Project Number: 5442-22000-040-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: May 25, 2005
End Date: May 24, 2010

Objective:
Develop methods for short and long-term cold storage of beneficial and pest insects such as tephritid fruit flies, glassy-wing sharpshooter, Heliothine moths, and Mymarid wasps used in area wide sterile release and biocontrol programs; and for insects used in fundamental high impact research projects which generate or acquire numerous valuable genetic strains.

Approach:
Design short-term storage techniques by determining developmental and stage specific cold tolerance and susceptibility to manipulation of insect dormancy; Devise cryogenic procedures for long-term storage in liquid nitrogen by determining chilling tolerance, membrane permeability, cryoprotectant and post-storage recovery requirements.