The best known genetic control technology, the sterile insect release technique (SIT), uses radiation to cause genetic damage or sterility to the gametes of the release insect so that all of the progeny from a mating with the wild target pest are nonviable. Use of SIT against pink bollworm (PBW) has proven to be very successful and has been used for over 30 years to protect a large cotton growing area in the Central Valley of California. However, PBW require a high dose of radiation to cause sterility, which causes a significant decline in the performance of the insect. This effect of radiation makes high release rates necessary. As the demands of an expanding PBW eradication program in the western cotton belt put more pressure on limited resources, a more competitive release insect is needed.

To improve the effectiveness of PBW genetic control, two control methods with transgenic insects are in development: a low dose F-1 sterile release strategy using genetically marked PBW (e.g., GFP from jellyfish, DsRed from coral); and the release of a conditionally lethal strain of PBW as an alternative or supplement to sterilization by irradiation. Because these two control strategies use either a low dose or no irradiation, the release insect is more competitive allowing lower release rates to be used.

Information about the development of these control strategies using transgenic insects will be presented along with some considerations about maintaining stable lines within a mass-rearing facility.