Insecticide resistance monitoring using a Potter precision spray tower with discriminating concentration and log dose probability techniques underpins the Australian insecticide management strategy for Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande. Abamectin, acephate, chlorpyrifos, dichlorvos, dimethoate, endosulfan, fipronil, malathion, methamidophos methidathion, methiocarb, methomyl, pyrazophos and spinosad are recommended for use against F. occidentalis but abamectin, methiocarb and pyrazophos are the only chemicals where insecticide resistance has not been detected. Although not registered, chlorfenapyr was effective against F. occidentalis and should be pursued for that purpose. In contrast, chlorpyrifos, dichlorvos and malathion resistance were detected at low to moderate levels throughout the study period putting their sustainable use for F. occidentalis control in doubt. Although it appears that acephate, dimethoate, endosulfan, fipronil, methamidophos, methidathion and spinosad remain effective, some populations contained a small percentage of thrips that survived exposure to a concentration that killed 100% of the susceptible strain. Subsequent laboratory selection of one such population separately with fipronil and spinosad caused an increase in resistance to these insecticides. These products must now be considered at risk. This is the first report of fipronil or spinosad resistance in populations of F. occidentalis.

Onion thrips, Thrips tabaci Lindeman, is a major pest of Australian field onion Allium cepa Linnaeus with their control heavily reliant on a few insecticides. An earlier study after grower complaints of control failures did not detect resistance in three populations. After testing an additional nine populations via a Potter spray tower laboratory bioassay unequally against a-cypermethrin, diazinon, dimethoate, l-cyhalothrin, malathion and methidathion, we document resistance in T. tabaci for the first time in Australia. The maximum difference in response (resistance) for each insecticide was detected by dividing the most resistant LC50 response by the least resistant LC50 response. Comparison of the most susceptible to the least susceptible population tested produced a-cypermethrin and l-cyhalothrin resistance at 164-and 606-fold, respectively. Diazinon and dimethoate resistance was also detected at 27-fold and 5.2-fold respectively although omethoate, malathion and methidathion resistance were not detected.