Monitoring insecticide resistance of Bemisia tabaci
In the US a technique has been developed which allows to monitor the insecticide resistance of Bemisia tabaci (EPPO A2 pest) in local field populations. The technique is based on the use of yellow sticky cards, coated with an extremely thin layer of adhesive, on which several series of insecticide concentrations which represent a range of mortality are sprayed. After the exposure of the field populations of the pest to the cards the traps are stored at room temperature (26° C) and high humidity in wooden boxes for a period of 24 h, after which the mortality of the whiteflies is assessed and the resistance ratio calculated.
Experiments with this technique to determine the level of resistance of B. tabaci to sulprofos and cypermethrin showed effective and sensitive results in field populations in California.
Sources
Prabhaker, N.; Toscano, N.C.; Perring, T.M.; Nuessley, G.; Kido, K.; Youngman, R.R. (1992) Resistance monitoring of the sweet potato whitefly (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) in the Imperial Valley of California.
Journal of Economic Entomology 85, 1063-1068.