Incidence of resistance to neonicotinoid insecticides in greenhouse populations of the whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) from Greece

The greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood, is an important pest of field and greenhouse crops of horticultural and ornamental plants. In integrated pest management programs its control is mainly based on the release of biological control agents and application of chemical insecticides. Neonicotinoids are relatively new chemicals currently applied for the chemical control of T. vaporariorum. However, cases of development of insecticide resistance to neonicotinoids have already been reported. The state of resistance to neonicotinoid insecticides for populations of the greenhouse whitefly in Greece is currently unknown. The objective of our study was to screen a number of whitefly populations for resistance to the neonicotinoids imidacloprid and thiacloprid. Seven whitefly populations were collected from tomato greenhouse crops from different areas of central and northern Greece. LC₅₀ values were estimated for all populations following the method proposed by the Insecticide Resistance Action Committee (IRAC). The development of resistance to both neonicotinoids was confirmed for all tested populations with resistance ratios ranging from 1.5 to 4.4-fold and from 1.4 to 12.2-fold for imidacloprid and thiacloprid, respectively. We discuss our results with regard to the development of neonicotinoid resistance in T. vaporariorum populations and its implications for whitefly control.     

The impact of insecticides applied in apple orchards on the predatory mite Kampimodromus aberrans (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

Kampimodromus aberrans is an effective predatory mite in fruit orchards. The side-effects of insecticides on this species have been little studied. Field and laboratory experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of insecticides on K. aberrans. Field experiments showed the detrimental effects of etofenprox, tau-fluvalinate and spinosad on predatory mites. Spider mite (Panonychus ulmi) populations reached higher densities on plots treated with etofenprox and tau-fluvalinate than in the other treatments. Single or multiple applications of neonicotinoids caused no detrimental effects on predatory mites. In the laboratory, spinosad and tau-fluvalinate caused 100 % mortality. Etofenprox caused a significant mortality and reduced fecundity. The remaining insecticides did not affect female survival except for imidacloprid. Thiamethoxam, clothianidin, thiacloprid, chlorpyrifos, lufenuron and methoxyfenozide were associated with a significant reduction in fecundity. No effect on fecundity was found for indoxacarb or acetamiprid. Escape rate of K. aberrans in laboratory was relatively high for etofenprox and spinosad, and to a lesser extent thiacloprid. The use of etofenprox, tau-fluvalinate and spinosad was detrimental for K. aberrans and the first two insecticides induced spider mite population increases. The remaining insecticides caused no negative effects on predatory mites in field trials. Some of them (reduced fecundity and repellence) should be considered with caution in integrated pest management programs.     

Assessing permethrin resistance in the stable fly (Diptera: Muscidae) in Florida by using laboratory selections and field evaluations

Insecticide resistance in the stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.) (Diptera: Muscidae),has been demonstrated previously, but mostly with insecticides that are no longer used, such as the organochlorines. Resistance to commonly used pyrethroids has been evaluated twice, but only in the midwestern United States. Stable fly susceptibility to a commonly used pyrethroid, permethrin, was determined in Florida to assess the possibility of resistance development. Diagnostic concentration evaluations of three stable fly field strains demonstrated a maximum of 57 and 21% survival to permethrin residues of 3x and 10x the LC99 of a susceptible strain, respectively. Stable flies from an equine facility with no reported insecticide use demonstrated approximately 20% survival with a 3x diagnostic concentration. Despite a distance of 91-km between field collection sites, survival profiles of field-collected stable fly strains were similar. Although an established stable fly colony collected from a local dairy previously expressed low level resistance to permethrin residues, five generations of laboratory permethrin selection increased resistance 15-fold.     

