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

The sterile insect technique involves mass-rearing and sterilizing male insects, typically through irradiation, and releasing them into the wild. When these sterile males mate with wild females, no offspring are produced, leading to a gradual decline in the pest population. SIT has been successfully used against pests like the Mediterranean fruit fly and screwworm fly.

Answer 2

Mechanism-First: SIT works by sterilizing male insects and releasing them so matings produce NO offspring — think about what that mechanism can and can't achieve.

Since it only affects reproduction of the TARGET insect species, its purpose is population control of that pest — matching option 3.

It has nothing to do with pollination, weed control (that needs a different insect entirely), or insecticide resistance (SIT doesn't involve insecticides at all).