The Sterile Insect Technique: Innovations, Challenges, and Future Directions

Organizer(s)

• 

  Marion Le Gall (she/her/hers)

  Supervisory Entomologist
  M3 Agriculture Technologies
  Tempe, Arizona

This symposium showcases the broad scope of SIT research: from genetic strain to stakeholder outreach and spans agricultural, veterinary, and public health pests. It highlights the global move from gamma to X-ray irradiation alongside innovations in radiobiology, system design, and interdisciplinary approaches driving the future of sustainable pest management.

Presentations:

• 2:00 PM - 2:02 PM Pacific

  Introductory remarks
  

  Presenting Author: Marion Le Gall (she/her/hers) – M3 Agriculture Technologies
• 2:02 PM - 2:20 PM Pacific

  A flow cytometry-based diagnosis: Electron beam radiation induces DNA endoreplication in holometabolous juvenile insects
  

  Presenting Author: Keyan Zhu Salzman – Texas A&M University

  Co-Author: Jiaxin Lei – Texas A&M University

  Co-Author: Suresh Pillai – Texas A&M University
• 2:20 PM - 2:38 PM Pacific

  Unnatural selection: Using x-rays to stop the spread of deadly Aedes mosquitoes
  

  Presenting Author: Brent D. Phelan – Rad Source Technologies, Inc.
• 2:56 PM - 3:14 PM Pacific

  X-rays are just as good as gamma rays for sterilization and sterile male mating competitiveness in the mosquito Aedes aegypti, but are there source-based differences in cellular damage?
  

  Presenting Author: Daniel Hahn – University of Florida
• 3:14 PM - 3:24 PM Pacific

  Break
• 3:24 PM - 3:42 PM Pacific

  Hard and soft Xrays as alternatives to gamma-irradiation for sterilization of navel orangeworm (A. transitella) used in sterile insect technique
  

  Presenting Author: Lars Laber (he/him/his) – University of California

  Co-Author: Charles S. Burks (he/him/his) – USDA-ARS

  Co-Author: Houston Wilson (he/him/his) – University of California
• 3:42 PM - 4:00 PM Pacific

  Advances in chilled adult insect SIT x-ray irradiation systems
  

  Presenting Author: William McLaughlin – Precision X-Ray Inc.

  Co-Author: Jiaqi Lyu – Precision X-Ray Inc.
• 4:00 PM - 4:18 PM Pacific

  Advancing codling moth SIT: Precision sterilization using a modular x-ray system
  

  Presenting Author: Marion Le Gall (she/her/hers) – M3 Agriculture Technologies

  Co-Author: Joe Hull – USDA-ARS

  Co-Author: Carolyn Huynh (she/her/hers) – M3 Agriculture Technologies

  Co-Author: Kevin Rice – Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

  Co-Author: Inana Schutze Szczepanek – USDA ARS, U.S. Arid Land Agricultural Research Center, Maricopa, AZ, 85138, USA

  Co-Author: Tom Tiedemann Jr – M3 Agriculture Technologies

  Co-Author: Nathan Moses-Gonzales – M3 Agriculture Technologies
• 4:18 PM - 4:36 PM Pacific

  Understanding apple growers' perspectives on the sterile insect technique for codling moth management in Virginia: Implications for adoption and outreach
  

  Presenting Author: Jean Parrella (she/her/hers) – Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

  Co-Author: Kevin Rice – Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

  Co-Author: Marion Le Gall (she/her/hers) – M3 Agriculture Technologies
• 4:36 PM - 4:46 PM Pacific

  Break
• 4:46 PM - 5:04 PM Pacific

  Gamma and X rays to be used for the sterile insect technique
  

  Presenting Author: Chantel J. de Beer (she/her/hers) – International Atomic Energy Agency
• 5:04 PM - 5:22 PM Pacific

  The use of x-ray irradiation as a tool for Lygus hesperus sterilization
  

  Presenting Author: Inana X. Schutze (she/her/hers) – USDA-ARS

  Co-Author: Colin Brent – USDA ARS, U.S. Arid Land Agricultural Research Center, Maricopa, AZ, 85138, USA

  Co-Author: Yu-Hui Wang – USDA ARS, U.S. Arid Land Agricultural Research Center, Maricopa, AZ, 85138, USA

  Co-Author: Scott Machtley – USDA

  Co-Author: Jeffrey A. Fabrick (he/him/his) – USDA-ARS

  Co-Author: Marion Le Gall (she/her/hers) – M3 Agriculture Technologies

  Co-Author: Nathan Moses-Gonzales – M3 Agriculture Technologies

  Co-Author: Joe Hull – USDA-ARS
• 5:22 PM - 5:40 PM Pacific

  Modern innovations and future directions in high energy SIT
  

  Presenting Author: Nathan Moses-Gonzales – M3 Agriculture Technologies

  Co-Author: Carolyn Huynh (she/her/hers) – M3 Agriculture Technologies

  Co-Author: Marion Le Gall (she/her/hers) – M3 Agriculture Technologies
• 5:40 PM - 5:45 PM Pacific

  Closing remarks
  

  Presenting Author: Marion Le Gall (she/her/hers) – M3 Agriculture Technologies