Phenotypic variation in adult behavioral response and offspring fitness in Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) in response to permethrin

Phenotypic variation in behavioral response and physiological tolerance to permethrin was measured and compared between two populations of diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.). A field population from Celeryville, OH, and a laboratory population originally collected from Wooster, OH, were compared. In laboratory choice bioassays, females from both populations were less likely to oviposit on cabbage leaf disks and seedlings treated with permethrin. The oviposition-deterrent effect was positively related to permethrin concentration. The laboratory population was significantly more behaviorally responsive to the insecticide and showed a significantly greater avoidance than the field population of the highest concentration of permethrin tested (1.50 g [AI] /liter). The physiological response of each population was measured by feeding bioassays, and the laboratory population was physiologically more susceptible to the permethrin. Larvae from the laboratory population that were fed permethrin-treated leaves had significantly lower growth rate, higher mortality, and lower adult fecundity compared with larvae from the field population. These data suggest that female moths that are more behaviorally responsive to permethrin produce offspring that tend to be more susceptible to the same insecticide, at least for the populations tested. The relationship between adult behavioral response and larval physiological tolerance to permethrin is discussed.     

Indirect selection for increased susceptibility to permethrin in diamondback moth (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae)

We have been exploring the behavioral response ot insect pests to heterogeneous distribution of toxins (low dose with refugia), and its genetic correlation with physiological tolerance to these toxins. A field-collected population of diamondback moth, Plutella xylostellu (L.) (Lepidoptera Plutellidae), from Celeryville, OH, was selected with permethrin to determine whether low heterogeneous doses could lead to increased susceptibility to permethrin by selecting indirectly on behavior. Two replicates of each of three selection regimes: uniform high concentration hypothesized to result in increased physiological tolerance, heterogeneous low concentration hypothesized to result in increased susceptibility through indirect selection on behavior, and a control with no exposure to permethrin, were maintained in 1-in3 cages in a greenhouse, for 33 generations. All life stages of the diamondback moth were exposed to the selection regimes, and new generations were started with a random selection of pupae from the previous generation. Lines selected with uniform high concentrations developed 76-fold levels of resistance to permethrin by the 17th generation, with little changes thereafter. For generations 1-20, lines selected with heterogeneous low concentrations remained slightly lower in LC50 but not significantly different from the unselected control lines. Based on confidence intervals from probit analyses, the LC50 of the lines selected with heterogeneous low concentration, however, were significantly lower than those of the control lines in generations 21-33. Our results demonstrate that selection on behavioral responses can result in greater susceptibility than no selection at all, despite exposure to the toxin and ample genetic variation and potential for increased physiological tolerance. The implications of our findings, which are based on selection scenarios that could take place in field situations, are that behavioral responses can prevent and even decrease the levels of resistance in insect populations, an important result with respect to resistance and resistance management.     

亚麻荠对小菜蛾幼虫取食和成虫行为反应的影响

亚麻荠是一种很少有害虫危害的油料作物。用室内生测和Y 型嗅觉仪研究了亚麻荠对小菜蛾Plutella xylostella幼虫取食和成虫行 为反应的影响。以甘蓝作对照,用亚麻荠叶片喂养的小菜蛾初孵幼虫3天后校正死亡率为79 .2%,显示了较强的致死作用;喂养小菜蛾3龄幼虫至化蛹,其存活率、化蛹率、蛹重及成 虫寿命都显著降低,表明亚麻荠对小菜蛾幼虫的生长发育有不利影响。在幼虫的取食选择实 验中,有甘蓝叶供选择时,小菜蛾幼虫不取食亚麻荠;在无可选择的情况下,小菜蛾幼虫也 取 食亚麻荠叶片,但取食量很小,与取食甘蓝叶的量相比,差异极显著。行为反应测试表明, 小菜蛾成虫对甘蓝和亚麻荠植株的挥发物都有明显的趋性反应,与对照（净化空气）相比, 差异极显著,而在甘蓝和亚麻荠之间无选择性。说明小菜蛾成虫对亚麻荠植株的挥发物具有 较强的定向反应。     

Effect of insecticides on the diamondback moth (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) and its parasitoid Diadegma insulare (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae)

