Influence of Aldrin, Methoxychlor, and Parathion on Longevity of Musca domestica and Phormia regina124

Abstract

Survival of adults of the house fly, Musca domestica L., and the black blow fly, Phormia regina (Meigen), was studied in the presence of sublethal dosages of the xenobiotic compounds aldrin (1–10 ppm), methoxychlor (10–50 ppm), and parathion (1–50 ppm) fed in a sucrose diet. These studies were supported by topical application studies with 14C labeled aldrin, methoxychlor, and parathion to determine comparable rates of penetration, degradation, and excretion of the xenobiotics in the house fly with a high titre of mixed function oxidase (MFO) activity compared to the black blow fly which has a very low MFO activity. Compared to mean longevities of 30.33 and 29.79 days for M. domestica and P. regina , respectively, the mean longevities in the presence of the xenobiotics in days were: aldrin (10 ppm) M. domestica 14.85. P. regina 25.47; methoxychlor (50 ppm) M. domestica 26.34, P. regina 22.92; and parathion (5 ppm) M. domestica 12.35, P. regina 9.60.