Reproduction in DDT-and Diazinon-Treated House Flies12

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Abstract
The effects of sublethal doses of DDT and Diazinon were compared on a DDT-resistant (Orlando Colony I) and a susceptible laboratory strain of house flies. The insecticides were dissolved in olive oil and applied topically to adult females on two or three successive days before oviposition began. In the resistant strain the potential adult offspring was reduced by 34% when DDT was used and by 21% with Diazinon. The reduction in population was apparent in measurements of the fecundity, fertility, and survival rate of the offspring. In addition, DDT-treated females had about a 15% shorter life span than controls. The life span of Diazinon-treated females did not differ significantly from the untreated. The susceptible strain differed from the resistant strain in several respects. DDT-treated females showed an increase in fertility and fecundity; Diazinon-treated females showed an increase in fecundity but a reduction in fertility compared with controls. There was an 18% greater potential adult offspring from DDT-treated females and a 1% increase from Diazinon-treated females. The offspring survival rate was higher from DDT-treated females but lower from Diazinon-treated females. A comparison of the adult life span in the susceptible strain did not reveal significant differences was found in the resistant strain.