A major pest eradicated through release of sterile males is

Options

A. Screw worm
B. Aphids
C. Ladybug
D. Praying Mantis

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding the Concept of Sterile Males:**
- A sterile male is an organism that cannot produce viable gametes, meaning it cannot reproduce. This is important in pest control strategies.

2. **Identifying the Method of Pest Control:**
- The method referred to in the question involves the release of sterile males into the environment. This technique is known as the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT).

3. **Application of Sterile Males in Pest Eradication:**
- In this technique, large numbers of sterile males are released into the wild. When these sterile males mate with wild females, no offspring are produced because the males are sterile.

4. **Specific Case of Pest Eradication:**
- One notable example of this method is the eradication of the screw worm fly. The screw worm is a significant pest that affects livestock by laying eggs in open wounds.

5. **Conclusion:**
- The major pest that has been effectively eradicated through the release of sterile males is the screw worm.

**Final Answer:**
The major pest eradicated through the release of sterile males is the screw worm.

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