Insecticidal resistance and cross-resistance in populations of Cydia pomonella (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in central Europe

Insecticide bioassays were used to investigate resistance of Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) to insecticides with various types of active ingredients. The efficacy baselines of selected insect growth regulators (fenoxycarb), insect growth inhibitors (diflubenzuron and teflubenzuron), organophoshorous insecticides (phosalone), and neonicotinoids (thiacloprid) against the eggs and first and fifth instars of sensitive laboratory strains of codling moth were determined. According to concentration-mortality baseline, 50% lethality concentration values and 90% lethality concentration values were determined for all the tested insecticides. The lethal concentration ratio quantified the relation between the efficacy of selected insecticides against fifth instars found by topical application and against first instars found by diet-treated bioassay. No difference was detected when the efficacy of technical grade diflubenzuron diluted in tetrahydrofuran and diflubenzuron in the formulated product Dimilin 48 SC diluted in water was compared. However, just before the application of insecticide, the integument of larvae must be treated with acetone. Two bioassays were used to monitor the resistance of codling moths collected in 2003-2005 in two apple (Malus spp.) orchards with different intensities of chemical control. Resistance ratios (RRs) to the tested insecticides were determined for both field populations of codling moth. For the population of codling moth from a commercial apple orchard in Velké Bílovice, cross-resistance to fenoxycarb, teflubenzuron, and phosalone was detected after the topical application of insecticides to fifth instars. The population of codling moth from Prague-Ruzyne was slightly resistant to phosalone and teflubenzuron. No resistance to diflubenzuron was detected in either tested population.     

Monitoring of Insecticide Resistance in Field-Collected Populations of Culex pipiens pallens (Diptera: Culicidae)

A susceptible strain and six field populations of the northern house mosquito, Culex pipiens pallens Coquillett, were collected in Seoul, Paju, Daejeon, Heongseong, Jinhae, and Buan, and tested for their susceptibility to seven insecticides by topical application. In tests with female Cx. pipiens pallens, marked regional variations of insecticide susceptibility were observed. Five field-collected populations of Cx. pipiens pallens, except for the Seoul colony, exhibitedhightoveryhighlevelsofresistanceto cyfluthrin [resistance ratio (RR), 96–554] and deltamethrin (RR, 192–959). Low to moderate levels of resistance were observed in bendiocarb (RR, 14–46), chlorpyrifos [RR, 7–38; exceptions: Buan (RR, 63) and Jinhae (RR, 80) colonies], λ-cyhalothrin (RR, 5–23), S-bioallethrin (RR, 1–47), and permethrin [RR, 2–27; exception: Jinhae colony (RR, 247)]. These results indicate that careful selection and rotational use of these insecticides should result in continued satisfactory control against field populations of Cx. pipiens pallens.     

Metabolic mechanisms only partially explain resistance to pyrethroids in Australian broiler house populations of lesser mealworm (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

The susceptibility of six Australian broiler house populations and an insecticide susceptible population of lesser mealworm, Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), to cyfluthrin, beta-cyfluthrin, gamma-cyhalothrin, and deltamethrin was investigated. One broiler house population had equivalent susceptibility to the susceptible to beta-cyfluthrin and beta-cyhalothrin, with higher susceptibility to cyfluthrin and deltamethrin. The remaining five populations demonstrated strong resistance to cyfluthrin (19-37-fold), the insecticide used most widely for management of A. diaperinus in Australia. Each cyfluthrin-resistant population demonstrated reduced susceptibility to beta-cyfluthrin (resistance ratios were 8-17-fold), deltamethrin (2.5-8-fold), and gamma-cyhalothrin (6-12-fold) compared with the laboratory population, but cross-resistance patterns varied considerably between populations. Adding piperonyl butoxide (PBO) had no effect on the susceptibility of the susceptible population to any of the insecticides, but it increased the susceptibility of each of the five cyfluthrin-resistant populations: to cyfluthrin (synergism ratio range, 1.9-5.0-fold), beta-cyfluthrin (1.6-4.1-fold), and y-cyhalothrin (1.7-2.0-fold). PBO had a more variable effect on susceptibility to deltamethrin, with three of the cyfluthrin-resistant populations being more susceptible to deltamethrin in the presence of PBO, but susceptibility of the remaining two populations was unaffected by adding PBO (synergism ratio range, 0.9-2.5-fold). Overall, the addition of PBO to the four pyrethroids had variable effects on their susceptibility. This variability indicated the presence of other resistance mechanisms in beetle populations apart from metabolic resistance. In addition, the relative importance of metabolic resistance in each beetle population varied widely between pyrethroids. Thus, it cannot be assumed that PBO will reliably synergize pyrethroids against cyfluthrin-resistant lesser mealworm populations when using it to mitigate insecticide resistance.     

