Rearing, Sterilizing, Containerizing, and Quality Assessing of Sterile Boll Weevils Released in a Large-Scale Field Experiment in South Carolina
J.P. Reinecke, J.L. Roberson, E.J. Villavaso, and E.P. Lloyd
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ABSTRACT
The R.T. Cast Rearing Facility supplied over 10 million boll weevils for field release in South Carolina from June 3 through June 21. Several new procedures were used including the containerization of the weevils (ca 62 weevils per container) for field release. The containers offered a more suitable environment for weevils to disperse from, and the need for chilling shipping boxes was effectively eliminated. Several quality assessments were made during the release, one of which was also run at the release location. Assessments showed that 94% of the sterile males were capable of mating, 100% of the females and 99.998% of the males were sexually sterile, microbial contamination remained at an acceptable level, 50% of the weevils lived longer than 7 days, and field competitiveness was 19% (3 times greater than the previous large field test). Approximately 247 viable males were released per ha every 5 days over about a 46 day period. The new procedures developed at the Boll Weevil Research Laboratory for the Southeastern Boll Weevil Eradication Program are considered significantly superior to former releases.
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