D3218: Sterile insect release for control of apple maggot

Apple maggot, Rhagoletis pomonella, is a significant pest of apple across Canada, commonly controlled using pesticides. As products become more restricted in their use or de-registered, options for control of this pest are limited. Sterile insect release (SIR) is a method that could replace or augment pesticide use.  The logistics of this strategy for apple maggot is under investigation. For SIR to be feasible a non-diapausing colony able to produce thousands of flies is required. Here we describe efforts to create a non-diapausing colony, evaluate the efficacy of sterilization, and develop artificial rearing methods. Sterilization of pupae were conducted using a gamma cell irradiator and proved effective for both males and females. Using various waxes, shapes and colors were investigated for attraction and use by female flies as an oviposition substrate, then ease of transfer of eggs to a larval substrate. Challenges and future directions are discussed.