Attraction ofTrichogramma platneri to eggs of some lepidopterous pests of avocado

The attraction ofTrichogramma platneri Nagarkatti (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) to eggs of two lepidopterous avocado pests,Boarmia sel-enaria (Schiffermüller) (Geometridae) andCryptoblabes gnidiella (Millière) (Phycitidae), was evaluated in olfactometer tests. The mobility of the wasp as measured by a mobility index was 0.6 for males and 1.8 for females; the males had a lower mobility and a lower search capacity index than the females. Frozen and fresh youngB. selenaria eggs had the greatest attraction forT. platneri, which diminished with increasing age of the eggs. The eggs ofC. gnidiella were also attractive to the parasitoid. Contribution from the Agricultural Research Organization. No. 2704-E, 1989 series.     

Vitamin K requirement and reproduction in bromadiolone-resistant Norway rats

BACKGROUND: Nucleotide polymorphisms in the VKORC1 gene can be linked to anticoagulant rodenticide resistance in Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus Berkenhout). This provides a fitness advantage to rats exposed to anticoagulant actives, but may also cause fitness costs. The vitamin K requirement and reproductive parameters of bromadiolone‐resistant rats (Westphalian resistant strain; VKOR variant Tyr139Cys) and bromadiolone‐susceptible Norway rats were compared. RESULTS: At vitamin K deficiency, blood clotting times increased in all homozygous resistant males within 8 days and in 80% of homozygous resistant females within 15 days. There was little effect on blood clotting in heterozygous males and no effect in heterozygous females and VKOR wild‐type individuals. Litter size was about 20% higher in sensitive pairs compared with resistant pairs. Testes growth, male gonad weight, sperm motility and testis cell concentration were unaffected by the mutation. CONCLUSIONS: The VKOR variant Tyr139Cys causes considerable physiological cost in Norway rats in terms of vitamin K requirement and reproduction. This may affect the distribution and spread of resistant individuals in the wild. Decreased litter size of resistant parents seems to be due to lowered female reproductive performance, as there was no significant effect of the mutation on any aspects of male reproduction considered, but this requires further study. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Suppression of Reproduction in Poekilocerus pictus (F.) using Penfluron and Diflubenzuron

Abstract

Penfluron and diflubenzuron, both chitin synthesis inhibitors known to be highly effective against nymphs of Poekilocerus pictus (F.), were tested against the adult for their possible effects upon reproduction. These compounds were found to have the maximum effect, when no eggs were laid, if both sexes were treated. The eggs of treated males × untreated females did not hatch and those of treated females × untreated males gave rise to nymphs which died before reaching maturity.     

Mortality and reproductive effects of ingested spinosad on adult bollworms

BACKGROUND: Upon emergence from their pupal cells, bollworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), adults actively seek and feed on plant exudates before they disperse and reproduce on suitable host plants. This nocturnal behavior of the bollworm may be exploited as a pest management strategy for suppression of the insect by using an attractant/stimulant mixed with an insecticide to induce feeding to cause adult mortality or reproductive reduction/inhibition. This study aimed to determine in the laboratory whether or not spinosad when mixed with sucrose solution as a feeding stimulant and ingested by bollworm could influence mortality and reproduction of the insect. RESULTS: Sublethal concentrations of spinosad fed to laboratory‐reared females confined with males significantly reduced percentage hatch of eggs at 0.1 mg L^?1, and it was reduced to near zero at 2.5 mg L^?1 when compared with females fed 2.5 M sucrose solutions only. The lethal concentration (LC₉₉) for males captured from the field in sex‐pheromone‐baited traps was 73 mg L^?1 for 24 h response. Proboscis extension response was not inhibited significantly even at 10 g L^?1. In spite of a 137‐fold increase in lethal dose concentration, spinosad did not inhibit feeding. CONCLUSION: A detailed study of laboratory‐reared and field‐collected bollworm adults relative to mortality and reproduction after ingestion of spinosad indicates that spinosad would be useful in an attract‐and‐kill strategy to control the insect when mixed with a feeding attractant/stimulant. Field validation of the data is warranted. Published 2010 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

