In the present work, a D-galactose-specific lectin with novel N-terminal sequence was purified from Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae) pupae. The purification was performed using affinity chromatography, ultra-filtration, and HPLC. The haemagglutinating activity of M. domestica lectin was specifically inhibited by D-galactose. The haemagglutinating activity of this lectin was stable at temp...

We studied the apoptosis-inducing properties of the antimicrobial peptide cecropin of Musca domestica in human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line BEL-7402 and its underlying mechanism. Proliferation inhibition of the human hepatocellular carcinoma BEL-7402 cells and the human normal liver cells were determined by the MTT assay, and the cell viability was determined by trypan blue dye exclusion ...

1. The house fly shows landing reaction to an expanding visual stimulus or to a decrement of the environmental light level. The quantitative relationship between the dependence of landing reaction on expansion and on light level decrement is analyzed. 2. The different properties of the reactions at different light levels may be correlated with the two visual systems in Diptera and may be explai...

The range of pH values for the blood of grasshoppers and of houseflies is 7.2 to 7.6. The range of values for roaches is 7.5 to 8.0. The range for Malacosoma americanum is 6.4 to 7.4; and the range for Bombyx mori is 6.4 to 7.2. From the work of other investigators and from the writer's results, it is apparent that the pH of insect blood, in general, may vary between 6.4 and 8.0. In the forms o...

Three hundred forty female jewel wasps were reared as larvae on blowfly pupae and then separately exposed as adults to varying numbers and combinations of previously parasitized and unparasitized housefly pupae. Each adult was tested with 6 fresh housefly pupae. Only foraging experience on unparasitized housefly pupae increased host acceptance for subsequent housefly pupae, producing curvilinea...

The oxidation of 3,5-di-tert.-butylphenyl N-methylcarbamate (Butacarb) has been studied in the flies Musca domestica and Lucilia sericata, grass grubs Costelytra zealandica and the mouse. In all species eleven oxidation products, which were formed by hydroxylation of the tert.-butyl groups and the N-methyl group, were detected.

Twenty-seven species of calyptrate muscoids (Muscidae and Sarcophagidae) were collected from December 1993 to November 1994 with wind oriented traps (W.O.T.) baited with decomposing beef liver at the Rio de Janeiro Zoo. The most abundant species found were Musca domestica (57.84%), Peckia chrysostoma (28.16%), Ophyra aenescens (17.11%), Oxysarcodexia thornax (17.82%), Synthesiomyia nudiseta (13...

We present a probe-based, phase-referenced low coherence interferometer in which the reference field is provided by a fiber end reflection. A gradient-index microlens focuses light onto a sample and collects reflected light. We use the probe interferometer to measure surface profiles of the compound eye of a housefly (Musca domestica) and measure nanometer-scale vibrations in a test sample.

Spatial genetic variation was assessed in the common house fly Musca domestica. Allozymes at three gene enzyme system unraveled ten loci which revealed seventeen alleles in house fly populations. F statistics revealed that except ACPH-1 and EST-3 all the other loci show inbreeding (Fis>Fst). Persistent heterozygosity was observed in ACPH-1(Fis= -0.140) which indicate random mating for this locus.