Effects of Indoxacarb on life history traits and population performance of the house fly, Musca domestica.

Abstract

The house fly, Musca domestica L. is an important pest of livestock and humans, especially in subtropical and tropical regions worldwide. Efficacy of indoxacarb has been shown against a wide range of insects, including M. domestica. This study evaluated the impact of three concentrations of indoxacarb (LC₁₀, LC₃₀ and LC₅₀) on the population and biological parameters of a M. domestica strain. Results showed that pre-adult development was prolonged in the treated population with maximum duration observed in LC₅₀ treated population (13.88 days). Longevity of male and female M. domestica was the lowest in the LC₅₀ treated population (23.06 and 25.14 days, respectively). The pre-oviposition period (APOP) was maximum in the LC₅₀ treated population (3.71 days) while the value of total pre-oviposition period (TPOP) was the highest in the LC₃₀ treated population (21.12 days). The adults exposed to the LC₅₀ value of indoxacarb had reduced fecundity (42.00), net reproductive rate (R_o = 5.88), mean generation time (T = 21.66) and finite rate of increase (λ = 1.09). Similarly, age-specific maternity, age stage specific survival rate, age-stage reproductive values and age-stage life expectancy were higher in LC₁₀ and LC₃₀ treatments, while their values were lower in population that was treated with the LC₅₀ value of indoxacarb. The findings suggested that sub-lethal concentrations (LC₁₀, LC₃₀) of indoxacarb had a hormetic effects, while the higher concentration (LC₅₀) had a non-hormetic effect on the biology of M. domestica.