Monitoring for insecticide resistance in field-collected populations of Blattella germanica (Blattaria: Blattellidae)

Seven field-collected populations of German cockroach, Blattella germanica (L.) (ICN, DNH, CHN, DGU, BSN, GSN, and GWJ), were tested for susceptibility to eight different insecticides by a topical application method, and were compared to an insecticide-susceptible KSS strain. Marked regional variations of insecticide susceptibility were observed. Extremely high to high levels of resistance were observed in bifenthrin [resistance ratio (RR), 46–159], deltamethrin (RR, 61–160), and esfenvalerate [RR, 70–270; except for BSN females (RR, 20) and GSN females (RR, 24)]. Low to moderate levels of resistance were observed in cypermethrin [RR, 16–29; except for DGU females (RR, 88) and BSN females (RR, 41)], permethrin [RR, 11–39; except for DNH females (RR, 110) and BSN females (RR, 44)], chlorpyrifos [RR, 2–13; except for GSN and GWJ females (RR, ca. 140)], chlorpyrifos-methyl (RR, 2–8), and fenthion (RR, 8–17). All of the colonies were susceptible to one or more of the insecticides examined. These results indicate that careful selection and rotational use of these insecticides should result in continued satisfactory control against field populations of German cockroach.     

Insecticide resistance monitoring and correlation analysis to select appropriate insecticides against Nilaparvata lugens (Stål), a migratory pest in Korea

Nilaparvata lugens Stål is one of the important migratory pests of rice paddy fields in Korea. Resistance levels to nine insecticides were monitored in 12 local strains and correlation analysis was conducted to determine cross-resistance relationships among the tested insecticides. The local strains revealed 1.3- to 28.0-, 1.6- to 6.0-, 2.8- to 237.0-, 0.6- to 0.9-, and 0.7- to 1.3-fold resistance to carbamates, organophosphates, neonicotinoids, fipronil and etofenprox, respectively. Organophosphate insecticides revealed moderate correlations with benzofuranyl methylcarbamate (r = 0.566–0.614, p > 0.01). Three neonicotinoids were not correlated with each other, but imidacloprid and clothianidin were moderately correlated with several benzofuranyl methylcarbamate and organophosphate insecticides (r = 0.590–0.705, p > 0.05), indicating that unknown common factors (such as detoxification enzymes) might contribute to resistance to both insecticides. Fipronil and etofenprox exhibited low levels of resistance and cross-resistance with other insecticides, suggesting their potential as an effective insecticide for field application. Resistance level monitoring and correlation analysis would be valuable for the selection of appropriate insecticides to control insecticide-resistant N. lugens, a typical migratory pest in Korea.     

Neonicotinoid pesticides poorly interact with human drug transporters

The interactions of six neonicotinoid pesticides and one neonicotinoid metabolite with drug transporters have been characterized in vitro. Acetamiprid, clothianidin, imidacloprid, nitenpyram, thiacloprid and its metabolite thiacloprid amide, and thiamethoxam, each used at 100 µM, did not impair activity of the efflux pumps P‐glycoprotein, multidrug resistance‐associated proteins, and breast cancer resistance protein. They also did not inhibit that of the uptake transporters OATP1B1, OATP1B3, OAT4, and MATE1, whereas that of OATP2B1, OAT1, and MATE2‐K was affected by only one of the seven neonicotinoids. Activity of OCT1 was moderately stimulated (up to 1.5‐fold) by several neonicotinoids. By contrast, that of OAT3 and OCT2 was inhibited by most (OAT3), if not all (OCT2), neonicotinoids, with IC₅₀ values in the 20 to 60 µM range for thiacloprid, likely not relevant to environmental exposure. Thiacloprid was moreover not transported by OAT3 and OCT2. Overall, these data suggest that neonicotinoid pesticides rather poorly interact with drug transporter activities.     

