Temperature-dependent flight performance of fruit flies

Field success of pest management and control programs such as the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) is sensitive to environmental factors such as low temperatures. In consequence, seasonal or daily variation in thermal conditions can have a marked impact on fly dispersal ability and invasion impact in agricultural landscapes. The objectives of this study are to determine temperature thresholds for flight ability and assess if these can be influenced by various extrinsic or intrinsic factors.