Sterile insect technique (SIT) in the near east - a transboundary bridge for development and peace

Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wied.), is a major pest of fru its and vegetables throughout the region, reduces yield of marketable fruit and limits exports. The Arava Medfly Eradication Project (AMEP) was initia ted in 1997, and serves as a pilot effort to begin implementing the sterile insect technique in the Near East. It could become a model for future impl ementation of the proposed EASTMED project, a plan conceived and planned by the International Atomic Energy Agency in 1994-1995 with input of regional experts. The target area lies in the Arava Valley between the Dead Sea and the Red Sea. AMEP activities include host mapping, population monitoring a nd suppression followed by weekly releases of sterile flies. This project w ill lead to permanent establishment and maintenance of Medfly free areas. I n addition, new technologies are being tested under local conditions. This includes use of tsl male-only strains of medflies, aerial releases with a c hilled insect release machine, female attractants and new trap designs. At present, the project relies upon long-distance shipping of pupae from Madei ra, Portugal and Guatemala rather than local sources. The medfly population on the Israeli side of the Arava valley, was monitored in 132 trimedlure l oaded traps. It dropped by July 1999 to 0.04 flies per trap per day from th e pre-eradication level of 0.71 flies per trap per day in July 1998. In Jun e 1999, only 19% of the traps captured wild flies as compared to 40% of the traps in June 1997. As medfly does not respect international boundaries, t ransboundary co-operation is a key factor for successful implementation. Cu rrent project status and plans for future expansion within Israel, Jordan a nd the Palestinian Authority will be presented. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science L td. All rights reserved.