Studies were conducted to evaluate the toxicity of insecticides to adult Diadegma insulare (Cresson) and its host the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.). Leaf-dip and direct-dip bioassays for diamondback moth larvae and residual bioassays for adults of diamondback moth and D. insulare were used to assess mortalities. Larval mortalities at field rates were significantly higher with carbaryl, permethrin, spinosad, and tebufenozide when compared with Bacillus thuringiensis, or imidacloprid in the larval-dip bioassay 72 h after treatment. In the leaf-dip and residual bioassays, both permethrin and spinosad caused 100% mortalities to diamondback moth larvae and adults, respectively, 72 h after treatment. Of all the materials tested, only B. thuringiensis and tebufenozide were not toxic to D. insulare 24 h after treatment. Spinosad was not toxic to D. insulare 30 min after treatment. However, 100% mortality was observed 8 h after treatment.     

Efficacy of Leptospermum petersonii oil, on Plutella xylostella, and its parasitoid, Trichogramma pretiosum

The efficacy of lemon-scented tea tree oil (LSO), Leptospermum petersonii (FM. Bailey), was evaluated against the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) under laboratory conditions. Feeding activity and development of larval stages were significantly reduced on broccoli leaves that had been dipped in LSO. Oviposition deterrence was also found when an adult stage was exposed to treated leaves. Fecundity dropped by >50% at concentrations >0.5%. The LC50 value for third instar larvae was estimated to be 2.93% 7 d after treatment. Experiments were also conducted under greenhouse conditions to assess the efficacy of LSO against the diamond-back moth. Our results suggest that LSO has modest potential for development as a botanical insecticide. The oil was also tested at concentrations from 0.5 to 6% for oviposition deterrence of an egg parasitoid of the diamondback moth, Trichogramma pretiosum (Riley). LSO deterred parasitization in choice tests but not in no-choice tests. LSO did not cause mortality of T. pretiosum during 24 h in a contact toxicity test. We conclude that LSO had no significant effects on the parasitoid, and therefore LSO is compatible with this biocontrol agent for integrated management of the diamondback moth.     

Behavioral Avoidance - Will Physiological Insecticide Resistance Level of Insect Strains Affect Their Oviposition and Movement Responses?

Agricultural organisms, such as insect herbivores, provide unique opportunities for studies of adaptive evolutionary processes, including effects of insecticides on movement and oviposition behavior. In this study, Brassica leaves were treated with one of two non-systemic insecticides and exposed to two individual strains (referred to as single or double resistance) of diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) (DBM) exhibiting physiological resistance. Behavioral responses by these two strains were compared as part of characterizing the relative effect of levels of physiological resistance on the likelihood of insects showing signs of behavioral avoidance. For each DBM strain, we used choice bioassays to quantify two possible types of behavioral avoidance: 1) females ovipositing predominantly on leaf surfaces without insecticides, and 2) larvae avoiding insecticide-treated leaf surfaces. In three-choice bioassays (leaves with no pesticide, 50% coverage with pesticide, or 100% coverage with pesticide), females from the single resistance DBM strain laid significantly more eggs on water treated leaves compared to leaves with 100% insecticide coverage (both gamma-cyhalothrin and spinetoram). Females from the double resistance DBM strain also laid significantly more eggs on water treated leaves compared to leaves with 100% gamma-cyhalothrin, while moths did not adjust their oviposition behavior in response to spinetoram. Larvae from the single resistance DBM strain showed a significant increase in mobility in response to both insecticides and avoided insecticide-treated portions of leaves when given a choice. On the other hand, DBM larvae from the double resistance strain showed a significant decrease in mobility in response to insecticides, and they did not avoid insecticide-treated portions of leaves when given a choice. Our results suggest that pest populations with physiological resistance may show behavioral avoidance, as resistant females avoided oviposition on leaves without gamma-cyhalothrin. Thus, physiological resistance and behavioral avoidance do not appear to be controlled by the same selection pressures, and the mechanisms responsible for behavioral avoidance may vary among life stages. Our analysis also suggested that a population with lesser physiological resistance to insecticides may be under a stronger selection pressure and therefore be more likely to develop avoidance behaviors than a population with higher levels of physiological resistance.     

