Evaluation of biocontrol agents for Musca domestica Linnaeus, 1758 (Diptera: Muscidae) in laboratory condition

Musca domestica Linnaeus, 1758 (Diptera: Muscidae), a well-known pest of both livestock and humans, is a mechanical vector of many animal and human pathogens. The excessive use of chemical insecticide has led to the development of resistance in the housefly population, and a global desire to decrease insecticide use has increased interest in developing alternative control strategies targeting houseflies. The current study was performed to assess the effectiveness of the bioinsecticides; Metarhizium anisopliae, Beauveria bassiana, Paecilomyces fumosoroseus , Verticillium lecanii, botanical extract Azadirachtin-A and synthetic insecticide (Thiacloprid & Deltamethrin) against the pupae, first and third instar larvae of Musca domestica in the Department of Zoology, Ondokuz Mayıs University, Samsun, Turkey during 2020. Each experiment was carried out in five replicates. All treatments were maintained at 27 oC ± 2 oC and 70% RH with 12L: 12D (h). Dead larvae and pupae were checked and counted daily. Standard probit analysis was used to calculate lethal time values (50% lethal time = LT50 and 90% lethal time = LT90) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Larval and pupal mortality rates in each tested product were analyzed by one way ANOVA. Larval mortality increased significantly with the increase of time of exposure. The highest pupal mortality (98%) was recorded from pupae treated with Metarhizium anisopliae, and the highest percentage of adult emergence (20%) was recorded from pupae treated with Paecilomyces fumosoroseus and Azadirachtin – A. Beauveria bassiana caused the lowest mortality (6%) 24 h after application for third instar larvae, and Paecilomyces fumosoroseus caused the lowest mortality (23%) 24 h after application for first instar larvae. Paecilomyces fumosoroseus had the highest LT50 and LT90 values (4.730 days and 13.92 days, respectively) for first instar larvae. Beauveria bassiana had the highest LT50 and LT90 values (4.090 days and 7.104 days, respectively) for third instar larvae. All commercial bioinsecticides were indicated to be potent efficient in the development stage. Our results showed that the use of bioinsecticide is an effective alternative method in the control of houseflies.