Boll Weevil Chemosterilization by Hypobarometric Distillation

Hypobarometric distillation appears to be a promising technique for sterilizing Anthonomus grandis Boheman because of the short exposure times. Boll weevils were exposed to hempa and hempa + isotropyl methane sulfonate for times ranging from 1–6 min. Males were effectively sterilized by the 2, 4, and 6 min treatments, although some recovery of fertility was evident in the 2nd and 3rd weeks posttreatment. Egg production by treated females was significantly decreased and egg hatch averaged 31%.