Genetic Structure and Demographic History Reveal Migration of the Diamondback Moth Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) from the Southern to Northern Regions of China

The diamondback moth Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) is one of the most destructive insect pests of cruciferous plants worldwide. Biological, ecological and genetic studies have indicated that this moth is migratory in many regions around the world. Although outbreaks of this pest occur annually in China and cause heavy damage, little is known concerning its migration. To better understand its migration pattern, we investigated the population genetic structure and demographic history of the diamondback moth by analyzing 27 geographical populations across China using four mitochondrial genes and nine microsatellite loci. The results showed that high haplotype diversity and low nucleotide diversity occurred in the diamondback moth populations, a finding that is typical for migratory species. No genetic differentiation among all populations and no correlation between genetic and geographical distance were found. However, pairwise analysis of the mitochondrial genes has indicated that populations from the southern region were more differentiated than those from the northern region. Gene flow analysis revealed that the effective number of migrants per generation into populations of the northern region is very high, whereas that into populations of the southern region is quite low. Neutrality testing, mismatch distribution and Bayesian Skyline Plot analyses based on mitochondrial genes all revealed that deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and sudden expansion of the effective population size were present in populations from the northern region but not in those from the southern region. In conclusion, all our analyses strongly demonstrated that the diamondback moth migrates within China from the southern to northern regions with rare effective migration in the reverse direction. Our research provides a successful example of using population genetic approaches to resolve the seasonal migration of insects.     

Inhibitory effects of permethrin on flight responses,host‐searching,and foraging behaviour of Cotesia vestalis (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a larval parasitoid of Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae)

Although it is well known that the application of broad‐spectrum synthetic insecticides reduces the effectiveness of natural enemies, the details of the actual mechanisms, including the lethal and sublethal effects of this reduction, are not fully understood. The inhibitory effects of a pyrethroid insecticide (permethrin), Adion 20% EC on the flight responses, host‐searching behaviour and foraging behaviour of Cotesia vestalis (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a larval parasitoid of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), were investigated under laboratory conditions. In choice trials, the wasps showed significant preference for P. xylostella‐infested Komatsuna plants over insecticide‐treated plants, suggesting an inhibitory effect of the insecticide on the flight response of C. vestalis. When offered a pair of plants, the wasps showed a significant preference for P. xylostella‐infested plants compared to uninfested plants. However, significantly more wasps were attracted to infested permethrin‐treated plants than to uninfested plants, suggesting that the wasps are attracted to the volatile infochemicals from the infested plants, even if treated with permethrin. The searching time was significantly shorter and the mortality of C. vestalis adults on the insecticide‐treated plants significantly higher than in the control plants treated with distilled water. These results suggest that the application of the insecticide had an inhibitory effect on the wasps’‐searching behaviour and consequently reduced the effectiveness of C. vestalis as a biological control agent against P. xylostella. In addition, the strength of the inhibitory effect of permethrin on the attraction of the wasps to the plants is critical to the survival of C. vestalis. Our results suggest that the attraction of the wasps to the permethrin‐treated infested plants increases the risk of their exposure to this insecticide.     

Managing lepidopteran pests in cabbage with herbicide-induced resistance, in combination with a pyrethroid insecticide

S-ethyldipropylthiocarbamate (EPTC) applied as a soil treatment or over-the-top spray on cabbage plants (Brassica oleracea L.) caused the leaves to turn ‘glossy’ for as long as 30 days. EPTC-induced glossy plants were damaged significantly less than untreated plants by diamondback moth,Plutella xylostella (L.), imported cabbage worm,Pieris rapae (L.), and cabbage looper,Trichoplusia ni (Hbn.). Reductions in damage were equivalent to those obtained from treatment with permethrin. When used in combination with permethrin, EPTC provided additive control of damage by these pests. Our calculations show EPTC-induced resistance to be cost-effective. This use of EPTC has several limitations, however. Younger plants (<9 leaves) were killed or injured by the herbicide. The growth of older plants was not affected, but plants did not become glossy for ca. 10 days after they were treated with EPTC. The crop must be protected with insecticides until the plants are mature enough to treat with EPTC, and until treated plants become glossy. In addition, since the glossy trait is only effective against first instar larvae, populations of later instars on glossy plants must be reduced with an application of insecticide. Finally, EPTC formulations are water-soluble and can be washed away from the plants by heavy rains and irrigation, which may make this use of EPTC impractical in some situations. Where its use is practical, and the indicated precautions are taken, EPTC-induced resistance could reduce dependence on chemical insecticides and reduce selection for insecticide resistance in diamondback moth.     

