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Toxicity of seven insecticides to different developmental stages of the whitefly Bemisia tabaci MED (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in multiple field populations of China

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Abstract

Chemical control is important in the management of the tobacco whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae). Susceptibility of B. tabaci to insecticides may vary among different developmental stages and geographical populations. In this study, we examined toxicity of seven commonly-used insecticides to B. tabaci MED in four field populations from China. Avermectin has high level of toxicity to all stages of B. tabaci MED in all four populations. Cyantraniliprole and sulfoxaflor have high toxicity to adults. Spirotetramat, cyantraniliprole and flonicamid have high toxicity to nymphs but not adults. Acetamiprid, cyantraniliprole and sulfoxaflor have high toxicity to eggs. However, the relative toxicity of B. tabaci MED to these chemicals varied across different populations, with little consistency in population differences across developmental stages. Our findings together with some instances where LC95 values were higher than field recommended dosages indicate field-evolved resistance to insecticides (such as thiamethoxam and sulfoxaflor) and stage-specific mechanisms that will influence effective control of B. tabaci MED by insecticides.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to De-Qiang Pu, Liang-Bin Zeng and Ming-Liang Li for their help with the collection of the field populations and Jia-Yao Jiang, Zong-Jiang Kang and Gui-Hua Jin for their assistance with the bioassays. Funding for this study was provided jointly by the Promotion and Innovation of Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences (KJCX20150406), the Innovative Team of Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences (JNKYT201605) and Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Project (D16110500550000).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Plant and Environmental Protection, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, 100097, Beijing, China

    Jin-Cui Chen, Ze-Hua Wang, Li-Jun Cao, Ya-Jun Gong & Shu-Jun Wei

  2. School of BioSciences, Bio21 Institute, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3010, Australia

    Ary A. Hoffmann

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  1. Jin-Cui Chen
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Correspondence to Ya-Jun Gong or Shu-Jun Wei.

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Chen, JC., Wang, ZH., Cao, LJ. et al. Toxicity of seven insecticides to different developmental stages of the whitefly Bemisia tabaci MED (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in multiple field populations of China. Ecotoxicology 27, 742–751 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-018-1956-y

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