Pyriproxyfen induces lethal and sublethal effects on biological traits and demographic growth parameters in Musca domestica.

Musca domestica is a global insect-pest of human beings and animal agriculture. Pyriproxyfen, a juvenile hormone analog, has shown its potential for effective management of M. domestica. However, lethal and sublethal effects of pyriproxyfen on biological traits and demographic growth parameters of M. domestica are still unknown. The present study investigated the effects of lethal and sublethal concentrations on different biological traits of M. domestica for two generations i.e., exposed parents (F0) and their offspring (F1). Concentration-response bioassays revealed that concentrations of pyriproxyfen that caused 50% (LC), 25% (LC), 10% (LC) and 2% (LC) mortality of M. domestica were estimated as 0.12, 0.06, 0.03 and 0.01 μg/g, respectively. In the F0 generation, exposure of 3 instar larvae to these concentrations resulted in a reduced pupation rate, lengthened pupal stage duration, light weight pupae and reduction in adult emergence in a concentration-dependent manner. In the case of F1 generation, similar trend was observed for pupation rate, pupal stage duration, and total developmental period (i.e., egg to adult); however, pupal weight was affected at LC, LC, LC levels, and adult emergence at only LC and LC levels. The values of demographic growth parameters, analyzed through age-stage, two-sex life table theory, were significantly decreased at all the levels of pyriproxyfen compared with control. This study highlights that pyriproxyfen has the potential to suppress the population of M. domestica through its lethal and sublethal effects and presents an empirical basis from which to consider management decisions for chemical control in the field.