Assessment of Compaction, Temperature, and Duration Factors for Packaging and Transporting of Sterile Male Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) under Laboratory Conditions

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The sterile insect technique (SIT) is a proven method to control some insect pests and is currently being tested to control some mosquito species, including Aedes aegypti. It is challenging to maintain the quality of sterile male mosquitoes in operational SIT during the packaging and transportation processes. The experiment presented in this manuscript was undertaken to investigate compaction, temperature, and duration factors during the packaging and transportation of gamma-sterilized male Ae. aegypti. The effects of packaging and transportation factors on the quality parameters of gamma-sterilized male Ae. aegypti—mortality, flight ability, induced sterility, and longevity—were assessed. The results of this experiment demonstrate appropriate packaging and transportation conditions for maintaining the quality of gamma-sterilized male Ae. aegypti. ABSTRACT: Optimized conditions for the packaging and transportation of sterile males are crucial factors in successful SIT programs against mosquito vector-borne diseases. The factors influencing the quality of sterile males in packages during transportation need to be assessed to develop standard protocols. This study was aimed to investigate the impact of compaction, temperature, and duration factors during packaging and transportation on the quality of gamma-sterilized male Ae. aegypti. Aedes aegypti males were sterilized at a dose of 70 Gy, compacted into Falcon tubes with densities of 40, 80, and 120 males/2 mL; and then exposed to temperatures of 7, 14, 21, and 28 °C. Each temperature setup was held for a duration of 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h at a 60 rpm constant vibration to simulate transportation. The parameters of mortality, flight ability, induced sterility, and longevity were investigated. Results showed that increases in density, temperature, and duration significantly increased mortality and reduced flight ability and longevity, but none of the factors significantly affected induced sterility. With a mortality rate of less than 20%, an escaping rate of more than 70%, considerable longevity, and the most negligible effect on induced sterility (approximately 98%), a temperature of 7 °C and a compaction density of 80 males/2 mL were shown to be optimized conditions for short-term transportation (no more than 24 h) with the minimum adverse effects compared with other condition setups.