韭菜迟眼蕈蚊对新烟碱类杀虫剂的抗药性及抗性机制初探

【目的】为明确韭菜迟眼蕈蚊Bradysia odoriphaga对新烟碱类杀虫剂的抗性水平及其抗性机制。【方法】通过测定不同地区韭菜迟眼蕈蚊对3种新烟碱类杀虫剂吡虫啉、噻虫嗪和噻虫胺的敏感度,及通过增效剂实验和酶活性测定,初步探索抗性产生机制,为韭菜迟眼蕈蚊抗性治理提供依据。【结果与结论】4个不同的韭菜迟眼蕈蚊田间种群对3种新烟碱类杀虫剂均产生了不同水平的抗性。其中,唐山种群对3种新烟碱杀虫剂均产生了较高的抗性。研究发现,唐山种群的7-乙氧基香豆素-O-脱乙基酶(ECOD)比活力为(3.89±0.31)pmol/(mg·pro·min),显著高于敏感品系。增效剂PBO对唐山种群的吡虫啉毒力的增效比为2.64,高于对敏感品系的增效比1.08。因此,P450s酶活性的升高与韭菜迟眼蕈蚊对吡虫啉的抗性有关。     

西花蓟马对烯啶虫胺、噻虫胺和噻虫嗪的抗性风险和抗性稳定性

为明确使用新烟碱类杀虫剂烯啶虫胺、噻虫胺和噻虫嗪防治入侵害虫西花蓟马的抗性风险及抗性稳定性,本研究采用芸豆浸药法对西花蓟马敏感种群初羽化雌成虫进行连续筛选获得抗性种群,根据抗性现实遗传力计算公式分析西花蓟马对上述3种杀虫剂的抗性风险,预测其抗性发展速度,并测定抗性稳定性。结果表明: 经过30代抗性筛选,西花蓟马对烯啶虫胺、噻虫胺和噻虫嗪均达到高水平抗性(44.7、45.5和32.7倍)。西花蓟马对噻虫胺、烯啶虫胺和噻虫嗪的抗性发展速度依次降低,抗性现实遗传力分别为0.1503、0.1336和0.1258。对抗性种群在无选择压力下继续饲养10代,西花蓟马对烯啶虫胺、噻虫胺和噻虫嗪的抗性水平均出现一定程度的下降,但均未能恢复到敏感性水平。抗性选育后,西花蓟马若虫与成虫对杀虫剂的敏感性差异显著缩小,西花蓟马敏感种群及抗性种群若虫对上述3种杀虫剂的敏感性显著高于成虫。西花蓟马对烯啶虫胺、噻虫胺和噻虫嗪均存在高抗风险,噻虫嗪的抗性上升速度较慢且抗性稳定性最低。因此,在西花蓟马若虫期使用噻虫嗪有利于西花蓟马防治。     

Baseline susceptibility and insecticide resistance monitoring in European populations of Meligethes aeneus and Ceutorhynchus assimilis collected in winter oilseed rape

Pollen beetle, Meligethes aeneus (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae), and cabbage seed weevil, Ceutorhynchus assimilis (Paykull) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), are important pests in the production of European winter oilseed rape, Brassica napus L. (Brassicaceae), which is grown on several million hectares in Europe. Insecticide treatments are common to control both pests once they exceed economic damage thresholds; however, not many chemical classes are available for their control in European oilseed rape. Particularly pollen beetles recently developed high levels of pyrethroid resistance impairing field control at recommended rates in many countries, whereas no resistance is yet reported to another important insecticide, thiacloprid. The major objective of this study was to investigate the spatio‐temporal susceptibility status of pollen beetle against the recently introduced insecticide thiacloprid. From 2009 to 2012 more than 630 populations of pollen beetle collected in 13 countries were monitored for resistance to thiacloprid by using an adult vial test. No shifting to lower susceptibility of pollen beetle to thiacloprid has been observed between 2009 and 2012. Furthermore, we were able to show that pollen beetle larvae are extremely susceptible to thiacloprid, whereas within strains larvae are significantly more resistant than adults to pyrethroids such as lambda‐cyhalothrin. Dose‐response data for thiacloprid against cabbage seed weevil populations collected in 2011 in Germany, Sweden, and Ukraine showed a 10‐fold higher intrinsic sensitivity compared to pollen beetle, and showed only a low variation in response. In addition, we also tested 17 cabbage seed weevil populations collected in five countries against lambda‐cyhalothrin with low variation in response (three‐fold), suggesting full baseline susceptibility and no resistance to pyrethroids. The implications of the data presented for resistance management in coleopteran pests in winter oilseed rape are discussed.     

