Lethal and sublethal effects of mixtures of entomopathogenic fungi and synthetic insecticides on biological aspects of Musca domestica L.

The current study was performed to assess the effectiveness of the entomopathogenic fungi Metarhizium anisopliae var. anisopliae (Metschnikof) Sorokin and Isaria fumosorosea (Wize) Brown&Smith applied in combination with some synthetic insecticides against the house fly, Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae) at Department of Entomology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan during 2015. An extensive, typically dose-dependent range of responses was shown by flies towards fungus-synthetic insecticide combinations using a bait method. The insecticides acetamiprid, emamectin benzoate, imidacloprid and lufenuron in combination with insect pathogenic fungi showed higher mortality than expected with significant synergistic interactions. In addition, the mixtures were also assessed for sublethal effects on biological parameters of M. domestica , namely adult longevity, fecundity, egg hatching, larval duration, percent pupation, pupal weight, pupal duration, adult emergence and sex ratio. The results showed a considerable impact of fungi and synthetic insecticide mixtures on all biological parameters of M. domestica (P<0.05) except adult emergence. A noteworthy reduction in adult longevity, fecundity, egg hatching, percent pupation and pupal weight was observed, while larval and pupal durations were prolonged. The results highlight the potential of combined use of entomopathogenic fungi and synthetic insecticides for the control of M. domestica . Moreover, the combination of entomopathogenic fungi and synthetic insecticides can reduce the concentrations of the active ingredient required to achieve the same result as when these are applied separately. However, field trials are required to validate the effects of entomopathogenic fungi and synthetic insecticides mixtures before they can be recommended as elements of an integrated pest management program for M. domestica .