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Visit to Xsit 2015

Nevill Boersma, Quality and Technical Manager of XSIT, an initiative of Citrus Research International (CRI) to market the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT), which helps in tackling the FCM’s spread.
Nevill Boersma, Quality and Technical Manager of XSIT, an initiative of Citrus Research International (CRI) to market the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT), which helps in tackling the FCM’s spread.
Boersma tests the months under different at different temperatures to see when they are most active and at what temperature they can survive.
Boersma tests the months under different at different temperatures to see when they are most active and at what temperature they can survive.
He then releases them in infrared light to simulate evening to see how many have survived.
He then releases them in infrared light to simulate evening to see how many have survived.
Trying to stop the spread of the false coding months.
Trying to stop the spread of the false coding months.
This lady cuts the paper which is used to for the larvae eggs, each paper will contain 1200 eggs.
This lady cuts the paper which is used to for the larvae eggs, each paper will contain 1200 eggs.
There 4000 eggs in each of these boxes
There 4000 eggs in each of these boxes
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The larvae is put in bottles with a nutrient, mais, which is dyed pink. The dye goes through the moth's bodies and distinguishes moths bred here from the wild ones in the field.
The larvae is put in bottles with a nutrient, mais, which is dyed pink. The dye goes through the moth's bodies and distinguishes moths bred here from the wild ones in the field.
The bottles are placed in the incubation room for 13 days to hatch. It is 25C in here and the eggs get 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness.
The bottles are placed in the incubation room for 13 days to hatch. It is 25C in here and the eggs get 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness.
Thousands of these jars are filled everyday and those at the end of the incubation period are then moved on the next stage.
Thousands of these jars are filled everyday and those at the end of the incubation period are then moved on the next stage.
Boersma is busy developing a new diet for the larvae.
Boersma is busy developing a new diet for the larvae.
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He is also developing a packaging to incubate the larvae, at the moment the whole process is very labour intensive as each jar is hand filled and hand washed after use. With this new packaging the moths will be able to eat their way out once they have hatched.
He is also developing a packaging to incubate the larvae, at the moment the whole process is very labour intensive as each jar is hand filled and hand washed after use. With this new packaging the moths will be able to eat their way out once they have hatched.
You see how jars are in use and how many need to get washed everyday.
You see how jars are in use and how many need to get washed everyday.
This the pupation room the bottles are opened for seven days and need to be repeatedly turned. The pupation board which you see underneath is then removed and taken to the
This the pupation room the bottles are opened for seven days and need to be repeatedly turned. The pupation board which you see underneath is then removed and taken to the
The pupation boards are then taken to this room for around ten days where the when the moths hatch they fly into the light and are sucked up the pipes for harvesting.
The pupation boards are then taken to this room for around ten days where the when the moths hatch they fly into the light and are sucked up the pipes for harvesting.
The moths land here in a room which is kept at 6C which keeps them inactive and insures no damage is done.
The moths land here in a room which is kept at 6C which keeps them inactive and insures no damage is done.
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The moths are then transferred into boxes before going for the gamma radiation treatment which will make them sterile.
The moths are then transferred into boxes before going for the gamma radiation treatment which will make them sterile.
Moths are ready for radiation treatment.
Moths are ready for radiation treatment.
This is long, labour intensive process of washing all the jars by hand.
This is long, labour intensive process of washing all the jars by hand.
Also labour intensive is the process of filling the jars.
Also labour intensive is the process of filling the jars.