Current Perspectives on Plague Vector Control in Madagascar: Susceptibility Status of Xenopsylla cheopis to 12 Insecticides

Plague is a rodent disease transmissible to humans by infected flea bites, and Madagascar is one of the countries with the highest plague incidence in the world. This study reports the susceptibility of the main plague vector Xenopsylla cheopis to 12 different insecticides belonging to 4 insecticide families (carbamates, organophosphates, pyrethroids and organochlorines). Eight populations from different geographical regions of Madagascar previously resistant to deltamethrin were tested with a World Health Organization standard bioassay. Insecticide susceptibility varied amongst populations, but all of them were resistant to six insecticides belonging to pyrethroid and carbamate insecticides (alphacypermethrin, lambdacyhalothrin, etofenprox, deltamethrin, bendiocarb and propoxur). Only one insecticide (dieldrin) was an efficient pulicide for all flea populations. Cross resistances were suspected. This study proposes at least three alternative insecticides (malathion, fenitrothion and cyfluthrin) to replace deltamethrin during plague epidemic responses, but the most efficient insecticide may be different for each population studied. We highlight the importance of continuous insecticide susceptibility surveillance in the areas of high plague risk in Madagascar.     

Tools for resistance monitoring in oriental fruit moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) and first assessment in Brazilian populations

In southern Brazilian apple (Malus spp.) orchards, predominantly organophosphates are used to control the oriental fruit moth, Cydia molesta (Busck) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), but control failures often occur. Therefore the susceptibility of three C. molesta Brazilian populations was investigated to five insecticides of different groups and modes of action, in comparison with a susceptible laboratory strain mass reared in southern France for >10 yr. At the same time, comparative biochemical and genetic analysis were performed, assessing the activities of the detoxification enzymatic systems and sequencing a gene of insecticide molecular target to find out markers associated with resistance. The three Brazilian populations were significantly resistant to chlorpyrifos ethyl compared with the reference strain. One of the field populations that had been frequently exposed to deltamethrin treatments showed significant decreasing susceptibility to this compound, whereas none of the three populations had loss of susceptibility to tebufenozide and thiacloprid compared with the reference strain. All three populations had slight but significant increases of glutathione transferase and carboxylesterases activities and significant decrease of specific acetylcholinesterase activities compared with the reference. Only the most resistant population to chlorpyriphos exhibited a significantly higher mixed function oxidase activity than the reference. The acetylcholinesterase of females was significantly less inhibited by carbaryl in the Brazilian populations than in the reference strain (1.7-2.5-fold), and this difference was not expressed in the male moth. However, no mutation in the MACE locus was detected. These biological and molecular characterizations of adaptive response to insecticides in C. molesta provide tools for early detection of insecticide resistance in field populations of this pest.     

