Fitness costs associated with milbemectin resistance in the two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae

The two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae Koch is one of the most important pests of a wide range of crops worldwide. Its control is still largely based on the use of acaricides. However, due to its short life-cycle, high fecundity and arrhenotokous reproduction, it is able to develop resistance to these compounds very rapidly. Preliminary studies for milbemectin resistance in T. urticae showed that, under laboratory conditions, such resistance was unstable in the absence of a selection pressure. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible fitness costs associated with milbemectin resistance in T. urticae. Comparison of biological traits between resistant and susceptible strains indicated the occurrence of fitness costs associated with milbemectin resistance. The resistant strain showed a longer juvenile development period for females, lower fecundity and a higher proportion of males among the progeny. The figures for net reproductive rate (R ₀), intrinsic rate of natural increase (r _m) and finite rate of increase (λ) were higher in the susceptible strain. The instability of milbemectin resistance can be exploited in resistance management programmes.     

Acetylcholinesterase point mutations in European strains of Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) resistant to organophosphates

BACKROUND: In Tetranychus urticae Koch, acetylcholinesterase insensitivity is often involved in organophosphate (OP) and carbamate (CARB) resistance. By combining toxicological, biochemical and molecular data from three reference laboratory and three OP selected strains (OP strains), the AChE1 mutations associated with resistance in T. urticae were characterised. RESULTS: The resistance ratios of the OP strains varied from 9 to 43 for pirimiphos‐methyl, from 78 to 586 for chlorpyrifos, from 8 to 333 for methomyl and from 137 to 4164 for dimethoate. The insecticide concentration needed to inhibit 50% of the AChE1 activity was, in the OP strains, at least 2.7, 55, 58 and 31 times higher for the OP pirimiphos‐methyl, chlorpyrifos oxon, paraoxon and omethoate respectively, and 87 times higher for the CARB carbaryl. By comparing the AChE1 sequence, four amino acid substitutions were detected in the OP strains: (1) F331W (Torpedo numbering) in all the three OP strains; (2) T280A found in the three OP strains but not in all clones; (3) G328A, found in two OP strains; (4) A201S found in only one OP strain. CONCLUSIONS: Four AChE1 mutations were found in resistant strains of T. urticae, and three of them, F331W, G328A and A201S, are possibly involved in resistance to OP and CARB insecticides. Among them, F331W is probably the most important and the most common in T. urticae. It can be easily detected by the diagnostic PCR‐RLFP assay developed in this study. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

A new monitoring approach for the two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) in hop culture

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - The two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, is a major pest in hops with world-wide economic importance. According to official guidelines, the...     

Resistance to bifenthrin and resistance mechanisms of different strains of the two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) from Turkey

Nine different strains of the two-spotted spider miteTetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) were collected on cotton from Adana, Antalya, Izmir, Manisa and Urfa in Turkey. Their responses to bifenthrin were investigated using conventional bioassay and biochemical assays. LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ values of bifenthrin were determined for all strains by using a residual bioassay with a petri dish-spray tower. Resistance ratios were determined by comparing the samples with a standard susceptible strain, GSS. The resistance ratios of the strains ranged from <1 to 669-fold (at LC₅₀). Of the investigated field strains, only three (two from Adana and one from Urfa) were resistant to bifenthrin. There was a correlation between esterase enzyme activity and bifenthrin resistance according to polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and microtiter plate assays in the three resistant strains. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting May 17, 2005.     

Toxicity of thiamethoxam to Tetranychus urticae Koch and Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot (Acari Tetranychidae, Phytoseiidae) through different routes of exposure

BACKGROUND: Knowledge of the impact of insecticides on Tetranychus urticae Koch and its predator Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias‐Henriot is crucial for IPM. This study evaluates the effect of thiamethoxam on T. urticae and its predator by considering different routes of exposure (topical, residual and contaminated food exposures) and their combinations. RESULTS: Thiamethoxam effects on T. urticae were higher when residual and contaminated food exposures were considered. The total effect was higher than 90% where contaminated food exposure was involved. On P. persimilis, the total effect was higher in residual and contaminated prey exposures compared with topical exposure, and all combinations of routes of exposure attained a total effect higher than 90%. CONCLUSION: Thiamethoxam was found to be toxic to T. urticae and P. persimilis; however, the impact of the insecticide depended on the routes of exposure and their combinations. Lethal and sublethal effects occurred in residual and contaminated food exposures, while only sublethal effects occurred in topical exposure of predators and prey. The toxicity of thiamethoxam on prey and predator increased with the number of exposure routes involved. By limiting exposure to thiamethoxam to ingestion of contaminated food only, the impact of the pesticide was more favourable to P. persimilis than to its prey. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Incidence and inheritance of resistance to METI-acaricides in European strains of the two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) (Acari: Tetranychidae)

A strain of Tetranychus urticae (Koch; Acari: Tetranychidae), collected from hops (Humulus humuli L; Cannabaceae) in England with a short history of tebufenpyrad use, exhibited resistance to four METI (mitochondrial electron transport inhibitor)-acaricides; tebufenpyrad, pyridaben, fenazaquin and fenpyroximate. Resistance factors for these compounds in a microimmersion assay were 46, 346, 168 and 77 respectively, and corresponded to those exhibited by a Japanese METI-acaricide-resistant reference strain. Levels of resistance remained stable without further selection, and selection with tebufenpyrad did not increase them. The UK strain was also resistant (c 6-fold) to bifenthrin. Crosses of homozygous, diploid females with hemizygous, haploid males showed that, in the UK strain, METI-acaricide resistance was paternally and maternally inherited, and was an incompletely dominant trait. Another tebufenpyrad-resistant strain from the UK, originating from a chrysanthemum nursery (Chrysanthemum foeniculaceum Giseke; Asteraceae) was collected eight months later at a site c 210 km distant from the first. These are the first published incidences of METI-acaricide resistance in Europe and implications for the future use of these compounds are discussed.     

