ABSTRACT
In fruit fly pest programs applying the sterile insect technique (SIT), it is of crucial importance to evaluate in situ the performance of sterile males competing for females against wild insects. Consequently, we performed a comprehensive evaluation of the genetic sexing strain (GSS) Tap-7 of Anastrepha ludens at the end of emergence, chilling, and release procedures under field conditions in the citrus growing region of Tamaulipas, Mexico. We evaluated survival, sterility induction, the effect of male age on attractiveness of different attractants, and the effect of sterile male releases of this strain on wild populations of A. ludens. Our results revealed that survival in the field did not differ between the Tap-7 GSS and the standard A. ludens bisexual strain. Although slightly higher, the sexual competitiveness 178of the standard strain was not different from that of Tap-7. In addition, the age of A. ludens males of both strains did not influence the response to the attractants used for their monitoring. The performance of both strains in citrus areas of Tamaulipas reduced population peaks and decreased the levels of fruit infestation. Based on the response to attractants, survival, sexual competitiveness, and performance in the field, we consider that the use of the Tap-7 strain of A. ludens is a viable option in SIT.