Evaluation of action thresholds and spinosad for lepidopteran pest management in Minnesota cabbage

Action thresholds, based on the percentage of plants infested, for the lepidopteran pest complex in fresh-market cabbage Brassica oleracea variety capitata were evaluated in 1996 and 1997 in southern Minnesota. Three lepidopteran pests are common in Minnesota, including the imported cabbageworm, Pieris (=Artogeia) rapae (L.), diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.), and the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni (Hübner). Most of the thresholds tested included all three pests. However, because T. ni is often the most consistent and damaging pest in Minnesota, two thresholds were based solely on the percentage of plants infested with T. ni eggs and larvae. Action thresholds were also evaluated for their compatibility with a recently labeled biologically based insecticide, spinosad, and a conventional pyrethroid, permethrin. Although all three lepidopteran pests were present in both years of the study, P. rapae provided most of the pest pressure in 1996, and T. ni was most abundant in 1997. Compared with the 0% larval infestation treatment (approximately weekly sprays from early heading to harvest), all action thresholds resulted in less insecticide use (17- 80%), while maintaining high levels of marketability. Despite variable pest pressure between years, one of the thresholds based solely on T. ni (10% of plants infested with eggs or larvae) performed as well as each of the thresholds based on all three species combined. For both years, and compared with a weekly spray schedule from early heading to harvest (average of 5.5 sprays per year), use of the 10% T. ni egg or larval threshold resulted in an average of 36.5% (3.5 sprays) and 65% (2.0 sprays) fewer applications of spinosad and permethrin, respectively, with no significant loss in marketability. The results indicate that a variety of incidence-based action thresholds can be used to ensure the production of high-quality cabbage in the midwestern United States with only minimal applications of spinosad or permethrin.     

不同地区小菜蛾种群羧酸酯酶的毒理学性质研究

在1995～1997年对湖北武汉、河北张家口地区小菜蛾Plutella xylostella(L.)种群的抗药性进行了研究。结果表明对阿维菌素的抗性和台湾敏感种群相比,武汉种群抗性为4.3倍,张家口种群抗性为1.8倍;对马拉硫磷的抗性武汉和张家口种群分别为2.2和2.9倍;对氟铃脲的抗性分别为3.2和0.5倍;对溴氰菊酯的抗性分别为2.4和1.7倍。对羧酸酯酶(Care)的研究结果表明,三个种群幼虫CarE对a-乙酸萘酯或β-乙酸萘酯(a或β-NA)水解活性差异显著,但成虫Care活性没有明显差异。武汉和张家口种群幼虫CarE对a-NA和β-NA的亲和力没有明显差异,但是武汉种群幼虫Care对底物的亲和力高于张家口种群。敏感品系Care对a—NA的亲和力明显高于对β-NA,相差约3倍。不同类型的抑制剂对小菜蛾幼虫CarE的抑制能力不同。增效磷和对氧磷对敏感品系CarE水解a-NA具有明显的抑制作用,分别比对武汉种群Care的抑制作用大4.577倍(SVl)和2.576倍(对氧磷)。     

Excito-Repellent Responses between <Emphasis Type="Italic">Culex quinquefasciatus</Emphasis> Permethrin Susceptible and Resistant Mosquitoes

The behavioral responses exhibited between four permethrin-resistant field-derived populations and a long-established, permethrin susceptible colony population of Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes was assessed for behavioral responses to permethrin in an excito-repellency (ER) test system. After a 30-min exposure to two different insecticide concentrations (200 and 500 mg/m²) in paired contact and noncontact test designs, the initial knockdown and escape (exit) responses were recorded followed by mortality after 24-h. All five test populations rapidly escaped from the chambers treated with permethrin regardless of background insecticide susceptibility status or chemical concentration. The greatest contact escape response was seen from the colonized population with 88 % of specimens escaping the chamber within 30-min. Contact irritancy was the predominant response compared to relatively weak noncontact spatial repellency in all test populations at both low and high concentrations. At the lower concentration, the contact escape responses did not appear influenced by background susceptibility status, whereas at the higher concentration the permethrin-resistant field populations exhibited significantly reduced avoidance behavior compared to the laboratory susceptible strain.     

