Standardized Pupal Irradiation and Emergence of Male Aedes aegypti for Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) v1

This protocol, developed by the Applied Science and Technologies Department of the Lee County Mosquito Control District, supports the mass rearing of Aedes aegypti for implementation in a Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) program. It details the standardized workflow for preparing, drying, irradiating, and managing the emergence of male pupae. Following sex-based sorting, pupae are partially dehydrated and weighed into target aliquots before undergoing irradiation with dosimetry controls to ensure dose accuracy. Post-irradiation, pupae are transferred to preconditioned release containers and held under controlled environmental conditions to facilitate emergence. Emerged adults are then drained and maintained with sucrose feeding until release. This protocol ensures consistent pupal handling, precise irradiation, and high adult survival—critical for the success of SIT-based mosquito control strategies.