Sterile Males in a Sex Pheromone Permeated Atmosphere to Reduce Reproduction of Ephestia cautella 13

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Abstract
A combination of the sex pheromone permeated atmosphere (SPPA) and the sterile males in a ratio of 2 sterile:1 fertile (SM 2:1) generally reduces reproduction of the almond moth, Ephestia cautella (Walker) more than either of these treatments alone. The sterile males render infertile some of the matings that occur in the SPPA. With similar test conditions, the reductions in reproduction in the SPPA are roughly equivalent to those for the SM 2:1, except at very low moth densities. At low densities, the SPPA reduces reproduction more than the SM 2:1. In fact, at these densities the mating rate may be so low in the SPPA that the SM 2:1 adds little to the effectiveness of the SPPA. However, when the insect distribution is not uniform, the combination of the SPPA and the SM 2:1 might still be useful at infestation levels apparently optimal for the SPPA alone.