Efficacy of Gamma Radiation Against Housefly (<i>Musca domestica</i> L.) Reproduction and Survival II. Adult Treatment

Abstract

Gamma radiation-induced changes in the reproductive parameters have been investigated using 0-10 Gy doses on adult houseflies Musca domestica L. Inheritance of the parameters was recorded in the parents and subsequent progenies up to F3 generations. Compared to the untreated controls, irradiations significantly increased oviposition, sterility and immature mortality, and diminished adult and female eclosion in the treated lines. Sterility reached 100% above 8 Gy levels and males were readily radiosterilized than the females. Dose mortality (LD₅₀) and sterility (SD₅₀) responses of the test insects were determined to be 10.04 Gy and 6.23 Gy, respectively. Results are promising in connection with a sterile insect technique (SIT) for this pest species. Key words: Musca domestica; gamma radiation; adult treatment; oviposition; sterility; mortality; eclosion J. bio-sci. 14: 25-30, 2006