球孢白僵菌对二斑叶螨的致病性和对天敌智利小植绥螨的间接影响

二斑叶螨是世界性害螨,为害多种经济作物和蔬菜.为明确球孢白僵菌和捕食螨联合应用防控二斑叶螨的可行性,本文测定了不同浓度球孢白僵菌GZGY-1-3孢子悬浮液对二斑叶螨的致病力,并用喷施球孢白僵菌16h、24h、36h和48h后的二斑叶螨分别饲喂智利小植绥螨,测定智利小植绥螨连续两代的致死率、生长发育及繁殖力变化.结果表明...     

Mutations in the mitochondrial cytochrome b of Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) confer cross‐resistance between bifenazate and acequinocyl

BACKGROUND: Resistance of Tetranychus urticae Koch to bifenazate was recently linked with mutations in the mitochondrial cytochrome b Q_o pocket, suggesting that bifenazate acts as a Q_o inhibitor (Q_oI). Since these mutations might cause cross‐resistance to the known acaricidal Q_oI acequinocyl and fluacrypyrim, resistance levels and inheritance patterns were investigated in several bifenazate‐susceptible and bifenazate‐resistant strains with different mutations in the cd1 and ef helices aligning the Q_o pocket. RESULTS: Cross‐resistance to acequinocyl in two bifenazate‐resistant strains was shown to be maternally inherited and caused by the combination of two specific mutations in the cytochrome b Q_o pocket. Although most investigated strains were resistant to fluacrypyrim, resistance was not inherited maternally, but as a monogenic autosomal highly dominant trait. As a consequence, there was no correlation between cytochrome b genotype and fluacrypyrim resistance. CONCLUSIONS: Although there is no absolute cross‐resistance between bifenazate, acequinocyl and fluacrypyrim, some bifenazate resistance mutations confer cross‐resistance to acequinocyl. In the light of resistance development and management, high prudence is called for when alternating bifenazate and acequinocyl in the same crop. Maternally inherited cross‐resistance between bifenazate and acequinocyl reinforces the likelihood of bifenazate acting as a mitochondrial complex III inhibitor at the Q_o site. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Genetic and biochemical analysis of a laboratory‐selected spirodiclofen‐resistant strain of Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae)

BACKGROUND: Spirodiclofen is a selective, non‐systemic acaricide from the new chemical class of tetronic acid derivatives. In order to develop strategies to minimise resistance in the field, a laboratory‐selected spirodiclofen‐resistant strain of the two‐spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, was used to determine genetic, toxicological, biochemical and cross‐resistance data. RESULTS: Selecting for spirodiclofen resistance in the laboratory yielded a strain (SR‐VP) with a resistance ratio of 274, determined on the larval stage. The egg stage remained far more susceptible. No cross‐resistance was found against other established acaricides, except for spiromesifen. Based on synergist experiments and enzyme assays, it appeared that especially P450 monooxygenases, but also esterases and glutathione‐S‐transferases, could be involved in the metabolic detoxification of spirodiclofen. Genetic analysis showed that the resistance is inherited as an intermediate trait under control of more than one gene. CONCLUSIONS: Resistance to spirodiclofen exceeded by far the recommended field rate. A good acaricide resistance management programme is necessary to prevent fast resistance build‐up in the field. Spirodiclofen can be used in alternation with most established acaricides, except for other tetronic acid derivatives. Without selection pressure, resistance tends to be unstable and can decrease in the presence of susceptible individuals owing to the intermediate, polygenic inheritance mode. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Contradictions in host plant resistance to pests: spider mite (Tetranychus urticae Koch) behaviour undermines the potential resistance of smooth-leaved cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

BACKGROUND: Two‐spotted spider mites (Tetranychus urticae Koch) oviposit near leaf veins or in leaf folds on the undersides of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) leaves where the humid boundary layer offers protection from desiccation. The authors predicted that the boundary layer of glabrous cotton leaves should be shallower than that of hairy leaves, providing some resistance to mites. The dynamics of mite populations, leaf damage, leaf gas exchange and crop yield on two leaf hair isolines (smooth versus hairy) in two genetic backgrounds was assessed. RESULTS: Mite colonies developed faster on the hairy leaf isolines, but leaf damage per mite was higher in smooth leaf isolines, indicating more intense damage. A 50% reduction in photosynthesis on the hairy isolines required 1.8 times more mites than smooth leaves. The yield of cotton was reduced in + mite treatments, but the magnitude of reduction was similar for hairy and smooth isolines. CONCLUSION: Paradoxically, the relative inhospitality of glabrous leaves may have induced mites to concentrate in protected leaf sections, causing more localised and more severe damage, negating the yield benefits from fewer mites. These results highlight interactions between leaf microenvironment, pest behaviour and plant productivity that may have implications for other instances of plant resistance. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry