Insect Growth Regulators as Chemosterilants for Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Abstract

Ten insect growth regulators (IGRs) were tested as chemosterilizing agents for Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae)—lufenuron, triflumuron, diflubenzuron, benzylphenol J2644, cyromazine, pyriproxyfen, methoprene, azadirachtin, fenoxycarb, and buprofezin. The IGRs were administered to adult flies mixed with their food. The phenyl-benzoylureas with fluorinated alkoxy substituents in the phenyl group showed the highest activity as hatching inhibitors. A 1,000-ppm dose of lufenuron given to adult females (virgin or mated) for 3 h produced total suppression of egg hatch. The same sterilizing activity was observed in females that copulated with males treated with lufenuron in the food at 5,000 ppm for 3 h. The sterility of treated females continued for at least 25 d after treatment. Triflumuron caused total suppression of egg hatch when administered to females at 10,000 ppm for 3 d. The sterilant activity of the other IGRs was low compared with that of lufenuron and triflumuron. Lufenuron is proposed as a suitable substitute of organophosphates against C. capitata.