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Differential Responses of Wild and Laboratory Strains of the Housefly to PCBs

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Abstract

Mixtures of polychlorinated biphenyls, Aroclor 1242 and 1254, had different effects on larval survival of strains of the housefly Musca domestica recently derived from nature, a long-established laboratory strain, and a strain selected for insecticide resistance. All strains tolerated high levels of PCBs; however, both wild-derived strains exhibited unexpected increased survival upon exposure to moderate levels of PCBs alone, whereas the long-established laboratory strain exhibited lowered larval survival in the presence of PCBs. This was not related to a lack of uptake of PCBs by the wild-derived flies, since uptake was high and all major Aroclor GC fractions were represented in the emerging flies. There was increased effectiveness of insecticides in the presence of PCBs on the long-established laboratory strain, but there was no such synergism with insecticides for the wild-derived flies. Recent evolutionary modification of the effects of PCBs alone or in conjunction with insecticides has apparently occurred in this species.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, 77204-5513

    Edwin H. Bryant

  2. Department of Biology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, 24061-0406

    Joe R. Cowles

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  1. Edwin H. Bryant
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Bryant, E.H., Cowles, J.R. Differential Responses of Wild and Laboratory Strains of the Housefly to PCBs. J Chem Ecol 26, 1001–1011 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005416410643

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