🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1012@gold.GVG.TEK.COM> (Greg Ebert) writes:
>With regard to the Medfly problem, has malathion spraying replaced the use
>of sterile flies ? I recall that this tactic was successful, and I don't
>remember hearing any complaints. In fact, I can't think of any serious
>detriments to the environment by using sterile flies.

If they are controlling the infestation the same way that they did 
in Northern California a few years back, they are doing both (areial
spraying of Malathion and release of sterile male flies).  They did
have problems with the release of sterile flies, some batches turned
out NOT to be sterile.  The release of sterile flies is NOT enough to
stop the infestation, it can only be one part of a strategy to control
this extremely destructive pest.  Even when they were not doing areial
spraying, they were releasing "sterile" flies, going door to door stripping
all of the fruit off of people's trees, and spraying Diazanon in
everyone's yards.  Personally, I preferred the areial spraying of Malathion.
From what I know of the two chemicals, Diazanon is much more dangerous 
than Malathion.

Guido Marx