Genetic variation and a fitness tradeoff in the tolerance of gray treefrog (Hyla versicolor) tadpoles to the insecticide carbaryl

One of the major unanswered questions in the study of global amphibian declines is why only some species or populations suffer declines. A possible explanation is that species and populations vary in the genetic basis of their tolerance to environmental stress such as chemical contamination. The presence of genetic variation in tolerance to chemicals and in fitness traits of amphibians is essential for persistence of species populations through survival and successful reproduction in contaminated environments. We tested for the presence of genetic variation in the tolerance of amphibian larvae to the insecticide carbaryl using gray treefrog tadpoles (Hyla versicolor). We also assessed whether tolerance of tadpoles is negatively associated with larval performance traits directly related to adult fitness, thereby providing a test of the "cost of tolerance" hypothesis. Our results demonstrate significant variation in tolerance of tadpoles to the insecticide carbaryl within a single population of the gray treefrog, Hyla versicolor. Our half-sibship design indicates that variation among sires explains a significant amount of the variation in chemical tolerance thereby suggesting a heritability genetic basis. Our results also indicate the presence of a fitness tradeoff with tolerance to the chemical carbaryl being negatively correlated, or traded off, with survival of tadpoles reared in the field in the absence of the chemical. Knowledge of genetic tradeoffs with chemical tolerance under realistic environmental conditions will be important for predicting the rate of adaptation and potential for persistence of species. Finally, the partitioning of environmental and genetic variation in tolerance to chemicals is critical to identifying which species are most susceptible, the amount of genetic variance present, the potential for adaptation to contaminants, and the presence of fitness tradeoffs. Such information is necessary to clearly understand the persistence of populations, and ultimately, the processes leading to species declines.     

Genome analysis of cytochrome P450s and their expression profiles in insecticide resistant mosquitoes, Culex quinquefasciatus

Here we report a study of the 204 P450 genes in the whole genome sequence of larvae and adult Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes. The expression profiles of the P450 genes were compared for susceptible (S-Lab) and resistant mosquito populations, two different field populations of mosquitoes (HAmCq and MAmCq), and field parental mosquitoes (HAmCq(G0) and MAmCq(G0)) and their permethrin selected offspring (HAmCq(G8) and MAmCq(G6)). While the majority of the P450 genes were expressed at a similar level between the field parental strains and their permethrin selected offspring, an up- or down-regulation feature in the P450 gene expression was observed following permethrin selection. Compared to their parental strains and the susceptible S-Lab strain, HAmCq(G8) and MAmCq(G6) were found to up-regulate 11 and 6% of total P450 genes in larvae and 7 and 4% in adults, respectively, while 5 and 11% were down-regulated in larvae and 4 and 2% in adults. Although the majority of these up- and down-regulated P450 genes appeared to be developmentally controlled, a few were either up- or down-regulated in both the larvae and adult stages. Interestingly, a different gene set was found to be up- or down-regulated in the HAmCq(G8) and MAmCq(G6) mosquito populations in response to insecticide selection. Several genes were identified as being up- or down-regulated in either the larvae or adults for both HAmCq(G8) and MAmCq(G6); of these, CYP6AA7 and CYP4C52v1 were up-regulated and CYP6BY3 was down-regulated across the life stages and populations of mosquitoes, suggesting a link with the permethrin selection in these mosquitoes. Taken together, the findings from this study indicate that not only are multiple P450 genes involved in insecticide resistance but up- or down-regulation of P450 genes may also be co-responsible for detoxification of insecticides, insecticide selection, and the homeostatic response of mosquitoes to changes in cellular environment.     

