Fluoride Action Network

Abstract

Treatment of the larvae of the common fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster with 10, 20, and 40 ppm of the F-containing insecticide cryolite (Na3AlF6) through its normal food resulted in abnormal morphology of its compound eye. A ridge-like appearance of the mechanosensory bristles of the ommatidia was apparent by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Interestingly, ommatidial disorganization was greater with 10 ppm cryolite than with 20 and 40 ppm. These results indicate that the use of cryolite as an insecticide in fruit orchards may cause morphological alterations in a non-target organism.