Entomology Laboratory
The Entomology Laboratory is currently staffed with five to six research scientists and 12 permanent technical support staff. The Laboratory receives continuously fellows and scientific visitors for training for a varying
period of time depending on the topic and either participate in one of the working activities or carry out a research project. The Laboratory also host consultants, sabbaticals and visiting scientists for short or long term
periods. It has extensive insect rearing facilities, including quarantine facilities, training areas, a molecular laboratory, a gamma irradiator and an X-ray source.
The R and D carried out at the Entomology Laboratory is aimed at improving the use of the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) as a component of the area-wide integrated pest management (AW-IPM). The major R and D topics
are related to the development and improvement of mass-rearing techniques, radiation biology, mating behaviour, strain competitiveness and compatibility, molecular biology, genetics, development of genetic sexing strains, and quality
control and management of the reared and released insects.
The decision as to which species are included in the activities of the Laboratory is of prime importance. New species are continuously being introduced in the Laboratory and the R and D programme is amended as required to address
concerns of Member States on newly emerging insect pests of regional or cosmopolitan importance. Read more about our activities in Newsletters & Annual Reports.
Fruit Flies. Fruit flies are among the most devastating pests of agricultural crops and their presence in the Member States has significant consequences for international trade. R and D in the
Laboratory has in the past two decades focused on the Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata. However, as the SIT technology for this species has much matured, the emphasis has now shifted to other important fruit fly pests such as
various Anastrepha and Bactrocera species.
The Fruit Fly Research Group maintains colonies of Bactrocera dorsalis (wild and a genetic sexing strain (GSS)), Melon fly Bactrocera cucurbitae (wild and GSS ), Guava fruit fly Bactrocera correcta, olive fruit fly Bactrocera oleae,
and the South American fruit fly Anastrepha fraterculus (Peru (six trains from different geographical regions) and Argentina origin). A colony of the Vienna 8 genetic sexing strain of the Mediterranean fruit fly is still maintained for training
purposes and to supply material to collaborating institutes. In addition, small experimental colonies of more than 100 mutant fruit fly strains are being maintained as an important repository for Member States.
Current research topics of the Fruit Fly Research Group include(1) improvement of rearing methodology and radiation studies for the olive fruit fly, (2) effect of juvenile hormone mimics and dietary proteins on the behaviour of male
melon fly and male South American fruit fly, (3) mass-rearing of transgenic fruit fly strains, (4) mating competitiveness and compatibility of various transgenic strains and wild strains, (5) cytogenetic characterization of genetic sexing strains
of B. dorsalis and B. cucurbitae, (6) the use of stable isotopes to distinguish between wild and laboratory-reared fruit flies, and (7) analysis of various transgenic fruit fly lines.
Tsetse Flies. Tsetse flies (Glossina spp) are blood feeding insects in sub-Saharan Africa which transmit Trypanosoma parasites that cause Human African Trypanosomosis (HAT) or sleeping sickness in humans and African
Animal Trypanosomosis (AAT) or "Nagana" in livestock. There are 8-10 tsetse species of economic importance that prevent the development of sustainable and efficient livestock production systems and tsetse are therefore rightfully considered as one of the root causes
of poverty in Africa.
The Tsetse Research Group maintains important colonies of Glossina pallidipes, G. swynnertoni, G. m. centralis, G. p. palpalis, and G. brevipalpis. Colonies of other important tsetse species are being maintained in various collaborating institutes
(e.g. SAS (Slovakia), CIRDES (Burkina Faso), TTRI (Tanzania)). The research of the Tsetse Research Group is currently focusing on (1) the development, refinement and validation of the semi-automated feeding and holding "Tsetse Production Units" (TPU3), (2) the
sequencing of the genome of the Salivary Gland Hypertrophy Virus (SGHV) in various strains of G. pallidipes, (3) the management of the SGHV, (4) an assessment of SGHV prevalence in various wild tsetse populations, (5) the development of a sexing mechanism for tsetse
pupae using Near Infrared Spectroscopy, and (6) an assessment of alternatives to the use of gamma radiation such as UV for decontamination of tsetse blood for feeding.
In addition, the Tsetse Research Group is involved in an evaluation of an X ray irradiator (RS2400) as an alternative to gamma radiation for the sterilization of insect pests that are the target of AW-IPM programmes with an SIT component. The group also has initiated
a dosimetry inter-comparison service, to assist programmes that release sterile insects with the correct evaluation of their radiochromic dosimetry system.
Mosquitoes. Malaria is a parasitic disease that is transmitted by female mosquitoes of the genus Anopheles. It is one of the most devastating diseases in Africa, responsible for more than 1 million deaths per year and a
major obstacle to poverty reduction. A new project has started to assess the feasibility of developing the SIT package for the control of Anopheles arabiensis, one of the malaria transmitting mosquitoes. The experimental component of this R and D project is implemented in
the Entomology Laboratory, but programmatically the project is managed by the IAEA´s Division of Human Health.
The research of the Mosquitoes Research Group is currently focussed on: (1) the development of a genetic sexing strain, (2) the use of stable isotopes for the labeling of semen for mating studies, (3) the competitiveness of males irradiated as adults or as pupae, (4) sperm
morphology and quantity of laboratory-reared males and wild males, and (5) the development and improvement of mass-rearing techniques.
For further information please contact the Head, Entomology Laboratory, Marc Vreysen
