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Lack of a dose response at the F generation precludes the use of irradiation-induced inherited sterility. The conventional sterile insect technique appears possible by irradiation of males from ∼12 to 16 Gy. The effect of radiation dose on females is not known, thus we cannot conclude whether bi-sex release is feasible so for now the release of males only is recommended. More work is needed on the competitive fitness of irradiated males, and logistics such as mass rearing or field collection, in order to determine the feasibility of the approach.

Caterpillars of key moth pests can cause significant losses in cropping systems worldwide, and globalization is spreading such pests. Failure to control some species can jeopardise the economics of food production. A Global Eradication and Response Database (http://b3.net.nz/gerda) was reviewed on known government-level incursion response programs specific to invasive Lepidoptera. Geographic range expansion of Lepidoptera was evident from 144 incursion response programs targeting 28 species in 10 families. The countries involved in responses to Lepidoptera were USA (104), Australia (8), Canada (7), New Zealand (6), Italy (3), Mexico (2), with the remainder with one programme each (Brazil, Czech Republic, France, Hungary, and Spain). Most programs have been undertaken since the 1990’s. Control options exist for the long-term management of Lepidoptera, but most have issues of cost, efficacy or non-target impacts that reduce their acceptance. Pheromone-based technologies are increasingly available and are generally highly compatible with other tactics. The development of tactics for new targets is a major undertaking, although previous programs can be invaluable. New and improved socially-acceptable technologies are needed to counteract range expansion in Lepidoptera, and usually need to be used in combinations to achieve eradication. The sterile insect technique, which involves mass-rearing and release of sterile insects to reduce wild populations of the pest, has been used successfully against a number of lepidopteran species. Several sterile moth programs are under development. New technologies must have a social license to operate in urban areas, where new incursions are frequently detected. This factor is likely to reduce tactical flexibility and increase the complexity of insect eradication.

This case study describes the US regulatory process governing agricultural biotechnology and traces the approval of Roundup Ready soyabeans (with transgenic tolerance of the herbicide glyphosate), summarizing the information that was submitted to US regulatory agencies by Monsanto. Estimates of the impact that the adoption of Roundup Ready soyabeans has had on US agriculture are also provided. The US regulatory structure for agricultural biotechnology has evolved over the past 25 years, as technology allowing for genetic modification developed. The system continues to evolve as new and different applications of the technology emerge. In reviewing the studies that were conducted on the safety of Roundup Ready soyabeans, no indication of greater health or environmental risks were found compared with conventional varieties. The benefits of the introduction of Roundup Ready soyabeans include cost savings of US$216 million in annual weed control and 19 million fewer soyabean herbicide applications per year.

Codling moth Cydia pomonella (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) is the key pest of pome fruit in South Africa, and it’s control in apple and pear orchards relies on the application of insecticides and pheromone‐mediated mating disruption. Development of resistance to insecticides and placement of restrictions on the use of certain insecticides has made control of codling moth in South Africa increasingly problematic. The use of the sterile insect technique (SIT) as a control tactic for codling moth is under investigation as a potential addition to the current control strategy. We investigated the radiosensitivity of a laboratory strain of codling moth that was established from moths collected from commercial and organic orchards in the Western Cape, South Africa. Fecundity and fertility of this strain following radiation were consistent with values for the codling moth strain in the Canadian rearing facility in British Columbia. For both strains, the female codling moth was considerably more radiosensitive than the male. At a radiation dose of 100 Gy or higher, treated females were 100% sterile. The fertility of the South African strain was higher (86.3%) than for the Canadian strain (71.9%). This difference in fertility between the two strains was maintained when the dose of radiation was 100 Gy. However, the level of fertility was very similar between the two strains for doses ≥150 Gy. Therefore, based upon previously published work and the data from this study, an operational dose of 150 Gy is recommended for future codling moth SIT programmes in South Africa.

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