Effect of Heat on the Fertility of the Codling Moth, Carpocapsa pomonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Olethreutidae)

Abstract

This is the first of a series of papers dealing with investigations that were commenced in 1956 at Summerland, British Columbia, to determine if the codling moth, Carpocapsa pomonella (L.), could be eradicated in the interior of British Columbia by the release of sexually sterile male moths.One of the most important prerequisites for the success of this method is the development of a technique that will sterilize the male without seriously affecting its behaviour, particularly mating ability and longevity. Complete or almost complete sterility has been induced in one or both sexes of certain species of insects by feeding them chemicals (LaBrecque et al., 1960), or by exposing them to X- or gamma rays (Bushland and Hopkins, 1953), or by subjecting them to abnormally high temperatures (Riordan, 1957).