Excerpt from The Potential Role of the Sterility Method for Insect Population Control With Special Reference to Combining This Method With Conventional Methods

The release of sterile insects offers a useful new method for controlling or eliminating populations of certain insects. The merits and limitations of the method for use against the wide range of insects that we must contend with cannot be fully deter mined on the basis of current knowledge. However, with the information and experience already gained and further study of the basic principles involved, there is every reason to believe that the technique, used alone or integrated with other methods, can have broad application for the control or eradication of a number of our most destructive insects. The need is acute for more desirable, as well as more economical, ways to regulate populations of certain key insect species that cause high economic losses, and which, in addition, necessitate costly and continuing control efforts. Current control measures for some of these major pests contribute substantially to the accumulation of insecticides in our total environment. Moreover, to control key insect species, it is necessary to employ broad spectrum insecticides, which have adverse effects on natural enemies, necessitating a more intensive effort to control other pests.

The sterile-insect technique will not be practical for controlling or eliminating established populations of most of our destructive insect species. The method will not be feasible for those that have a wide host range, are Sporadic in appearance, or which do not cause high economic losses. An insect pest might be of great importance on minor crops, but the total economic value of the crops may not justify the costly control or eradication programs that most likely would be involved in the mass production and release of large numbers of sterile insects. This same line of reasoning, however, may not hold for insects that have a restricted host range.

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