Development stage-specific lethality system for insect population control

A transgenic insect comprising a developmental stage-specific lethality system comprising

• a) a first gene expression cassette comprising, in operative linkage,
• (i) a first promoter/enhancer element of a developmental stage-specific gene derived from a insect pest species, or a functional derivative of said promoter/enhancer element,
• preferably wherein the promoter/enhancer element or functional derivative thereof is derived from a member of the family Tephritidae,
• more preferably wherein the promoter/enhancer element is selected from the group consisting of the promoter/enhancer element of the C.c.-serendipity α gene (SEQ ID NO. 1) or a functional derivative thereof, the promoter/enhancer element of the C.c.-CG2186 gene (SEQ ID NO. 2) or a functional derivative thereof, the promoter/enhancer element of the C.c.-slow as molasses gene (SEQ ID NO. 3) or a functional derivative thereof, the promoter/enhancer element of the C.c.-sub2—99 gene (SEQ ID NO. 4) or a functional derivative thereof, the promoter/enhancer element of the C.c.-sub2—63 gene (SEQ ID NO. 5) or a functional derivative thereof, and the promoter/enhancer element or a functional derivative thereof of the C.c.-sub2—65 gene, the gene having SEQ ID NO. 6,
• (ii) a first component of a transactivating system, whose activity is controllable by a suitable exogenous factor,
• and
• b) a second gene expression cassette comprising, in operative linkage,
• (i) a second component of the transactivating system,
• (ii) a second promoter that is responsive to the activity of the transactivating system, and
• (iii) a lethality inducing component.

A method of controlling reproduction in an insect population of interest, comprising the steps of:

• (i) providing a plurality of insects according to claim 1 capable of interbreeding with the insects of the population of interest,
• (ii) optionally selecting suitable individual insects from the plurality, and
• (iii) allowing the insects of step (i) or (ii) to interbreed with insects of the population of interest,
• optionally wherein the insects of step (i) or (ii) are released in an area where reproduction control of insects of the population of interest is desirable.

A method for producing transgenic insects comprising a developmental stage-specific lethality system, comprising the steps of:

• (i) providing a set of insects comprising a first gene expression cassette and/or a second gene expression cassette according to claim 1,
• (ii) optionally subjecting the set of insects to one or more steps of interbreeding,
• (iii) evaluating the set of insects of (i) or offspring obtained from the interbreeding steps of (ii) for functionality of the developmental stage-specific lethality system,
• optionally wherein the insects of step (i) or (ii) are released in an area where reproduction control of insects of the population of interest is desirable.