THE EFFECT OF METHOPRENE, AN INSECT GROWTH REGULATOR, ON MUSCA DOMESTICA (DIPTERA: MUSCIDAE)

Abstract Methoprene, when incorporated into the food of laying hens at concentrations of 0.005 and 0.01%, produced 70.9 and 99.3% larval mortality, respectively, among house flies (Musca domestica L.) reared in the resultant poultry droppings. Exposure to the treated diet did not produce any weight loss in the chickens. However, it was not effective when the poultry droppings were treated topically under field conditions. In laboratory studies, when incorporated with moistened droppings, concentrations of 0.001 and 0.0001% produced complete larval mortality throughout a 7-day exposure period, though only 98% mortality was achieved on the first day at the higher concentration. Concentrations of 0.5 and 1.08 of the compound in fly food produced only a low order of sterility. Topical applications produced a low order of sterility except in the insecticide-susceptible females.