Radiation-induced Changes in House Fly Reproduction

Impacts of ultra-violet (UV) and gamma irradiation on reproduction and various life-history traits of the house fly Musca domestica L. have been evaluated in the study. In addition, sterility and mortality responses of the experimental flies to both radiation types, coupled with the estimation of dominant lethal mutations (DLM), longevity, frequency of deformed flies and morphometric changes in the salivary glands of the treated insects have been worked out. Results of the present investigation therefore would supplement the on-going efforts for designing a sterile insect technique (SIT) for important vector species like house flies in the third world countries. Accordingly, relevance of the study to limit reproduction and growth of house flies has been discussed.