Geographical Variations in Life Histories of House Flies, Musca domestica (Diptera: Muscidae), in Punjab, Pakistan.

Abstract

Musca domestica Linnaeus is an important public health pest with the ability to adapt to diverse climates. Assessment of variations in biology and life-history traits of insects along geographical gradients is important for a successful management plan in different regions. We investigated life-history traits and life table parameters of M. domestica from six different geographical regions of Punjab, Pakistan: Rahim Yar Khan (RYK), Bahawalpur (BWP), Multan (MTN), Lahore (LHR), Gujrat (GJT), and Murree (MRE). Overall, M. domestica from localities of lower latitude and elevations with higher mean temperatures completed their development faster than those from localities of higher latitude and elevations with lower mean temperatures. The immature developmental time was the longest for the MRE population that was collected from higher latitude and elevation with cooler climate, whereas the shortest for the RYK population from lower latitude with warmer climate. Pupal weights were heavier for the RYK, BWP, and MTN populations, all were from the lowest latitude and elevations with warmer climate, compared with rest of the field populations. Similarly, rate of adult eclosion, fecundity, egg hatching, longevity, and life table parameters such as intrinsic rate of population increase, mean relative growth rate, net reproductive rate, and biotic potential were significantly higher for the RYK, BWP, and MTN populations compared with the GJT, LHR, and MRE populations of M. domestica. The current results will probably be of importance when planning management of M. domestica in different geographical regions of Pakistan.