INDUCED REGRESSION OF DIELDRIN-RESISTANCE IN THE HOUSEFLY (MUSCA DOMESTICA L.)

A high degree of resistance to cyclodiene insecticides, which appeared in a previously susceptible housefly strain maintained without exposure to insecticides but propagated from early-emerging adults to increase susceptibility to DDT, was found to be due to a single autosomal factor. Subsequent selection of a substrain for late adult emergence over 50 generations was unsuccessful in materially reversing the dieldrin-resistance or in demonstrating that selection of early-emerging flies was responsible for its appearance. However, selection and propagation of the knockdown-susceptible fraction of the population with lindane over 30 generations eliminated cyclodiene-resistance entirely. This method can be of value in maintaining laboratory strains at a normal level of susceptibility to cyclodiene insecticides. It is apparent, nevertheless, that various manipulations of a standard strain may affect its toxicological as well as other characteristics. The authors stress that when a standard reference strain is required for an extended period of time, it should be rigorously controlled and continuously evaluated.