Insecticide resistance monitoring of Aphis spiraecola (Hemiptera: Aphididae) to neonicotinoids and abamectin in a major apple-growing region

Hongcheng Tang; Kuan Wu; Xiong Peng; Maohua Chen

doi:10.1093/jee/toaf128

Insecticide resistance monitoring of Aphis spiraecola (Hemiptera: Aphididae) to neonicotinoids and abamectin in a major apple-growing region

J Econ Entomol. 2025 Jun 19:toaf128. doi: 10.1093/jee/toaf128. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Hongcheng Tang¹, Kuan Wu², Xiong Peng¹, Maohua Chen¹

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources and Pest Management of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northwestern Loess Plateau of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China.
² Vocational & Technical College, Yangling, Shaanxi, China.

PMID: 40577688
DOI: 10.1093/jee/toaf128

Abstract

Aphis spiraecola is a significant pest of fruit trees worldwide, causing substantial yield and economic losses in apple production. The control of A. spiraecola primarily depends on chemical pesticides; however, long-term field monitoring of insecticide resistance is lacking. This study assessed the susceptibility of a laboratory-susceptible strain (SS) of A. spiraecola to abamectin, imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, and acetamiprid. The LC50 values of A. spiraecola to abamectin, imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, and acetamiprid were 0.13, 1.44, 1.76, and 1.19 mg L-1, respectively. The resistance levels of 8 A. spiraecola field populations in a major apple-growing region were investigated in 2021 to 2023. The resistance ratios (RR) varied in different years and regions. The resistance level of A. spiraecola in the XP (Xingping) region to abamectin was the highest (RR = 42.08) in 2021. Most field populations displayed low or moderate levels of resistance to 3 neonicotinoids. However, the field population of A. spiraecola in LQ (Liquan) region had a high resistance level to thiamethoxam in 2021 with an LC50 of 109.63 mg L-1 and a resistance ratio of 62.29. The resistance levels of A. spiraecola to 4 pesticides were found to be decreasing in 3 yr. Compared to the SS strain, the field populations of A. spiraecola showed no mutations in nAChR, GABA receptor, or GluCl, suggesting that target site insensitivity may not contribute to the resistance. This study can contribute to the rational use of chemical insecticides for controlling A. spiraecola, thereby reducing economic losses in apple production and minimizing environmental pollution.

Keywords: Aphis spiraecola; insecticide resistance; target-site mutation; toxicity.

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