副珠蜡蚧阔柄跳小蜂MetaphyCUS parasaissetiae Zhang and Huang生物学特性的研究

副珠蜡蚧阔柄跳小蜂Metaphycus parasaissetiae Zhang and Huang是新发现的橡副珠蜡蚧成虫内寄生蜂,自然寄生率约为15.68%。实验室内对其形态、发育、繁殖、存活、行为等生物学特性进行了观察。结果表明,在26±1℃,RH70%±5%条件下,每头寄主出蜂4.5头,雌性比例80.6%;雌蜂生殖系统解剖发现,未交配雌蜂卵巢内的卵经1d可发育成熟,但同一雌蜂卵巢内卵粒之间发育程度不一致;该蜂完成一个世代需15～19d,但幼虫蜕皮现象不明显;该蜂可营孤雌产雄生殖,孤雌羽化后24h内即可产卵,平均每头寄主可出雄蜂5.3头;雌蜂交配后24h内即可产卵,产卵期1～17d;1头已交配雌蜂可寄生1～10头寄主,一生产卵3～76粒,每日平均产卵量为8.2±4.0粒;雌、雄成蜂平均寿命均不超过3d,补充蜂蜜水可延长雌、雄成蜂的寿命。     

Ecdysteroid receptor docking suggests that dibenzoylhydrazine-based insecticides are devoid of any deleterious effect on the parasitic wasp Psyttalia concolor (Hym. Braconidae)

BACKGROUND: The moulting accelerating compounds (MACs) or ecdysteroid agonists represent a selective group of insecticides acting upon binding to the ecdysteroid receptor (EcR) and leading to lethal premature moulting in larval stages and aborted reproduction in adults. Psyttalia concolor Szèpl. is a useful parasitic wasp attacking important tephritid pests such as the medfly and olive fruit fly. RESULTS: Contact and oral exposure in the laboratory of female parasitic wasps to the dibenzoylhydrazine‐based methoxyfenozide, tebufenozide and RH‐5849 did not provoke negative effects. No mortality and no reduction in beneficial capacity were observed. The ligand‐binding domain (LBD) of the EcR of P. concolor was sequenced, and a homology protein model was constructed which confirmed a cavity structure with 12 α‐helices, harbouring the natural insect moulting hormone 20‐hydroxyecdysone. However, a steric clash occurred for the MAC insecticides owing to a restricted extent of the ligand‐binding cavity of the PcLBD‐EcR, while they did dock well in that of susceptible insects. CONCLUSIONS: The insect toxicity assays demonstrated that MACs are selective for P. concolor. The modelling/docking experiments are indications that these insecticides do not bind with the LBD‐EcR of P. concolor and support the theory that they show no biological effects in the parasitic wasp. These data may help in explaining the compatible use of MACs together with parasitic wasps in IPM programmes. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

斜纹夜蛾雌雄配对后成虫活动行为节律及时间分配

为了解斜纹夜蛾Spodoptera litura(Fabricius)配对后雌、雄成虫日活动行为节律,在室内人工气候室中配对饲养斜纹夜蛾,连续6 d观察成虫移动、静息、补充营养、产卵和交配5个行为类型。结果表明,在配对后6 d内,斜纹夜蛾的交配、产卵、移动、补充营养和停息行为所占比例均有明显变化,交配行为主要发生在配对后的前2 d,在配对后第6天成虫除偶尔补充营养外基本处于停息状态;交配行为有2个明显高峰期,即00∶00~01∶00(3.89%)和04∶00~05∶00(3.89%),雌、雄成虫移动行为日节律所占比例在03∶00~06∶00和补充营养行为日节律在03∶00~05∶00差异显著;成虫各行为分配频次最多的是停息行为,远高于其它行为,且各行为所占比例差异极显著,但雌、雄成虫之间无显著差异;雌、雄成虫运动行为几乎全部发生在暗期,且在不同时间段无显著差异;光、暗期各行为活动发生的比率差异显著;在暗期不同时间段,除雌蛾的移动行为、雄蛾的补充营养行为和交配行为无显著差异外,其它各种行为均差异显著。表明斜纹夜蛾雌、雄配对后移动、静息、补充营养、产卵和交配行为受成虫日龄影响较大,也受性别影响,表现出明显的日节律性。     

The Efficiency by Which Thrips tabaci Populations Transmit Tomato spotted wilt virus Depends on Their Host Preference and Reproductive Strategy

