Potential toxicity of flubendiamide in Drosophila melanogaster and associated structural alterations of its compound eye

Flubendiamide, a comparatively new insecticide, is used against lepidopteran insect pests and presumed safe for non-target Drosophila melanogaster (D. melanogaster). In this study, treatment concentrations (0.5, 1, 2 5, 10, and 20 μg/ml) of flubendiamide, lower than agricultural concentrations (rice 50μg/ml or cotton 100 μg/ml), were able to inhibit acetylcholinesterase activity in third instar larvae of D. melanogaster indicating a neurotoxic potential. In addition, larvae exposed to flubendiamide also manifested increased amounts of stress protein hsp70. The larvae expressing such stress response when allowed to emerge as adults displayed severe eye structure deformities found by scanning electron microscopy. These findings indicate a toxic potential for flubendiamide in D. melanogaster.