An evaluation of a genetic method for population suppression of Teleogryllus commodus (Wlk.) (Orth., Gryllidae) in Victoria

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Abstract
Studies on the egg diapause of Teleogryllus commodus (Wlk.) in southern Victoria, and the effect of latitude on the intensity of diapause in Teleogryllids have led to the concept of population suppression by the genetic elimination of diapause. The method is based on the finding that males of the closely related T. oceanicus (Le Guillou) transmit the non-diapausing trait when crossed with T. commodus females. An additional suppressive factor is imposed by sterility in the progeny of the cross. An evaluation of the feasibility of this approach has been carried out in small-scale trials using field enclosures in which known populations of both types were studied. With a 10:1 ratio of non-diapausing/diapausing males, a mean of 73–8% of the eggs from the T. commodus females were hybrid, and with a 5:1 ratio 50–8%. The practical application of the method will not be attempted until the relative suitability of a number of candidate non-diapause biotypes has been determined.
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