西花蓟马抗噻虫胺种群对杀虫剂的交互抗性及机制

噻虫胺是具有内吸和触杀等多种作用方式的新烟碱类杀虫剂,常用于防治入侵害虫西花蓟马。为明确抗性风险,本文研究了西花蓟马抗噻虫胺种群对多种杀虫剂的交互抗性及其机制。经过45代筛选,西花蓟马对噻虫胺产生了高水平抗性(56.8倍)。生物测定结果表明: 西花蓟马高抗噻虫胺种群与噻虫嗪、吡虫啉、毒死蜱、三氟氯氰菊酯、甲维盐存在中等水平交互抗性(18.6>RR₅₀>11.3),对辛硫磷及灭多威具有低水平交互抗性,与溴虫腈和多杀菌素不存在交互抗性。胡椒基丁醚(PBO)与磷酸三苯酯(TPP)对杀灭西花蓟马抗噻虫胺种群(CL)、云南田间种群(YN)和敏感种群(S)均有显著增效作用。西花蓟马抗噻虫胺种群细胞色素P₄₅₀含量(3.6倍)、细胞色素b₅含量(2.9倍)及O-脱甲基酶活性(4.9倍)和羧酸酯酶活性(2.5倍)均显著高于敏感种群,表明多功能氧化酶及羧酸酯酶活性增强是西花蓟马对噻虫胺产生抗性的重要机制。     

Sweetpotato whitefly resistance to insecticides in Hawaii: Intra-island variation is related to insecticide use

Susceptibility to acephate, methomyl, and permethrin was determined with laboratory bioassays of field-collected adults from 15 populations of the B biotype of sweetpotato whitefly,Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Homoptera:Aleyrodidae), from Hawaii. Comparisons at the LC₅₀ showed up to 24-fold resistance to acephate, 18-fold resistance to methomyl, and 4-fold resistance to permethrin. Analysis of variance showed significant intra-island variation in susceptibility to each insecticide, but no significant variation among islands. Insecticide use varied from 4 to 103 insecticide sprays per site per season. Acephate and methomyl were used more often than permethrin. The frequency of application and LC₅₀ for each insecticide were positively correlated across sites. These results suggest that local variation in insecticide use was a primary cause of variation in susceptibility. If local insecticide use is a key determinant of resistance, as our results suggest, growers can retard resistance development locally by reducing their own insecticide use.     

Acute toxicity of neonicotinoids and some insecticides to first instar nymphs of a non-target damselfly, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ischnura senegalensis</Emphasis> (Odonata: Coenagrionidae), in Japanese paddy fields

Systemic insecticides such as neonicotinoids and fipronil are widely applied in rice production. These insecticides have been suspected of reducing biodiversity in paddy ecosystems and reducing wild dragonfly populations in Japan. Conventional ecotoxicological risk assessment could not confirm this, as it has not considered interspecific variation in sensitivity to insecticides. We estimated the median effect concentration (EC50) of 15 systemic insecticides to first instar nymphs of a Japanese damselfly, Ischnura senegalensis (Rambur) (Odonata: Coenagrionidae), commonly found in rice paddy fields. Damselflies were found to be highly sensitive to pyrethroid pesticides, less so to phenylpyrazole, organophosphates, and carbamates, and least sensitive to neonicotinoids, nereistoxin, and diamide. Given the acute toxicity data, the sensitivity of the damselfly to neonicotinoids was considered to be lower than that of other aquatic insects, whereas the EC50 values of the damselfly were 2–3 orders lower than that of Daphnia magna Straus (Diplostraca: Daphniidae), which is a standard test species. These results indicate that the conventional ecological risk assessment based on acute toxicity data of D. magna would underestimate the impact of neonicotinoids on Odonata diversity in paddy ecosystems. We therefore recommend using the paddy-dwelling damselfly as a new test species for insecticide bioassay.     

An aphid-dip bioassay to evaluate susceptibility of soybean aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae) to pyrethroid, organophosphate, and neonicotinoid insecticides