ABSTRACT Arrhenotokous and thelytokous populations of Thrips tabaci from tobacco or leek plants were evaluated for their ability to transmit Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) and for their host preference. Transmission efficiencies were comparatively studied using leaf disks of Petunia hybrida, Datura stramonium, and Nicotiana tabacum cv. Basmas. Adults of arrhenotokous populations collected on infected tobacco plants in the field were efficient transmitters (up to 48.5% transmission) and remained so when maintained on tobacco for several generations. Arrhenotokous T. tabacipopulations from leek plants were poor transmitters (up to 3.1% transmission), whereas no transmission was obtained with thelytokous populations from leek. All populations could infest leek, however none of the arrhenotokous and thelytokous populations from leek plants was able to infest tobacco. TSWV could be acquired by both first and second larval instars of a T. tabacipopulation from tobacco. However, the transmission by adults decreased with the age at which the virus was acquired by larvae. The highest efficiencies (61% of males and 51% of females transmitted) were obtained when newborn (0- to 24-h old) larvae acquired the virus. The majority of thrips started to transmit after becoming adult and rates were positively correlated with the temperature at which the thrips were kept. The median latent period values found for adults decreased with increasing temperature. The median acquisition access period (AAP50) of the population was 41 min, whereas the AAP(50) was 65 min for males and 35 min for females. The median inoculation access period of males was 246 and 365 min on tobacco and petunia, respectively, and 96 and 345 min for females. The results show that T. tabaci forms a complex in terms of host preference, reproductive strategy, and ability to transmit TSWV. The transmission parameters show that the thrips of arrhenotokous populations infesting tobacco are highly efficient vectors.     

Potential for Nonhost Volatiles as Repellents in Integrated Pest Management of Ambrosia Beetles

Semiochemical-based mass trapping of the striped ambrosia beetle, Trypodendron lineatum (Olivier) (Coleoptera: Scolytidae), has been the cornerstone of an integrated pest management (IPM) programme for ambrosia beetles on the British Columbia coast since 1981. However, there is no available tactic of protecting logs from attack that could be incorporated into the IPM programme. We tested nonhost volatiles (NHVs) from the bark of angiosperm trees for their ability to disrupt catches of T. lineatum in multiple-funnel traps baited with the aggregation pheromone lineatin. In one set of experiments, a blend of 1-hexanol and benzyl alcohol caused 77.9% and 80.0% reduction in captures of males and females, respectively, and in another a blend of methyl salicylate and salicylaldehyde caused reductions of 65.0% for males and 66.9% for females. All four NHVs combined caused reductions in captures for males and females of 82.3% and 81.4%, respectively, not much greater than to the blend of 1-hexanol and benzyl alcohol. However, because both blends were active alone, their redundancy when combined lends confidence to the selection of the four-component blend for operational testing. Although disruption was increased when a 16-component NHV blend was tested, or when (±)–(E)-conophthorin was added to the four-component blend, addition of more compounds to the four-component blend was not considered operationally or economically justifiable. When deployed from low-density polyethylene tubes stapled along the length of pheromone-baited conifer logs, this blend caused prolonged and significant reductions in landing by T. lineatum and also by Gnathotrichus sulcatus (LeConte) and G. retusus (LeConte) (Coleoptera: Scolytidae). However, attacking beetles generally overcame the NHV treatment by the end of the flight period, leading to similar attack densities on treated and control logs. Therefore, we recommend that further operational investigations explore using repellent NHVs in combination with disruptive visual, tactile or gustatory stimuli.     

Reproduction and Development ofAphelenchoides Besseyi

The mode of reproduction of the Indian population ofAphelenchoides besseyi was studied under different temperatures and on different fungal species used for culturing the nematode. Although parthenogenetic reproduction in this species was recorded on all the fungi tested, the influence of the different fungal species on development and population buildup varied. There was a significant increase in nematode fecundity when one or two males were placed along with single females in the medium, as compared with when no male was introduced. Increasing the number of males further to eight depressed fecundity as compared with the treatment with two males.     

