Autosterilization for Control of the Housefly Musca domestica

Abstract

A deterministic simulation model is developed and used to explore the behaviour of autosterilization systems for control of the housefly Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae). Autosterilizing systems integrate a chemical sterilant and an attractant into a single control device. The simulations show that, at 25°C, 43% of females would need to be killed or sterilized per day to bring about a decline in the model housefly population. However, if both sexes could be sterilized, only 25% of the population would need to be affected per day. The proportion of a population that would need to be sterilized to bring about effective control, however, is dependent on ambient temperature. In addition, the relative advantage of sterilization of both sexes over killing or sterilizing females alone is positively related to the percentage of the population that can be attracted. The intensity of density dependence affecting the population does not affect the proportion that needs to be sterilized per day for control. However, at the lower equilibrium population densities, which result from increasing density dependence, lower absolute numbers of individuals need to be attracted and sterilized per day. The results show that the development of effective autosterilizing systems is highly dependent on the identification of potent attractants and the development of powerful, insect-specific sterilants, both of which should affect males and females.