Esch Evan D, Horner Rachael M, Krompetz Dustin C, Moses-Gonzales Nathan, Tesche Melissa R, Suckling David Maxwell
Okanagan-Kootenay Sterile Insect Release Board, Kelowna, BC VIW 3Z4, Canada.
School of Engineering, University of British Columbia, Okanagan Campus, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7, Canada.
Insects. 2021 Feb 13;12(2):159. doi: 10.3390/insects12020159.
The codling moth is a serious pest of apples in most regions of the world where this fruit is produced. The sterile insect technique is one strategy used to control this pest and is employed as part of an area-wide integrated pest management program for the codling moth in British Columbia, Canada. Modified fixed wing aircraft are the most common method for the release of sterile insects in large area-wide pest management programs. However, aerial release with a full-size aircraft can be prohibitively expensive. We evaluated the use of small, uncrewed aircraft systems (UASs) for the release of sterile codling moths. Sterile codling moths released from greater altitudes were more broadly distributed and drifted more in strong winds, compared to those released from lower altitudes. Most of the released insects were recaptured in a 50 m wide swath under the release route. Recapture rates for aerially released insects were 40-70% higher compared to those released from the ground. UASs provide a promising alternative to ground release and conventional aircraft for the release of sterile codling moths.
苹果蠹蛾是世界上大多数苹果产区的一种严重害虫。昆虫不育技术是用于控制这种害虫的一种策略，在加拿大不列颠哥伦比亚省作为苹果蠹蛾区域综合虫害管理计划的一部分被采用。在大面积虫害管理计划中，改装的固定翼飞机是释放不育昆虫最常用的方法。然而，用全尺寸飞机进行空中释放成本可能高得令人望而却步。我们评估了使用小型无人飞机系统（UAS）释放不育苹果蠹蛾的情况。与从较低高度释放的不育苹果蠹蛾相比，从较高高度释放的不育苹果蠹蛾分布更广，在强风中漂移得更远。大多数释放的昆虫在释放路线下方50米宽的地带被重新捕获。空中释放昆虫的重新捕获率比地面释放的高出40%至70%。对于释放不育苹果蠹蛾而言，无人飞机系统为地面释放和传统飞机提供了一种有前景的替代方案。
