The reproductive ability of gamma-irradiated Tribolium spp. (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) males was determined by studying their mating competitiveness when confined in various ratios with unirradiated males and females. Irradiated males of all the species studied competed favourably with unirradiated males for females. Competitiveness was significantly greater when males were irradiated soon after emergence (1-day old) than when they were older (10 days old). Infertility percentages increased as the proportion of irradiated males increased. The highest competitiveness was found in irradiated T.freemani and the lowest in T. destructor. Competitiveness also increased as the ratio of irradiated males increased.