Since the discovery of the soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matsumura (Hemiptera: Aphididae), in North America in 2000, chemical control has been the most effective method to manage aphid outbreaks. Increased insecticide use in soybean raises the possibility of developing insecticide resistance in soybean aphid, and monitoring insecticide susceptibility is essential to maintain pesticide tools. We developed a simple and reliable aphid-dip bioassay by using a tea strainer that resulted in -90% survival in controls. Using this technique, we tested susceptibility of a greenhouse strain of soybean aphid that has never been exposed to insecticides, and field-collected aphid strains from two counties in Michigan. Aphid susceptibility was tested for five insecticides by dipping groups of five aphids in each insecticide dose for 10 s. After 48 h, aphids were classified as dead or alive, and counted. Aphids from all strains were highly susceptible to chlorpyrifos, lambda-cyhalothrin, esfenvalerate, and dimethoate, with LC50 and LC90 values well below the recommended application rates. However, aphids showed less susceptibility after 48 h to neonicotinoid imidacloprid, with higher LC90s and wider fiducial limits. This illustrated the potential limitation of using a 48-h assay to evaluate insecticides with longer-term, sublethal impacts. Nevertheless, this study made use of a simple aphid-dip method to test and compare insecticide susceptibility of soybean aphid. In the event of a field failure, the aphid populations involved can be tested in comparison to a susceptible greenhouse strain to determine the extent of resistance development.     

Insecticide susceptibility and resistance of Blattella germanica (Blattaria: Blattellidae) in Seoul, Republic of Korea, 2007

The susceptibility of Blattella germanica (L.) in the Republic of Korea (ROK) to insecticides was evaluated under laboratory conditions using 12 insecticides currently used by the local public health centers and/or pest control operators in the ROK. The insecticides included seven pyrethroids and five organophosphates. Based on their LD₅₀ values, the order of susceptibility of B. germanica adults to the insecticides was chlorpyrifos-methyl, profenofos and chlorpyrifos with values of 0.07, 0.29 and 0.88 µg/♀, respectively. The least susceptibility was obtained with tetramethrin at LD₅₀ of 7.39 µg/♀. In the comparative resistance test, the resistance ratios (RR) of 12 insecticides were compared to each other using field-collected B. germanica adults in Seoul between 1993 and 2007. Blattella germanica demonstrated higher RRs to pyrethroids such as λ-cyhalothrin, and low RRs among the organophosphates. Among the pyrethroids, λ-cyhalothrin had the highest RRs of 111- and 129-fold differences at LD₅₀ and LD₉₀ values, respectively. Among the organophosphates, profenofos was observed to have the highest RRs of 4- and 15-fold differences at LD₅₀ and LD₉₀ values, respectively. However, there were no significant differences in susceptibility to tetramethrin, chlorpyrifos and fenitrothion. Blattella germanica was more susceptible to pyridafenthion showing a 0.7-fold difference in a resistance ratio (RRLD₅₀= LD₅₀ value of 2007/LD₅₀ value of 1993). Resistance ratio of tetramethrin was low, but susceptibility was also not high.     

Insecticide resistance in populations of Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)

1 Control failures of insecticides used against the tomato leafminer Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in Brazil led to the investigation of the possible occurrence of resistance of this insect pest to abamectin, cartap, methamidophos and permethrin. 2 The insect populations were collected from seven sites in the states of Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo. These populations were subjected to concentration–mortality bioassays using insecticide‐impregnated filter papers. 3 We were unable to obtain a single population which provided a susceptibility standard for all insecticides tested. Therefore, the resistance levels were estimated in relation to the most susceptible population to each insecticide. Resistance to abamectin and cartap were observed in all populations when compared with the susceptible standard population, with resistance ratios ranging from 5.2‐ to 9.4‐fold and from 2.2‐ to 21.9‐fold for abamectin and cartap, respectively. Resistance to permethrin was observed in five populations with resistance ratios ranging from 1.9‐ to 6.6‐fold, whereas resistance to methamidophos was observed in four populations with resistance ratios ranging from 2.6‐ to 4.2‐fold. 4 The long period and high frequency of use of these insecticides against this insect pest suggest that the evolution of insecticide resistance on them has been relatively slow. Alternatively, the phenomenon might be widespread among Brazilian populations of T. absoluta making the finding of suitable standard susceptible populations difficult and leading to an underestimation of the insecticide resistance levels in this pest. 5 Higher levels of resistance to abamectin, cartap and permethrin are correlated with greater use of these compounds by growers. This finding suggests that local variation in insecticide use was an important cause of variation in susceptibility.