抗性小菜蛾的乙酰胆碱酯酶敏感性

用FAO推荐的点滴法测定了小菜蛾Plutella xylostella(Linn.)对马拉硫磷和西维因的抗药性,并对抗性?和敏感(S)小菜蛾幼虫的胆碱酯酶(ChE)的性质、活性、动力学和抑制作用进行了研究.广州天河、上海梅陇的小菜蛾对马拉硫磷的抗性分别是江西南昌种群的113.8和27.4倍;它们对西维因的抗性是》3.1倍.R幼虫ChE对乙酰胆碱(ATCh)、丙酰胆碱(PrTCh)和丁酰胆碱(BuTCh)的活性分别是S幼虫的0.3、0.7和9.9倍;它们的V_max分别是0.4、1.4和7.0倍;K_m分别是209.1,87和37.8倍.毒扁豆碱、西维因、对氧磷、敌敌畏和残杀威对R幼虫AChE的抑制中浓度I₅₀,分别是S幼虫的333.3,66.7,17.2,12.5和10.0倍.对氧磷、敌敌畏、残杀威和西维因对R幼虫的双分子速率常数K₁,分别是S幼虫的126.4,86.5,32.9和12.3倍.由此可见,AChE敏感度降低是小菜蛾对有机磷和氨基甲酸酯产生抗性的主要机理之一.本文中还讨论了防治抗性小菜蛾的策略.     

Cross-induction of detoxification genes by environmental xenobiotics and insecticides in the mosquito Aedes aegypti: impact on larval tolerance to chemical insecticides

The effect of exposure of Aedes aegypti larvae to sub-lethal doses of the pyrethroid insecticide permethrin, the organophosphate temephos, the herbicide atrazine, the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon fluoranthene and the heavy metal copper on their subsequent tolerance to insecticides, detoxification enzyme activities and expression of detoxification genes was investigated. Bioassays revealed a moderate increase in larval tolerance to permethrin following exposure to fluoranthene and copper while larval tolerance to temephos increased moderately after exposure to atrazine, copper and permethrin. Cytochrome P450 monooxygenases activities were induced in larvae exposed to permethrin, fluoranthene and copper while glutathione S-transferase activities were induced after exposure to fluoranthene and repressed after exposure to copper. Microarray screening of the expression patterns of all detoxification genes following exposure to each xenobiotic with the Aedes Detox Chip identified multiple genes induced by xenobiotics and insecticides. Further expression studies using real-time quantitative PCR confirmed the induction of multiple CYP genes and one carboxylesterase gene by insecticides and xenobiotics. Overall, this study reveals the potential of xenobiotics found in polluted mosquito breeding sites to affect their tolerance to insecticides, possibly through the cross-induction of particular detoxification genes. Molecular mechanisms involved and impact on mosquito control strategies are discussed.     

Pyrethroid susceptibility and behavioral avoidance in Anopheles epiroticus,a malaria vector in Thailand

The physiological susceptibility to insecticides and the behavioral responses of four wild‐caught populations of female Anopheles epiroticus to synthetic pyrethroids (deltamethrin, permethrin, and alpha‐cypermethrin) were assessed. Test populations were collected from different localities along the eastern coast, Trat (TR), Songkhla (SK), and Surat Thani (ST) and one population from the western coast, Phang Nga (PN). Results showed that all four populations of An. epiroticus were susceptible to all three synthetic pyrethroids tested. Behavioral responses to test compounds were characterized for all four populations using an excito‐repellency test system. TR displayed the strongest contact excitation (‘irritancy’) escape response (76.8% exposed to deltamethrin, 74.1% permethrin, and 78.4% alpha‐cypermethrin), followed by the PN population (24.4% deltamethrin, 35% permethrin, and 34.4% for alpha‐cypermethrin) by rapidly escaping test chambers after direct contact with surfaces treated with each active ingredient compared with match‐paired untreated controls. Moderate non‐contact repellency responses to all three compounds were observed in the TR population but were comparatively weaker than paired contact tests. Few mosquitoes from the SK and ST populations escaped from test chambers, regardless of insecticide tested or type of trial. We conclude that contact excitation was a major behavioral response in two populations of An. epiroticus, whereas two other populations showed virtually no escape response following exposure to the three pyrethroids. The explanation for these large unexpected differences in avoidance responses between pyrethroid‐susceptible populations of the same species is unclear and warrants further investigation.     

