Survival of the House Fly (Diptera: Muscidae) on Truvia and Other Sweeteners

Abstract

The house fly, Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae), is a disease vector of mechanically transmitted pathogens including bacteria, viruses, and protozoans. Opportunities for pathogen transmission can increase as fly longevity increases. Dietary preferences play an important role in insect longevity; therefore, we investigated house fly preferences, sucrose availability, and caloric constraints on house fly longevity. Experimental goals were: 1) to test the effects of calorie restriction on survival of house flies by manipulating concentrations of erythritol (low caloric content) and sucrose (high caloric content), and comparing commercial sweeteners of differing calorie content, 2) to identify house fly preferences for either erythritol or sucrose, and 3) to evaluate the insecticidal activity or toxicity of erythritol on house flies. Our data show that house flies may prefer high calorie options when given a choice and that house fly longevity likely increases as calorie content increases. Additionally, no significant differences in longevity were observed between the water only control (zero calories) and erythritol treatments. This suggests that decreased survival rates and death could be the result of starvation rather than insecticidal activity. This research furthers our understanding of house fly survival and sugar-feeding behavior.

Lethal effects of erythritol on the mosquito Aedes aegypti Linnaeus (Diptera: Culicidae)

“…aegpyti . A starvation mode of action after erythritol ingestion has been suggested for houseflies ( M. domestica ) because longevity of flies maintained on erythritol was similar to that for flies maintained on water (Fisher et al., ). Another possible mode of action is that erythritol could block the digestion of carbohydrates through inhibiting the enzymatic activity of alpha glucosidases.…”

“…In addition to mosquitoes, erythritol may impact other dipteran pests. Including this study, four species representing four different families of Diptera (Drosophilidae, Tephritidae, Muscidae, and Culicidae) have shown susceptibility to erythritol (Baudier et al., ; Burgess & King, ; Choi et al., ; Fisher et al., ; Goffin et al., ; O'Donnell et al., , ; Sampson, Werle, et al., ; Sampson, Marshall et al., ; Tang et al., ; Zheng et al., ). One hymenopteran (Formicidae) has also shown susceptibility to erythritol (Zhang et al., ).…”

“…albopictus is a competent vector of dengue, although slightly less efficient in transmission than Ae. aegypti (Gratz, 2004 have shown susceptibility to erythritol (Baudier et al, 2014;Burgess & King, 2017;Choi et al, 2017;Fisher et al, 2017;Goffin et al, 2017;O'Donnell et al, 2016O'Donnell et al, , 2018Sampson, Marshall et al, 2017;Tang et al, 2017;Zheng et al, 2016). One hymenopteran (Formicidae) has also shown susceptibility to erythritol (Zhang et al, 2017).…”

“…It also impairs egg production in adult D. melanogaster (O'Donnell et al, 2018). The negative effects of erythritol on survival in adults and/or larvae have been replicated in other dipteran species including the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis Hendel (Zheng, Zeng, & Xu, 2016), the spotted wing drosophila, D. suzukii Matsumura Goffin et al, 2017;Sampson, Marshall, et al, 2017;Tang, Lee, Jung, & Choi, 2017) and the house fly, Musca domestica Linnaeus (Burgess & King, 2017;Fisher, Fowler, Denning, & Watson, 2017). The longevity of the red imported fire ant Solenopsis invicta Buren, a hymenopteran, is also negatively impacted by erythritol (Zhang, Chen, Li, & Xu, 2017).…”

Larvicidal potential of the polyol sweeteners erythritol and xylitol in two filth fly species

“…The polyol sweeteners erythritol (Er) and xylitol (Xy) have gained attention in recent years for their insecticidal potential against Drosophila melanogaster (O'Donnell et al ), the spotted wing Drosophila, D. suzukii (Sampson et al , Choi et al , Tang et al ), and the Oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Zheng et al 2015). Both Er and Xy have also been considered for control purposes in the house fly, Musca domestica (Fisher et al , Burgess and King , Burgess et al ). Xy has shown particular promise for reducing adult fly longevity in water solutions (Burgess and King ), while Er appeared to be a good candidate for combination with the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana to control adults (Burgess et al ).…”