What is SIT Technology?
SIT (Sterile Insect Technique) is an environmentally friendly, species-specific insect pest control method that enables suppression or eradication of pest populations.

How does it work?
SIT method is commonly referred to as "insect birth control". The method is based on mass release of sterile insects, of the target species, that compete with wild males for the wild females prevalent in the field. Due to the quantitative advantage of the sterile males, a large percentage of the females mate with them, producing eggs that are infertile, which leads to a gradual reduction in the pest population.
The SIT method requires a "long-distance running" ability. As opposed to chemical pesticide methods, that can reduce the pest population within a short period of time, the SIT method requires a broader and more comprehensive view of the pest control process – both in terms of the size of the area and the period of time. Full cooperation is necessary between all the parties involved in the production of "green" agricultural products – government ministries, growers' organizations, R&D organizations and more – in order to successfully implement standards; monitoring and quality control systems; sanitation operations and more. Yet the added value of the SIT method gives it a clear advantage in the long-term .
Originally, the SIT method was used to eradicate a target pest population. Increasingly severe problems caused by chemical pesticides and the need to cut costs lead to a change of attitude in the 1990's. Currently, the goal of most SIT based pest control programs is to suppress the pest population to a level that is lower than the threshold of economic damage.  

SIT History
The idea of releasing pest species in order to introduce sterility into the wild pest population, and thus disinfest the population, was first used back in the 1930's and 1940's. One of the originators of the idea, who is considered the father of the SIT method, was an American researcher named E. F. Knipling who succeeded in sterilizing the New World screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) using ionizing radiation.
The first SIT success was recorded in 1954, in a pilot whose goal was to eradicate the screwworm in the island of Curaçao. Later, the method was successfully applied in the eradication of the screwworm in the US, Mexico and Central America. Since then, SIT technology has been applied efficiently in pest control programs against fruit flies, tsetse flies (Glossina spp.), and various moths throughout the world.