Sterile Insect Technique

Basics

• A Method of Pest Control for Insects wherein Sufficient Amounts of Sterile Insects are Introduced to the Area, Thus Wiping Out that Species in a Generation or so

Use Cases

Screwworm

• Largely an Agricultural Issues, rather than Public Health
• Still could be of use
• Granted done at the Nationstate level, thus not TOO OSE-Relevant
• [https://youtu.be/tdM1_lsYPAI?si=6IztBIR_OLQHrz7M A Video by the YouTube Channel "Farm to Taber" Titled "Screwworm Update: First USA Confirmed Case"
  • Mentions the history of how it was managed via the SIT, and how holding it in Panama was cheaper due to less Production Facilities being required (less area to cover in sterile flies)
• A Video by the YouTube Channel "SciShow" Titled "Why Planes Drop Millions of Flies on Panama Every Day"
  • Mentions Gamma Ray Irradiation for the Sterilization + Covers Far More Data + Citations etc
• A Video by the YouTube Channel "Half as Interesting" Titled "Why the US Drops 14.7 Million Worms On Panama Every Week" ( ~8 Minute Watch )

Mediterranean Fruit Fly

• A Video by the YouTube Channel "Tom Scott" Titled "Why the government drops flies on California" ( ~6 Minute Watch )
  • This video covers more of the "how" as well; digging for proper papers+protocols is still worthwhile though
  • Need to see how much is species-specific etc, but there is Parts Commonality with other species as well as BSF Larvae production
    • The actual risk is debatable, but there is some Dual Use Potential, and thus probably regulatory requirements as well

Larger Insects

• Invasive Worms?
• Unlikely to work with Fire Ants or Wasps/Bees etc due to the whole queen thing

Fish

• Can this be applied to invasive fish?

Mammals

• Could this be used for Invasive Rodents?
• New Zealand/Australia have been pursuing "Invasive Predator Free" Via more conventional methods, need to see if this was considered
• May run higher risks of cancer + cruelty is a concern once you get to fellow complex animals and whatnot