Suppression of the Reproductive Potential of the Codling Moth by Gamma Irradiated Males in Caged Orchard Trees1

Abstract

Fully developed pupae of the codling moth, Carpocapsa pomonella (L.), were exposed to 40,000 rads of gamma radiation, and the emerged adults caged with normal moths over dwarf apple trees. The average numbers of mature larval offspring per cage that developed when each cage was supplied with (a) 5 normal male, 5 normal female, and 50 irradiated male moths, (b) 5 normal male, 5 normal female, 50 irradiated male, and 50 irradiated female moths, or (c) 5 normal male, 5 normal female, and no irradiated moths were: 6.0 in (a), 16.6 in (b), and 40.3 in (c). In another experiment, in which the number of normal moths remained the same but the number of irradiated moths of each sex was increased from 50 to 100, the average numbers of mature larvae that developed in each cage were 0.7,2.0, and 33.3, respectively.