Area-wide management guidelines for Sterile Insect Technique developed through interdisciplinary modelling research

New technologies for insect pest management, such as Sterile Insect Technique (SIT), present an opportunity to reduce chemical use in agricultural landscapes. However, they require socio-economic and ecological evaluation to ensure they are effective. We present a decision-making framework for sterile Queensland fruit fly 'Qfly' (Bactrocera tryoni) release informed by both economic and biophysical models as part of an area-wide management (AWM) program with SIT. The conceptual framework presented here guided the development of economic and biophysical models to meet the objective of informing management strategies. Our economic modelling has provided an important assessment of the feasibility and opportunities for AWM and SIT at the scale of three case study regions in southern Australia (Sunraysia, Murray/Goulburn valley (MGV) and Riverland). We found that there are three potential economically-viable implementation strategies for AWM of Qfly including SIT: Outbreak eradication (and potentially maintenance of area freedom, should legislation allow); direct substitution for existing management techniques in spatially-isolated contexts (including in support of industry-specific market access); and more effective management in an urban context than existing ad hoc approaches. In terms of releases of sterile males, our biophysical research has generated valuable risk maps for three case study regions. An understanding of the spatial and temporal risk of Qfly occurrence for a given target region is essential to the development of a future tool or system for planning sterile fly releases, as well as for ongoing management and monitoring programs. As a minimum, knowledge of the land use, climatic suitability and host phenology in a region is required. Ideally, this should incorporate the construction of risk maps that can inform decision-making for releases. The spatial simulation modelling showed that complex landscapes, containing a higher diversity of fruiting hosts