Effect of aging on the mating competitiveness of irradiated male greater wax moths (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

The greater wax moth is a candidate for control using the sterile male release technique or the release of substerilized adults. This study was designed to assess the effect of aging on the mating competitiveness of males that had received a substerilizing dose of radiation early in adult life. Young adult Galleria mellonella (L.) males exposed to either 0 or 20 rad of ionizing irradiation. Treated males competed with normal males for virgin females at 1, 8, and 15 days of age. Mating competitiveness decreased as irradiated males aged. A vigor-loss hypothesis is proposed. Additionally, an improved technique for obtaining substantial numbers of virgin adults is described.