The sterile insect technique (SIT), an environmentally friendly means of control, is currently used against plant, animal, and human pests under the area-wide integrated pest management. It consists in the mass production, sterilization, and release of insects in an affected area where sterile males mate with wild females leading to no reproduction. Here, we review SIT in the Neotropics and focus on particular recent successful cases of eradication of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), as well as effective programs used against the Mexican fruit fly Anastrepha ludens (Loew), the New World screwworm fly Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel)), and the Cactus moth Cactoblastis cactorum (Berg). We examine when SIT does not work and innovations that have made SIT more efficient and also highlight complimentary techniques that can be used in conjunction. We address potential candidate species that could be controlled through SIT, for example Philornis downsi Dodge & Aitken. Finally, we consider the impact of climate change in the context of the use of the SIT against these pests. Given the recent dramatic decline in insect biodiversity, investing in environmentally friendly means of pest control should be a priority. We conclude that SIT should be promoted in the region, and leadership and political will is needed for continued success of SIT in the Neotropics.

昆虫不育技术 (SIT) 是一种环境友好的控制手段，目前在大面积病虫害综合治理下用于防治植物、动物和人类害虫。它包括在受影响的区域大规模生产、绝育和释放昆虫，在那里不育的雄性与野生雌性交配导致无法繁殖。在这里，我们回顾了新热带地区的昆虫不育技术，并重点关注最近根除地中海果蝇Ceratitis capitalata (Wiedemann) 的特别成功案例，以及用于对抗墨西哥果蝇Anastrepha ludens (Loew)、新世界螺旋蠕虫的有效计划飞Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel)) 和仙人掌蛾Cactoblastis cactorum (Berg) 。我们研究了 SIT 何时不起作用以及使 SIT 更有效的创新，并强调了可以结合使用的互补技术。我们解决了可以通过 SIT 控制的潜在候选物种，例如Philornis downsi Dodge & Aitken。最后，我们在对这些害虫使用昆虫不育技术的背景下考虑了气候变化的影响。鉴于最近昆虫生物多样性急剧下降，投资于环境友好的害虫防治手段应成为优先事项。我们得出的结论是，应该在该地区推广 SIT，而 SIT 在新热带地区的持续成功需要领导力和政治意愿。