A COMPARISON OF IRRADIATED OR CHEMOSTERILIZED PINK BOLLWORM MOTHS FOR SUPPRESSING NATIVE POPULATIONS IN FIELD CAGES

Abstract
Pink bollworm moths chemosterilized by fumigation with bis (1-Aziridinyl) phosphinic acid, ethyl ester, and released into field cages failed to suppress native populations. In comparison, moths irradiated with 10 krad of gamma radiation caused highly significant reductions in populations. Flight range and competitiveness tests in the laboratory failed to explain the ineffectiveness of the chemosterilized moths.