Testing insecticide resistance management strategies

This page was last updated in February 2022. Visit the Main AHDB website for more up-to-date information about the project. 

The challenge

The first – and most effective – approach to manage resistance is to minimise insecticide use through integrated pest management (IPM). However, where sprays are required, then the long-standing guidance states:

• Rotation (alternation) of modes of action is the most effective strategy (where possible)
• Insecticides should be used at the full label dose
• Mixtures of insecticides should include both mixture components at the same doses as used when applied solo – a ‘double dose’ mixture

However, recent modelling studies (based on target-site resistance) produced results in contrast to the current guidance. In fact, there is evidence to suggest that insecticide resistance guidance may require closer alignment to that used in the management of fungicide resistance. However, any changes to the guidance require a high-level of proof, including data from real-world situations.

The project

This project aims to develop robust experimental evidence to inform the development of the next generation of insecticide resistance management guidance. The work focuses on a major pest species of cross-commodity importance – the peach–potato aphid. Specifically, the work will:

• Develop molecular (PCR) assays to detect selected peach–potato aphid resistance mechanisms
• Conduct insecticide resistance management range-finding experiments
• Assess the effect of resistance management strategies (on the build-up of resistant populations)
• Analyse data and report findings

*Note: This project builds on a short (three-month) project that concluded in 2020 (AHDB project number 91120161), which will be reported as part of this work.