Question

The 'sterile insect technique' (SIT) is primarily used for:

• A. Enhancing pollination efficiency
• B. Biological control of weeds
• C. Controlling insect pest populations
• D. Improving insecticide resistance

Hint:

SIT = Release of sterile males to reduce pest populations.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Key Concept: SIT controls a pest population without any chemical insecticide.

Why it's correct: Mass-reared males are sterilized (usually by irradiation) and released; when they mate with wild females, no viable offspring result, gradually crashing the pest population — proven against the Mediterranean fruit fly and screwworm fly.

Why others fail: SIT doesn't touch pollination, target weeds, or involve insecticides at all — its entire mechanism is reproductive disruption of ONE targeted pest species.