Sterile insect technique

A pest-control method that releases large numbers of sterilized insects so wild members of the same species produce fewer viable offspring.

Incompatible insect technique: A pest-control method that releases insects infected with incompatible Wolbachia strains, causing matings that produce few or no viable offspring. It suppresses reproduction through inherited bacterial incompatibility rather than irradiation-induced sterility.
New World screwworm: A parasitic fly whose larvae infest living warm-blooded animals. A landmark eradication campaign used sterile releases to eliminate it from North and Central America.
Edward F. Knipling: An American entomologist who developed the sterile insect approach to controlling insect pests. His work established the method's theoretical and operational foundations.
Chemical pest control: The use of pesticides or other chemicals to kill, repel, or disrupt pest organisms. Unlike chemical control, sterile releases target reproduction and leave no pesticide residue.
Wolbachia: A genus of intracellular bacteria that infect many arthropods and can alter their reproduction. Wolbachia-based incompatibility can complement or provide an alternative to sterile releases.
Mediterranean fruit fly: A highly damaging fruit fly that attacks a wide range of cultivated fruits. Sterile releases have been used to suppress or eradicate local populations.
Raymond C. Bushland: An American entomologist who helped develop and apply sterile insect control against the screwworm fly. His laboratory work made large-scale sterilization and release practical.
Classical biological control: The introduction of natural enemies to establish long-term control of an invasive pest. It suppresses pests through predators or parasites rather than sterile members of the pest species.
Radiation biology: The study of how ionizing and non-ionizing radiation affect living organisms. Ionizing radiation is widely used to sterilize insects before release.
Tsetse fly: A blood-feeding African fly that transmits the parasites causing human and animal African trypanosomiasis. Sterile insect releases helped eradicate tsetse from Zanzibar.

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