Hymenopteran parasitoids of diamondback moth (Lepidoptera: Ypeunomutidae) in northern Thailand

Larvae of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Ypeunomutidae), cause severe economic damage to cabbage, Brassica oleracea L. variety capitata (Brassicaceae) and related vegetables in Thailand. Overuse of broad-spectrum insecticides for diamondback moth control is a serious problem and has obscured the contributions of indigenous parasitoids. Our objectives were to identify indigenous diamondback moth parasitoids in northern Thailand and to assess their potential for natural control. Six parasitoid species were reared from diamondback moth larvae and pupae collected in 1990 and in 2003-2004. These included the larval parasitoid Cotesia plutellae Kurdjumov (Braconidae), a larval-pupal parasitoid Macromalon orientale Kerrich (Ichneumonidae), and pupal parasitoids Diadromus collaris Gravenhorst (Ichneumonidae) and Brachymeria excarinata Gahan (Chalcididae). Single specimens of Isotima sp. Forster (Ichneumonidae) and Brachymeria lasus Walker (Chalcididae) also were reared from diamondback moth hosts. C. plutellae was the dominant larval parasitoid and was often reared from host larvae collected from fields sprayed regularly with insecticides; parasitism ranged from 14 to 78%. Average parasitism by M. orientale was only 0.5-6%. Parasitism of host pupae by D. collaris ranged from 9 to 31%, whereas B. excarinata pupal parasitism ranged from 9 to 25%. An integrated pest management (IPM) protocol using simple presence-absence sampling for lepidopterous larvae and the exclusive use of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) or neem resulted in the highest yields of undamaged cabbage compared with a control or weekly sprays of cypermethrin (local farmer practice). IPM programs focused on conservation of local diamondback moth parasitoids and on greater implementation of biological control will help alleviate growing public concerns regarding the effects of pesticides on vegetable growers and consumers.     

四种十字花科蔬菜上小菜蛾自然种群连续世代生命表

利用作用因子生命表技术,组建芥菜、芥蓝、小白菜和菜心4种十字花科蔬菜上小菜蛾自然种群连续世代生命表,分析寄主植物和生物因子对小菜蛾种群数量的控制作用。结果表明：在4种十字花科蔬菜的一造菜上,小菜蛾均能完成两个世代。虽然小菜蛾在芥菜上的初始卵量最高,但害虫种群总增长倍数在芥蓝上最高,其次为小白菜,菜心和芥菜,分别为17．64、11．90、11．43和3．76。这说明尽管芥菜对小菜蛾成虫的产卵有一定的吸引作用,但不适合小菜蛾生长发育。芥蓝是最适宜小菜蛾种群增长的寄主。生物因子在小菜蛾自然种群控制中起着重要的作用,但是在不同种类十字花科蔬菜上,天敌类群对小菜蛾控制作用存在一定差异。除芥菜之外,寄生性天敌对芥蓝、菜心和小白菜上的小菜蛾种群控制作用最大,其次为“捕食及其它”,病原微生物的控制作用最小。“捕食及其它”对芥菜上小菜蛾种群的作用非常明显,如果排除此因子作用,小菜蛾种群两代后将增长126．03倍。该因子是导致芥菜小菜蛾自然种群增长趋势指数低的主要原因。因此在制定小菜蛾防治策略时,应考虑蔬菜的种类和布局,加大对芥蓝小菜蛾种群的防治力度;芥菜可作为一种诱杀植物种植,以吸引小菜蛾产卵,并集中防治。这些防治策略在小菜蛾综合治理中具有重要的实际意义。     

Monitoring of resistance for the diamondback moth to Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Ac and Cry1Ba toxins and a Bt commercial formulation

Abstract:  To monitor the resistance of field populations of the diamondback moth Plutella xylostella in China to the insecticidal protein Cry1Ac, Cry1Ba and commercial formulation Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki (Btk), six representative populations of the diamondback moth were collected from Shanghai, Shandong, Hubei, Hunan, Zhejiang and Guangdong provinces of China where crucifer crop plants are intensively planted. Bioassay results showed that the populations of the diamondback moth from different locations exhibited different levels of resistance, compared with a susceptible laboratory population. The Guangdong field population was 56.15- and 21.90-fold resistant to Cry1Ac and Btk, respectively. Shanghai, Hunan, Shandong and Zhejiang populations were 37.85-, 17.24-, 10.24- and 9.41-fold resistant to Cry1Ac, respectively, but were not resistant to Btk. The Hubei population did not show resistance to Cry1Ac and Btk. Almost all tested populations were susceptible to Cry1Ba, but the Guangdong population showed some tolerance to Cry1Ba with a LC₅₀ of 0.69  μ g/ml which was 6.17-fold higher than that of the susceptible population. The results suggested that the complex resistance patterns of field populations of P. xylostella need to be considered for expression of Bt toxin genes in genetically-engineered crop plants and commercial formulations.