Major and Trace Elements as Biopredictors of Radiation-Induced Insect Sterility

Abstract

Multiple regression models of 11 species of adult insects representing the orders Anoplura, Coleoptera, Diptera, and Lepidoptera indicated that total body concentrations of several major and trace elements could be used as a bioindicator or biopredictor of radiation-induced insect sterility on a species level. There was a particularly high correlation between total body major and trace element content and irradiation-induced insect sterility in a group of stored-product insects that had similar feeding preferences (i.e., laboratory diets of grain and/or flour). A statistical model based on insect total body Cu and K/Mg ratio was highly effective in estimating or predicting the radiosterilization doses for several species of stored product insects feeding primarily on grain and/or flour.