Sexual Competitive Ability of Mass-Reared Males and Mate Preference in Wild Females : Their Effects on Eradication of Melon Flies

Abstract

A simulation model of sterile insect releases was constructed based on a logistic equation of population growth. Reduction of sexual competitive ability in mass-reared and sterilized males and evolutionary change of mate preference in wild females were incorporated in the model. The results suggested that the effect of the reduction of competitive ability of sterile males on the effectivness of the sterile insect release method (SIRM) is substantial but that the effect of female mate preference is slight. The number of sterile males released should be increased to overcome the evolution of mate preference in wild females. However, this does not appear to be a serious obstacle for eradication of the melon fly.