不同营养对亚金跳小蜂寿命和适合度的影响

为了解不同营养对寄生性天敌亚金跳小蜂Aenasius arizonensis(Girault)寿命及适合度的影响,在室内测定了10%蜂蜜水、10%蜂蜜水+粉蚧蜜露、蒸馏水+粉蚧蜜露、粉蚧蜜露和蒸馏水等不同饲喂条件对亚金跳小蜂寿命、雌蜂平均寄生率、羽化率和子代雌性比例的影响。结果表明,不同营养处理均能显著延长亚金跳小蜂的平均寿命,其中以10%蜂蜜水+粉蚧蜜露处理的效果最为显著,其雌、雄蜂平均寿命较对照分别增加3.87 d和1.07 d;不同营养条件下,雌蜂的适合度以10%蜂蜜水+粉蚧蜜露处理最好,雌蜂平均寄生率、羽化率和子代雌性比例分别为对照的12.11、1.84和52.35倍,雌蜂平均寄生率、羽化率和子代雌性比例在4~10 d均维持在较高水平,其最大值分别达80.67%、70.72%和63.74%。表明各种营养条件,尤其以10%蜂蜜水+粉蚧蜜露为营养时可延长亚金跳小蜂寿命,同时能提高其适合度。     

Sex-specific functional responses of dragonfly naiads Rhodothemis rufa on Culex quinquefasciatus larvae in laboratory bioassay

Laboratory bioassay was conducted to establish the biocontrol potentiality of naiads (aquatic nymphal stage) of Rhodothemis rufa (Rambur, 1842) against larvae of Culex quinquefasciatus, a common vector of filariasis in Tropical countries. From the study, it was noticed that in laboratory condition, the rate of predation of males of R. rufa was higher than that of females of almost same size and same species. The results of the present study revealed that both sexes displayed a density-dependent decelerating type-II functional response as the logistic regression estimated a significant negative linear parameter (P₁ value of ?0.330 and ?0.151 for males and females, respectively). Attack rate was almost similar for both sexes (0.082); however, handling time is less in males (0.62 min) than in females (0.852 min). The predator species usually coexist in the same aquatic habitat to that of mosquito larvae and can be effectively used in field condition to reduce the larval densities of mosquitoes in temporary or permanent aquatic water bodies.     

A bacterium against the tiger: further evidence of the potential of noninundative releases of males with manipulated Wolbachia infection in reducing fertility of Aedes albopictus field populations in Italy

BACKGROUND

Incompatible insect technique (IIT) is a population suppression approach based on the release of males with manipulated Wolbachia infection inducing egg inviability in wild females. We here present results of multiple field releases of incompatible ARwP males carried out in 2019 in a 2.7-ha green area within urban Rome (Italy) to assess the effect on Aedes albopictus egg viability. Data are compared with results obtained in 2018, when the approach was tested for the first time in Europe.

RESULTS

An average of 4674 ARwP males were released weekly for 7 weeks, resulting in a mean ARwP:wild male ratio of 1.1:1 (versus 0.7:1 in 2018). Egg-viability dynamics in ovitraps significantly varied between treated and control sites, with an estimated overall reduction of 35% (versus 15% in 2018). The estimated proportion of females classified as mated with ARwP males was 41.8% and the viability rate of eggs laid by these females (9.5%) was on average significantly lower than that of females only mated with wild males (87.8%); however, high variability in fertility was observed. Values of ARwP male competitiveness were 0.36 and 0.73 based on the overall viability rate of eggs in ovitraps and on female fertility, respectively; thus, well above the conventional 0.2 threshold for an effective suppressive impact in the field.

CONCLUSIONS

Results further support the potential of IIT as a tool to contribute to Ae. albopictus control in the urban context, stressing the need for larger field trials to evaluate the cost-efficacy of the approach in temperate regions. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.     

Studies on the Fecundity of Acarid Mites (Acarina: Acaridae)1

The effect of food on fecundity and its distribution during the life of Acarus siro L. was studied. In addition, the effect of repeated matings, of age of females and males, of parental age and of sex ratio on the fecundity of Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schr.) was studied. Nutrition affects the total fecundity and its distribution in A. siro. The highest fecundity of T. putrescentiae females occurred when mating occurred more than once a week. The fecundity of ageing virgin females decreases gradually with delays in the time of the first mating. The effect of male's age is not significant until the age of 60 days onwards. Females descending from 100-day-old parents showed 25% lower fecundity than females from young parents. Density of males above the sex ratio 1:1 diminishes the fecundity of females molested by males. The higher the number of the males in the cage per female, the lower their fecundity.     

