The Gypsy Moth and Some Possibilities of the Control of Insects by Genetical Means

Abstract

The screw worm, Callitroga hominivorax (Coquerel), can be sterilized by irradiation in such a way that the viability and sexual behaviour of the male are not seriously affected by the treatment. If such flies are released into a wild population, many of the males will mate with the native females which, since they mate only once, will become permanently infertile. Thus in proportion to the numbers released the numbers of fertile egg-masses produced by the population will be reduced; and if the numbers released are sufficient the population, failing rapid and extensive relief from a density-dependent controlling factor, could be eradicated in a few generations. This eradication has in fact been achieved on the island of Curacao; and the prognosis for the much larger undertaking now in progress in Florida is very favourable (see Lindquist and Knipling, 1957, for discussion and references).