Exploratory Studies on Gamma Radiation for the Sterilization and Control of Anopheles quadrimaculatus

Abstract

In laboratory studies on the effect of gamma radiation on Anopheles quadrimaculatus Say, it was found that dosages of 8,865 to 12,900 r applied in the pupal or adult stage were required to cause complete sterility. Irradiated females mated to unirradiated males produced no eggs, whereas unirradiated females mated to irradiated males produced a normal number of eggs but none hatched. When irradiated males were introduced into caged populations of normal males and females at ratios of 4: 1:1 or less, usually no reduction in the total number of viable eggs was produced, but at ratios of 6:1:1 and 10:1:1 there was a reduction of about 80%. The dosages(r) required to cause 50% and 100% mortality in 48 hours were; for eggs, 2,600 and >;11,000; for larvae, 32,000 and 120,000; for pupae, 22,000 and 40,000.