Attraction and antennal response of the common wasp,Vespula vulgaris (L.), to selected synthetic chemicals in New Zealand beech forests

BACKGROUND: The common wasp, Vespula vulgaris (L.), and the German wasp, Vespula germanica (F.), are significant problems in New Zealand beech forests (Nothofagus spp.), adversely affecting native birds and invertebrate biodiversity. This work was undertaken to develop synthetic attractants for these species to enable more efficient monitoring and management. RESULTS: Seven known wasp attractants (acetic acid, butyl butyrate, isobutanol, heptyl butyrate, octyl butyrate and 2,4‐hexadienyl butyrate) were field tested, and only heptyl butyrate and octyl butyrate attracted significantly higher numbers of wasps than a non‐baited trap. Accordingly, a series of straight‐chain esters from methyl to decyl butyrate were prepared and field tested for attraction of social wasps. Peak biological activity occurred with hexyl butyrate, heptyl butyrate, octyl butyrate and nonyl butyrate. Polyethylene bags emitting approximately 18.4–22.6 mg day^?1 of heptyl butyrate were more attractive than polyethylene bags emitting approximately 14.7–16.8 mg day^?1 of heptyl butyrate in the field. Electroantennogram (EAG) studies indicated that queens and workers of V. vulgaris had olfactory receptor neurons responding to various aliphatic butyrates. CONCLUSION: These results are the first to be reported on the EAG response and the attraction of social wasps to synthetic chemicals in New Zealand beech forests and will enable monitoring of social wasp activity in beech forests. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

β-Tubulins in Gibberella zeae: their characterization and contribution to carbendazim resistance

BACKGROUND: Fusarium head blight caused by Gibberella zeae is an important disease of wheat and barley because it reduces grain yield and quality and results in the contamination of grain with mycotoxins. Recent studies have shown that carbendazim resistance in field strains of G. zeae is not caused by mutation of the β‐tubulin gene (β₁tub), which is the case with other filamentous fungi, but that fungicide resistance is greatly increased by deletion of β₁tub. The aim of the present study was to clarify the function of β₁tub and its role in carbendazim resistance in G. zeae by artificial gene operation. RESULTS: Deletion of β₁tub reduced vegetative growth and pathogenicity but increased asexual reproduction in G. zeae. All the mutants were more resistant to carbendazim than parent strains. A three‐dimensional model of β₁tub was constructed, and the possible carbendazim binding site was analysed. CONCLUSION: β₁tub is not an essential gene in G. zeae, but it affects the sensitivity of the fungus to carbendazim. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Being exposed to low concentrations of pirimiphos-methyl and chlorfenapyr has detrimental effects on the mobility of Trogoderma granarium

BACKGROUND

Sublethal effects of insecticides may negatively affect several biological and behavioral traits of insects. The lethal effects of pirimiphos-methyl and chlorfenapyr have been previously showed on Trogoderma granarium, but little knowledge is available about their sublethal effects at low concentrations on both sexes. Herein, the sublethal effects of pirimiphos-methyl and chlorfenapyr on the mobility of T. granarium males and females were investigated.

RESULTS

Lethal concentration (LC) values of pirimiphos-methyl and chlorfenapyr were lower for T. granarium females than males. LC values on males were LC₁₀ = 0.000788 and 0.00139 mg active ingredient (a.i.) cm⁻², LC₃₀ = 0.00350 and 0.00535 mg a.i. cm⁻², and LC₅₀ = 0.00986 and 0.0136 mg a.i. cm⁻² for pirimiphos-methyl and chlorfenapyr respectively. LC on females were LC₁₀ = 0.000704 and 0.00110 mg a.i. cm⁻², LC₃₀ = 0.00323 and 0.00428 mg a.i. cm⁻², and LC₅₀ = 0.00925 and 0.0110 mg a.i. cm⁻² for pirimiphos-methyl and chlorfenapyr respectively. The walking duration of beetles exposed to LC₃₀ of pirimiphos-methyl was significantly lower than the individuals exposed to LC₁₀ and LC₃₀ of both insecticides and control ones. Pirimiphos-methyl LC₃₀-exposed males remained more time on their back (101.7 s) than females (46.9 s), while the latter stayed immobile longer than males (381.7 s versus 371.9 s). The highest speed was recorded for control beetles (14.17 mm s⁻¹ females vs. 12.44 mm s⁻¹ males), while the lowest speed was observed in pirimiphos-methyl LC₃₀-treated males (8.36 mm s⁻¹) and females (9.66 mm s⁻¹).

