European populations of Diabrotica virgifera virgifera are resistant to aldrin, but not to methyl-parathion

Ciosi, M. , Toepfer, S., Li, H., Haye, T., Kuhlmann, U., Wang, H., Siegfried, B. and Guillemaud, T. (2009) European populations of Diabrotica virgifera virgifera are resistant to aldrin, but not to methyl-parathion. Journal of Applied Entomology, 133(4), pp. 307-314. (doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0418.2008.01363.x)

Abstract

The western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), is a major pest of cultivated corn in North America and has recently begun to invade Europe. In addition to crop rotation, chemical control is an important option for D. v. virgifera management. However, resistance to chemical insecticides has evolved repeatedly in the USA. In Europe, chemical control strategies have yet to be harmonized and no surveys of insecticide resistance have been carried out. We investigated the resistance to methyl-parathion and aldrin of samples from nine D. v. virgifera field populations originating from two European outbreaks thought to have originated from two independent introductions from North America. Diagnostic concentration bioassays revealed that all nine D. v. virgifera field populations were resistant to aldrin but susceptible to methyl-parathion. Aldrin resistance was probably introduced independently, at least twice, from North America into Europe, as there is no evident selection pressure to account for an increase of frequency of aldrin resistance in each of the invasive outbreaks in Europe. Our results suggest that organophosphates, such as methyl-parathion, may still provide effective control of both larval and adult D. v. virgifera in the European invasive outbreaks studied.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Ciosi, Dr Marc
• Authors: Ciosi, M., Toepfer, S., Li, H., Haye, T., Kuhlmann, U., Wang, H., Siegfried, B., and Guillemaud, T.
• Subjects: Q Science > QH Natural history; Q Science > QH Natural history > QH301 Biology; Q Science > QH Natural history > QH426 Genetics; Q Science > QL Zoology; S Agriculture > S Agriculture (General)
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity
• Journal Name: Journal of Applied Entomology
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing
• ISSN: 0931-2048
• ISSN (Online): 1439-0418
• Published Online: 20 November 2008
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2009 Wiley-Blackwell
• First Published: First published in Journal of Applied Entomology 133(4):307-314
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher