efficient use of insects and mites in IPM programs.
