Research article reproductive ability enhancement of housefly (Musca domestica linn) (diptera: Muscidae) through hormesis by application of sublethal doses of imidacloprid and permethrin

Abstract

Background and Objective: Application of insecticide is the most common method to reduce housefly populations. However, in general, not all individuals would receive lethal dose of insecticide during a treatment. This condition could produce favorable biological responses, such as increased reproductive ability, known as hormesis. This study was carried out to observe the effect of topical application of sublethal concentrations or dose of imidacloprid and permethrin to reproductive ability of some strains of housefly of Indonesia. Materials and Methods: Sublethal doses tested in this study were 10 and 30% of LD50 or LC50 (equal to LD5 or LC5 and LD15 or LC15, respectively) of permethrin and imidacloprid. Permethrin was applied by topical method while imidacloprid administrated by feeding method. All treatments were replicated 10 times and assessed for 10 generations to evaluate the long term effect. Mortality of each group was analyzed by probit analysis to determine the value of LD50 or LC50. Differences in fecundity and fertility among different generations and strains were analyzed using two way ANOVA, with a significant value p<0.05 Results: Houseflies that received application of LD5 of permethrin increased its fecundity (17.05% more than application of LD15 and 56.39% more than the control) and fertility (26.73% more than application of LD15 and 63.62% more than the control). Application of LC5 of imidacloprid also increased fecundity of housefly (10.46% more than application LC15 and 45.91% more than the control) and the fertility (17.08% more than application LC15 and 49.17% more than the control). Conclusion: Continuous administration of sublethal doses of permethrin and imidacloprid may induce reproductive hormesis in the housefly through increased fecundity and fertility.