Studies on the life cycle and the effects of gamma radiation on the house fly (Musca domestica L.)

Studies onm life cycle and the effects of gamma radiation on the house fly (Musca domestica L.) fed with the mixtures of rice, bran, fish mill, and water (1:1:1.5 by volumn) and sugar solution soaked on cotton wick administered for adults only. They were reared at 30+-3degC and 75+-6% R.H. The results of this investigation were as follows: first, the average female house fly oviposition was 122.68 eggs. The egg, larval (3 stages), pupal and male and female adult stages were 20.8 hours, 1.4, 2.3, 5.2, 5.3 and 11.93 and 12.07 days respectively. Second, in general, there were reductions in number of eggs laid, egg weight and percentage hatchability from normal female mated with irradiated male house flies with gamma radiation obtained from Cs137 source at 5, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 gray. These reductions increased sequently as the dosage increased. The number of eggs laid were no statistical difference but the egg weight obtained from irradiated flies were significantly different from those non-irradiated ones. The percentage of hatchability was also found significantly different between the irradiated and non-irradiated flies except in only 5 gray group. Percentage of the adult emergence in the third generation, descendants of the first 5 gray male generation, was 54. Third, the sterility dose for male house fly was at 30 gray. The effects of gamma radiation on the sperm productions was found significantly different between non-irradiated and irradiated flies except in the 5 gray males. However, irradiation did not alter the morphology of the spermatheca and the releases of the sperms