Table 1.
Types of release machines available as a function of the aircraft and species to be released.
Figure 1.
Plan of the version of Mubarqui Smart Release Machine (MSRM1) used to release fruit flies.
Figure 2.
Plan of the version of Mubarqui Smart Release Machine (MSRM2) used to release tsetse flies.
Figure 3.
Comparison of conveyor (MCRM) and vibrator (MSRM1) release machines for Anastrepha ludens in Mexico.
Rate of positive traps (left) and recapture rates (right) are presented for different release densities. A trap is considered positive when at least one fly is captured during a week.
Figure 4.
Comparison of conveyor (MCRM) and vibrator (MSRM1) release machines for Ceratitis capitata in Mexico.
Rate of positive traps (left) and recapture rates (right) are presented for different release densities. A trap is considered positive when at least one fly is captured during a week.
Figure 5.
Comparison of paper boxes and vibrator release machine (MSRM2) for Glossina palpalis gambiensis in Senegal.
Rate of positive traps (left) and recapture rates (right) are presented for different release conditions: paper boxes at ambient temperature (13–31°C), paper boxes at controlled temperature (14–25°C), MSRM2 with the temperature controlled at 6–10°C or 9–12°C. A trap is considered positive when at least one fly is captured during a week.
Figure 6.
Parameterization of release rates of Glossina palpalis gambiensis with the vibrator release machine (MSRM2).
The graph presents the linear correlation between the natural logarithm of the number released by second and the power of the vibrator (as a percentage of the maximal electrical power). Vertical bares present the standard errors (three repeats of 1 minute per value). This test was achieved within the tsetse eradication program in Senegal (http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/211898/icode/).
Figure 7.
Release patterns of chilled male Glossina palpalis gambiensis in Senegal.
The control area is subdivided in four blocks targeted sequentially and each block is subdivided in polygons where the release density is adjusted according to the amount of suitable habitats. Since 28 February 2014, all releases of sterile flies are achieved using MSRM2 on board a gyrocopter of the Kalahari aerodrome (picture at the top left of the figure). The minimal release rates are 0.26 flies per ha for RL1, 0.12 flies per ha for RL2 and 0.53 flies per ha for RL3 and actual release rates are adjusted to the availability of flies at the release center (ISRA insectarium, Dakar-Hann, Senegal). The tracks presented on the figures correspond to the flights of 21 March 2014 for RL1, 05 April 2014 for RL2 and 15 April 2014 for RL3. Grey points represent trap positions where no tsetse was captured in April-May 2014 whereas red points present trap positions where sterile males released with MSRM2 were recaptured.