Biology and Flight Ability of the House Fly Following Irradiation of the Pupae12

Abstract

Musca domestica L. pupae were irradiated with gamma rays from a cobalt-60 source one day prior to emergence and observations were made on the biology and flight ability of emerged flies, made receiving 2000 R or above laid in viable eggs, and if irradiated with 7000 R they did not oviposit. There was an increase in mortality of the F, flies dose increasing irradiation. Increasing the irradiation dose from 0 to 4500 R increased pupal mortality and decreased adult longevity. More males than females emerged at all doses. No statistically significant difference in night ability occurred between irradiated and no irradiated flies when flown on flight mills, although females of all groups usually performed better than males. Ten-day-old flies were poorer fliers than 2- and 5-day-old individuals. Irradiated 2- and 5-day-old males tended to fly longer but slower than no irradiated males; irradiated females at these ages tended to fly for shorter periods than no irradiated females. Recapture of marked female flies on flypaper inside a greenhouse decreased with increasing irradiation. An electronic strobotac revealed a lower average wing-beat frequency with flies irradiated at 7000 R. At this dose level, flight activity was reduced in irradiated male flies 2, 5, and 10 days of age.