Reversal of resistance can occur in some pest populations by allowing time between applications of a class of pesticide to permit resistant populations to become diluted by pesticide-susceptible individuals. However, no one can predict if or when resistant pests will change back to a susceptible population. The best practice is to reduce the chance of resistance developing in […]
Resistance
Understanding Resistance
Resistance is defined as a change in the sensitivity of a pest population to a pesticide, resulting in the failure of a correct application of the pesticide to control the pest. Resistance can develop when the same pesticide or similar ones with the same mode of action are used over and over again. It often […]
Raised Resistance Risks
The repeated use of virtually any insecticide is capable of selecting for resistance in insects. With the introduction of every new insecticide class, cases of resistance surfaced within two to 20 years. The speed at which a species develops resistance to an insecticide depends on many factors. However, history clearly shows that the potential for […]
What Can You Do About Resistant Insects?
If insecticide resistance is confirmed by diagnostic testing or by eliminating other potential reasons for pesticide failure (see Is Resistance to Blame), manage insecticide resistance with the approaches listed below: Immediately stop using the insecticide in question and other insecticides with the same mode of action. Manage insect pests as outlined in, Take Steps to […]
Insecticide Resistance Mechanisms
There are several ways that insect populations can become resistant to insecticides, and pests may exhibit more than one of these mechanisms at the same time. Metabolic resistance. Resistant insects may detoxify or destroy the toxin faster than susceptible insects, or prevent the toxin from reaching target sites by binding it to proteins in their […]
Resources and Suggested Reading
For diagnostic tests see: Insecticide Resistance Management Committee (IRAC) or Agdia Testing Services Understanding Insecticide Mode of Action in Crop Protection Strategies. A PowerPoint presentation was given by Dr. Caydee Savinelli, IRAC. North Carolina Crop Protection School. 2015. Topics Included in this Module Introduction to Insecticide Resistance Is Resistance to Blame? — Resistance is not the […]
Introduction to Pesticide Resistance
Pesticides are substances that control various types of pests, such as weeds, harmful insects, and disease-causing organisms like bacteria and fungi. Pesticides oftentimes are the most effective and efficient pest control tools available. Resistance to pesticides is a serious, and growing, problem. Worldwide, more than 600 species of pests have developed some level of pesticide […]