Hello, I am working for a government organization that uses the sterile insect technique to control the key pest of apples. This program has been highly successful in suppressing this pest in parts of Canada and dramatically reduced the amount of pesticides used to control this pest. We are currently involved in pilot projects where sterilized insects reared in Canada are shipped live to other apple growing regions around the world. Does anyone have experience shipping live insects across international boarders? Does anyone have experience shipping large quantities of live insects? Consignments will contain 12 to 15 cubic feet of live insects.
Yes, I have experience in shipping millions of sterilized fruit fly pupae from our mass rearing facility ot our pilot release site using commercial flight.
Typically, couriers and airlines balk at shippng live insect cargoes because of concerns of escape and infestation of planes, trucks, hazzards to personnel, etc. I have shipped with airline and had to request and complete a form speifyiing the "special" cargo. Best to check with airline; also concerns about shipping in cargo areas susceptible to cold/freezing temperatures (not so good for insects)
Dear Evan,
Can I ask you what sterile insect do you rear for the use in apple orchards?
Dear Evan,
First, followed the recommendation by Demianyk, yuo need to contact the airline, and ask for the conditions of temperature and humidity of the plane. Second you need to determine if your insect specie have tolerance for these conditions or you need to carrie some experiments. The most important you need to define the quantities and the container, it determine the available oxigen and it have effect on the adult emergence. Which is the specie that you you need to shipping?
Dear Evan,
Thanks. Can you provide me some publications about your results?
Dear Evan,
I have found this publication. It contains a part of shipping codling moth too.
http://www.fao.org/docrep/013/i1537e/i1537e.pdf
We have (I have personally) transported a dipteran parasite of Sugarcane Early shoot borer for distance of 600 kms overnight through a container which is a wooden box of 1/2 inch thick embedded inside with sponge on all sides with a hanging cotton with honey (1:1) water mix with a hook. These boxes were arranged in a thick paper container. After reaching early morning to the field, before the temperature reaching 22 to 25 C, the flies can be released.
This is very important in classical biological control program. Cases where the transfer from one country to another depend on the customs and quarantine laws are of them.
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