Incompatible insect technique: insights on potential outcomes of releasing contaminant females: a proof of concept under semi-field conditions
Incompatible insect technique: insights on potential outcomes of releasing contaminant females: a proof of concept under semi-field conditions
Tags: Incompatible insect technique, WolbachiaGiulia Lombardi, Elena Lampazzi, Maurizio Calvitti, Pest Management Science, 2024.
The contamination of ‘wPip’ infected females (2%) during male releases significantly weakened the overall effectiveness of IIT, emphasizing the need for thorough sex separation. Specifically, with UnCI IIT, despite the low rate of co-released females, there was a gradual rise in ‘wPip’ infection frequency, resulting in more compatible mating and subsequently higher rates of egg hatching. Conversely, this pattern was effectively mitigated in BiCI IIT owing to the reciprocal sterility between the wild-type and the ‘wPip’ infected populations.
Through an experimental approach, conducted in a semi-field setting, we have contributed to advancing scientific understanding regarding the potential outcomes of implementing the IIT strategy in the absence of a complete sexing system. The results suggest that safety measures for mitigating the potential impacts of co-released females can be tailored according to the specific type of IIT being utilized. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.