Resistance to methomyl in a laboratory selected and a field strain of the housefly, <i>Musca domestica</i> (L.)

Abstract

Abstract A field strain of housefly resistant to the carbamate insecticide methomyl and a strain selected for resistance to this compound in the laboratory have been studied with a view to establishing the mechanism of resistance. Both resistant strains rapidly produce high concentrations of highly polar, high molecular weight metabolites. In addition, acetylcholinesterase from the heads of resistant insects is more tolerant to inhibition by methomyl than the enzyme from a susceptible strain.