Monitoring resistance to spinosad in the melon fly (Bactrocera cucurbitae) in Hawaii and Taiwan.
Spinosad is a natural insecticide with desirable qualities, and it is widely used as an alternative to organophosphates for control of pests such as the melon fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett). To monitor the potential for development of resistance, information about the current levels of tolerance to spinosad in melon fly populations were established in this study. Spinosad tolerance bioassays were conducted using both topical applications and feeding methods on flies from field populations with extensive exposure to spinosad as well as from collections with little or no prior exposure. Increased levels of resistance were observed in flies from the field populations. Also, higher dosages were generally required to achieve specific levels of mortality using topical applications compared to the feeding method, but these levels were all lower than those used for many organophosphate-based food lures. Our information is important for maintaining effective programs for melon fly management using spinosad.
Department of Entomology, National Taiwan University, Number 27, Lane 113, Sec 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei 10673, Taiwan. juchun@ntu.edu.tw
Ju-Chun
JC
Hsu
David S
DS
Haymer
Ming-Yi
MY
Chou
Hai-Tung
HT
Feng
Hsaio-Han
HH
Chen
Yu-Bing
YB
Huang
Ronald F L
RF
Mau
D000818:Animals; D004175:Diptera / Q000502:physiology*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004351:Drug Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D006254:Hawaii; D007306:Insecticides; D018942:Macrolides; D013624:Taiwan
D004338:Drug Combinations; D007306:Insecticides; D018942:Macrolides; C415329:spinosad