Effects of methylparaben on the development and chemosensitivity of the blow fly Protophormia terraenovae Rob.-Desv. (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

Abstract

Maggots of the blow fly Protophormia terraenovae were divided into three groups; one group was reared on beef liver and the other two groups were reared on an artificial diet in which the fungicide methylparaben (methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate, Nipagin®-M) at a concentration of 0.6% was present or absent. Development of maggots reared on the diet containing methylparaben was prolonged, and the pupae were smaller and pupal mortality increased from 17 to 26%. Gustatory tests showed that the threshold for adults to respond to sucrose solution at different concentrations increased more than threefold when the flies were exposed to methylparaben as larvae.