Chalcid Hymenopteran parasitoid Dirhinus giffardii Silvestri proficiently disturbed house fly production

Abstract

ObjectivesMan is always conscious about his health, and is well being challenged by many diseases. These diseases are directly causing hazards and most of them are transmitted through a vector. These vectors (mostly insects) have the ability to transfer / spread pathogenic organisms and that have the potential to cause severe epidemics. The house fly, Musca domestica (Diptera: Muscidae) plays a leading role in spreading more than 100 human and animal diseases. House fly is an eternal issue and mostly the management tactics rely on the use of chemicals either as spray, fumigants or baits. Unauthenticated behavior of these chemicals creates lethal effects on biological ecosystem, furthermore these measures may not be an effective options for outdoor management. For natural and safe option, bio-control strategy is being utilized to make environment healthy and clean. The present study was a part of such effort to use this strategy and validate the biological performance of the potential pupal parasitoid Dirhinus giffardii Silvestri against house fly and provide alternative and safe control of filthy flies. This is the first report on parasitism potential of D. giffardii Silvestri against house fly. ResultsThe D. giffardii Silvestri, 1913 (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae), early reported as an effective pupal parasitoid of tephritid flies, here in the case presented, showed overall 70% reduction in the house fly population by parasitizing pupae. The parasitism efficiency and longevity of hymenopteran parasitoid was remarkably noted two-fold higher on house fly pupae as compared to primary hosts (Tephritids). An amazing results were recorded on house fly parasitism, where, female production was increased one fold as compared to tephritids. Furthermore, sex ratio of the resultant progeny was also confirmed the dominancy of female by 74% as compared to males. Based on the unique and remarkable findings we therefore conclude that D. giffardii is the best bio-control agent for controlling house flies and provide healthy, clean and ecofriendly environment.