Flubendiamide affects visual and locomotory activities of Drosophila melanogaster for three successive generations (P, F1 and F2).

Abstract

Flubendiamide is widely used in agricultural fields to exterminate a broad spectrum of pests (lepidopteran insects) by disrupting their muscle function. The main objective of this study was to find the effects of flubendiamide on a non-target organism, Drosophila melanogaster (dipteran insect). In the present study, different sub-lethal concentrations of Flubendiamide caused a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in acetylcholinesterase activity and increase in cytochrome P450 activity in adult D. melanogaster. Phototaxis and climbing behaviours were found to significantly (P < 0.05) alter in exposed flies. The observed alteration in phototaxis and climbing behaviours were not restricted to P generation, but were found to be transmitted to subsequent generations (F₁ and F₂ generation) that had never been directly exposed to the test chemical during their life time. It is only their predecessors (P generation) who have been affronted with different concentrations of Flubendiamide. Humans and Drosophilids share almost 60% genomic similarity and 75% disease gene resemblance. Moreover, most of the circuits governing the behaviours studied involve the inhibition and excitation of neurotransmitters, which are conserved in humans and flies. Thus, the present findings suggest that chronic flubendiamide exposure might induce alteration in neurotransmission leading to discrepancy in the behavioural responses (vision and flight) in other beneficial insects and insect-dependent organisms.