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Irradiation of pupae in sterile insect technique (SIT) projects is usually undertaken in hypoxic atmospheres, which have been shown to lessen the deleterious effects of irradiation on the quality of adult sterile flies. Although this is the accepted technology in most mass-rearing and sterilization facilities, to date no information has been generated on the actual levels of oxygen (O₂) in pupae-packing containers during irradiation. The present study utilized recently-developed technology to investigate the O₂ level inside bags in which pupae of Mediterranean fruit fly (medfly) Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) are packed prior to irradiation, the ability of pupae to create hypoxic environments in these bags, and the effect of O₂ atmospheres on the quality of irradiated males. Pupae, 1 d before adult emergence, were shown to deplete the O₂ level in sealed bags in approximately 1 h. The rate of O₂ consumption was …