Resolution of baseline responses and documentation of resistance to buprofezin in <i>Bemisia tabaci</i> (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae)

Abstract

Abstract The insect growth regulator buprofezin was tested using a leaf-dip assay on immatures of Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius). The method was robust and repeatable, and baseline data were calculated for a laboratory strain and a number of field collections from Pakistan where the insecticide has not been used. A baseline LC 50 of 0.53 ppm buprofezin was defined and compared to other field collections. Populations known or suspected to have been intensively selected with buprofezin showed substantial tolerance to the insecticide at both the LC 50 and at specific diagnostic doses, with the highest resistance factor of 47 fold in a population from the Netherlands. Reasons for the variation between populations, biotypes and geographical areas are discussed and the dangers of human-assisted movement of resistance genes are highlighted.