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

<p dir="ltr">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.</p>