STUDIES ON THE INHERITANCE OF CARBAMATE-RESISTANCE IN THE HOUSEFLY (MUSCA DOMESTICA L.).

In view of the increasing importance of carbamic acid esters in insect control, the authors have conducted studies on the inheritance of carbamate-resistance in the housefly Resistance to Isolan (1-isopropyl-3-methyl-5-pyrazolyl dimethylcarbamate) in carbamate-selected strains is inherited as a partially dominant major single factor, without sex linkage or appreciable cytoplasmic influence. Inclusion of piperonyl butoxide as a synergist with Sevin (1-naphthyl methylcarbamate), Zectran (4-dimethylamino-3,5-xylyl methylcarbamate), or m-isopropylphenyl methylcarbamate also produced evidence of monofactorial inheritance.In contrast, resistance to Isolan and to a combination of Sevin and piperonyl butoxide in a ronnel-selected strain is inherited in a pattern suggestive of a polygenic system.The results obtained are discussed in the light of previously established data on the rate of development, stability and regression of carbamate-resistance.