Research reports on insecticide resistance in pests of potatoes

Resistance monitoring

Monitoring and managing insecticide resistance in UK pests (2012-2022)

• bioassays to monitor for evidence of reduced sensitivity to aphicides, primarily in peach-potato aphid (Myzus persicae)
• DNA-based diagnostics used to monitor the frequency of known resistances
• actives studied are cyantraniliprole, esfenvalerate, flonicamid, lambda-cyhalothrin, neonicotinoids, spirotetramat and sulfoxaflor
• information on reduced sensitivity to pyrethroids in willow-carrot aphids

11120055 Pyrethroid sensitivity in UK cereal aphids (2019–2021)

• bird cherry-oat aphid and grain aphid samples tested for their sensitivity to pyrethroids using bioassays

114R480 Population genetic analysis of pyrethroid resistant grain aphid (Sitobion avenae) using high resolution microsatellite markers (2013-2015)

• frequency of the kdr mutation (conferring resistance to pyrethroids) in grain aphid samples from suction traps
• molecular assays developed to determine the population structure of grain aphids
• grain aphids shown to have the kdr mutation appeared to belong to a single clone (referred to as SA3)

Combating resistance to insecticides in aphid pests of potatoes: three co-funded projects focussed on the peach-potato aphid (Myzus persicae) 2004-2012

R420 Sustaining the effectiveness of new insecticides against aphid pests in the UK (2009-2012)

• monitoring the occurrence and practical implications of resistance to older insecticides (pyrethroids, pirimicarb).
• developed baseline bioassays for newer compounds (flonicamid, pymetrozine).
• determined if there are fitness costs associated with resistance
• effect of dose and application method on resistance selection pressure
• screening potato aphid (Macrosiphum euphorbiae) and glasshouse potato aphid (Aulacorthum solani) for evidence of reduced sensitivity to aphicides

R250 Stewardship of neonicotinoid insecticides (2004-2007).

• monitoring M. persicae for evidence of resistance to neonicotinoids and other insecticides

LK0903 Combating insecticide resistance in peach-potato aphids in the UK (1997-2000)

• incidence of knock-down resistance (kdr) in M. persicae samples collected during 1997-2000
• bioassays applying imidacloprid and acetamiprid
• fitness costs associated with kdr or high levels (R2 and R3) of esterase resistance

Resistance management strategies

91120163 Testing insecticide resistance management strategies (2020-2023)

• testing the outputs from the modelling work (see below) using M. persicae in semi-lab conditions
• aim is to produce experimental evidence to inform the development of the next generation of insecticide resistance management guidance

21120005/1112 Combating insecticide resistance in major UK pests (2013-2016)

• mathematical modelling to predict the optimal management tactics to delay the development of target-site resistance