The Trojan Female Technique: Feasibility studies for invertebrate pest control
Summary
A new approach to pest fertility control has been proposed, called the ‘Trojan Female Technique’ (TFT), involving the release of females carrying naturally occurring mitochondrial DNA haplotypes that reduce the fertility of their male offspring. Proof-of-concept development work for the TFT was awarded ‘Smart Ideas Phase 1’ funding in 2013 by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. Part of this proof-of-concept is to conduct feasibility studies of the suitability of different pest types for TFT application, based on mathematical modelling. This report presents the findings of such feasibility studies for pasture weevils and varroa mite, in addition to simulations of laboratory fruit-fly populations to guide population control trials (another component of the TFT proof-of-concept).