What do peri-urban people think of the sterile insect technique and unmanned aerial vehicles ?

Cover paper

Cover of the journal Insects, We investigated community perceptions of a recently-introduced response to codling moth control in New Zealand orchards—the sterile insect technique (SIT). We assessed public engagement with a possible urban codling moth eradication, through 86 questionnaire surveys of occupants of dwellings in Hastings. Attitudes to SIT were very positive (98% in favor). Once explained, the concept of using unmanned aerial vehicles to deliver sterile insects was also acceptable (98%) to the community. The results from this survey are one contribution to informing environmental policy makers, regulators and pest management practitioners of the importance of community engagement and opportunities to improve engagement processes. View this paper