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Processes
Centro de Dispersión de Moscas Estériles
Processes
Sterile Flies Dispersion Center
Sterile Flies Dispersion Center
COPEG’s Dispersal Center is the emergence facility for sterile NWS; located at the Tocumen International Airport and has been operational since November 1998.
Its main purpose is to receive NWS sterile pupae from the Production Plant and to continue with the insect’s life cycle until become adults that will be released aerially over the Permanent Biological Barrier Zone.
- Sterile pupae arrive in ice chests labeled to identify the production rearing lots for traceability.
- The pupae are placed in chambers that are stacked in “Worley” emergence towers that allow the flies to develop to maturity and they are given food before dispersal. This ensures a high-quality sterile fly is released to compete with wild flies.
- The emergence chambers are maintained at a temperature of 28-32 C and a humidity of 50-80%.
- The flies are kept dormant in a cold room until they are loaded into the dispersal boxes for aerial release.
- Conduct fitness tests of NWS sterile flies and pupae produced at the Sterile Fly Production Plant.
- Testing, verification, and determination of data such as: pupal weight, sex ratios, percent emergence, flight agility, pupae yield, and fly longevity with and without food.
- The quality control group at the dispersal center determines the number of flies needed for each flight based on the flight agility data.
- There are 6 weekly flights (CM 1-6) to cover the Permanent Barrier Zone that includes 20 nautical miles within the Colombia border.
- Mounting the dispersal boxes with the dormant sterile flies into the airplanes.
- Computer navigational software is used on the aircraft and provides dispersal flight programming data and flight summary reports: that include flight data such as altitude, temperature, dispersal machine revolutions (pilot and disperser dependent), flight time, gas, miles covered and observations.
- They prepare, verify and provide maintenance to all equipment used at the dispersal center such as the Worley towers, the cold room chambers, dispensers, extractors, etc.
- The administration group creates yearly budgets for the entire dispersal center and follow up with supply purchasing.
- Solicitan permiso al aereopuerto, para ingresar, conducir dentro de las instalaciones y administran todo el inventario de equipos.
