Seven benzyl-1,3-benzodioxole analogs were tested for possible effects on reproduction in females of the Mediterranean fruit fly. Single topical doses of J2581 (5-ethoxy-6-[4-methoxyphenyl]methyl-1,3-benzodioxole) and J3263 (5-methoxy-6-(1-[4-ethoxyphenyl]ethyl)-1,3-benzodioxole) were found to cause a temporary delay in ovarian growth in female medflies by 9 and 13 days respectively when compared to acetone-treated controls. Continued exposure of the analogs at the target site(s) appears to be necessary for more permanent effects. Nurse cell development appears not to be affected, but oocyte growth and subsequent egg production and egg hatch were significantly reduced. Methoprene treatment appeared to obviate the effect of J2581 in arresting ovarian growth.

Twelve models are presented to examine the feasibility of using pheromone baited traps containing chemosterilant for pest control, and to compare the efficiency of this method with the use of (i) pheromone baited traps containing insecticide, and (ii) sterile releases. It was found that the number of matings per individual has little effect on the efficiency of population control, whereas immigration of even a relatively small number of the pest species severely limits this method in its ability to control the population. The existence of density-dependent regulation on the other hand greatly enhances the effectiveness of this control method. If the birth rate greatly exceeds one young per adult per day, then the method using chemosterilants is approximately twice as efficient as either insecticides in the pheromone traps or the release of sterile males. However, if the birth rate is much less than one per day, as in tsetse, then chemosterilants are very much more efficient than either method. These differences in relative efficiency appear to depend on the frequency of mating relative to the birth and mortality rates.