Data from: Evaluating impacts of radiation-induced sterilization on the performance and gut microbiome of mass-reared Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata) in Hawai’i

Mediterranean fruit fly males reared for sterile insect technique (SIT) have been shown to have differences in their microbiomes relative to other population sources, which has been postulated to be a factor in the how well flies compete with wild conspecifics. To identify baseline performance metrics on the effects of irradiation on the gut microbiome of mass-reared flies in Hawai’i, a study was performed to assess performance metrics and microbiome (bacterial 16S-rRNA) variation across multiple timepoints. Mediterranean fruit fly pupae were selected from mass-reared trays intended for release, and paired samples were either irradiated or remained as controls and transported to the laboratory for evaluation.