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, males and females exposed to low concentrations of pirimiphos-methyl and chlorfenapyr showed reduced motility. This knowledge can be exploited further to unlock behavioral effects of insecticides for effective pest management programs in warehouses. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.     

Impact of 2,4-D on Ceuthorhynchidius horridus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and their compatibility for integrated control of Carduus thistles

Acute and chronic effects of spring application of 2,4-D on adult C. horridus (Panzer) were examined by determining dose-mortality response and adult vitality. LC₅₀ values for males (70.2 kg/ha) and females (61.4 kg/ha) corresponded to 41.7 and 36.6 times, respectively, the recommended application rate of 1.68 kg/ha. Survival of weevils treated with 1.68 kg/ha was not different from untreated controls, but higher doses (16.8–147.8 kg/ha) caused significantly greater mortality. Adult vitality, measured by number of feeding marks per weevil and rate of weight change. was unaffected by the herbicide. When thistle infested fields were sprayed with 1.68 or 2.24 kg/ha of 2,4-D the host plants died, but the survival, reproduction, and population increase of C. horridus were not affected.     

Competitive interactions between Goniozus nephantidis and Bracon brevicornis,parasitoids of the coconut pest Opisina arenosella

Black-headed caterpillar, Opisina arenosella Walker (Lepidoptera: Crytophasidae) is an endemic, frequently outbreaking pest of coconut in India and Sri Lanka. It also occurs in Bangladesh and Myanmar. Two larval parasitoid wasps Goniozus nephantidis (Muesebeck) (Bethylidae) and Bracon brevicornis Wesmael (Braconidae), are widely employed, either singly or in combination, for the biological control of O. arenosella in India. The co-occurrence of G. nephantidis and B. brevicornis in the field indicates the potential for competitive interactions which may interfere with pest suppression. In order to study the outcome of competitive interactions between these parasitoids, host larvae were exposed to the parasitoid species either alone or in combination. Females of G. nephantidis and B. brevicornis did not discriminate between unparasitised hosts and hosts parasitised by the other species. Survival of G. nephantidis and B. brevicornis from eggs to adult eclosion was 89.6 and 81.8%, respectively, when larvae of O. arenosella were exposed to these parasitoids individually. When both species were released simultaneously, the survival of G. nephantidis was 86.8% and females of that species chased B. brevicornis females, attempting to bite and sting them. The mean percentage of progeny obtained was significantly higher for G. nephantidis than for B. brevicornis. G. nephantidis dominated due to its parental care behaviour producing 87.0% of progeny and a sex ratio (proportion of females) of 0.79, whereas B. brevicornis produced 84.0% progeny and a sex ratio of 0.36. Although parental care by G. nephantidis females serves to protect the progeny from intruders, it may be disadvantageous from the standpoint of pest suppression under field conditions especially, when the pest population density is high.     

Evaluation of lufenuron as a chemosterilant against fruit flies of the genus Anastrepha (Diptera: Tephritidae)

BACKGROUND: Chemosterilisation with lufenuron bait stations is a recently developed technique that is being implemented for Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann control. The aim of this work was to evaluate the chemosterilising effect of lufenuron against four economically important Latin American fruit flies species: Anastrepha ludens (Loew.), A. obliqua Macquart, A. serpentina Wiedemann and A. striata Schiner (Diptera: Tephritidae) in order to design a similar strategy for their control. RESULTS: Sexually mature adults were treated by ingestion with concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 30.0 mg g^?1 of lufenuron in the diet. In addition, conspecific crosses with only one of the sexes being treated (30.0 mg g^?1) were performed in order to appraise the contribution of each sex to the sterilising effect. In all cases, fecundity was not affected by the treatments, as opposed to fertility where all Anastrepha species studied were significantly affected, although to different extents. The conspecific crosses showed that treated males of A. ludens, A. obliqua and A. serpentina were not able to transmit the sterility to their respective untreated females. Only in the case of A. striata did crossing treated males with untreated females significantly reduced egg hatch. CONCLUSION: Although further investigations are required, the present results demonstrate that the use of lufenuron for controlling A. striata could be potentially viable. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry