Release of Chemosterilized Males for the Control of Anopheles Albimanus in el Salvador

Abstract
A colony of Anopheles albimanus Wiedemann was established by collecting females from the Lake Apastepeque test area a few months before a release program was to begin. By the time of the releases, the approximately 120,000 larvae set daily in 60 trays netted a daily mean of 42,900 pupae in the male fraction after sexing. Of these, 86% were male, and 89% emerged as viable adults. Virtually complete male sterility (99.8%) was produced by exposing the pupae for 1 hr in a 1% aqueous solution of P,P-bis(1-aziridinyl)-N-methyl phosphinothioic amide; female sterility was 96.6%. The treated pupae were packaged in aluminum pans lined with wet filter paper and covered with fiberglass, held overnight in styrofoam coolers, and transported to the release area by motor vehicle the following morning. Rearing and sterilization costs are estimated at about $280 per million male pupae, exclusive of the costs of the buildings, utilities, vehicles, and nonexpendable supplies and materials. About 40 square meters of floor space would be required for the shelving necessary to accommodate sufficient adults and larvae to produce 70,000 male pupae per day.

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