Changes of Sex Pheromone Communication Systems Associated with Tebufenozide and Abamectin Resistance in Diamondback Moth, Plutella xylostella (L.)

Abstract

Many insect pests have evolved resistance to insecticides. Along with this evolution, the sex pheromone communication system of insects also may change, and subsequently reproductive isolation may occur between resistant and susceptible populations. In this study of the diamondback moth, we found that resistant females (especially Abamectin resistant females) produced less sex pheromone and displayed a lower level of calling behavior. Resistant males showed higher EAG responsiveness to the sex pheromone mixture of females, and responded to a broader range of ratios between the two major components compared to the responses of susceptible moths. In addition, wind tunnel experiments indicated that changes associated with insecticide resistance in the Abamectin resistant strain (Aba-R) significantly reduced female attractiveness to susceptible males. Furthermore, mating choice experiments confirmed that non-random mating occurred between the two different strains. Aba-R females with an abnormal pheromone production and blend ratio exhibited significantly lower mating percentages with males from either their own strain or other strains, which corroborates the results obtained by the wind tunnel experiments. The implications of this non-random mating for insect speciation and insecticide resistance management are discussed.

Efficacy of abamectin against the fowl tick, Argas (Persicargas) persicus (Oken, 1818) (Ixodoidea: Argasidae)

“…The spraying method may also be responsible for confusion and suppression of the effect of the possibly diminished volatile sex pheromone found in the notably decreased coxal fluid. Recently, Xu et al (2010) observed that abamectin-treated female moth, Plutella xylostella, produced less sex pheromone and exhibited lower mating percentages with males.…”

An antenna-biased carboxylesterase is specifically active to plant volatiles in Spodoptera exigua

“…To do the assay, the 8% Native-PAGE gels were immersed in 0. 05 Electroantennogram (EAG) response was measured using a commercially available EAG 209 system (Syntech, The Netherlands) with similar method as in previous studies [46,47]. Virgin 210 females and males (1 day old) were anaesthetized by carbon dioxide-for, on average, 20 s, 211 and then the antennae were excised from the head with micro-scissors.…”

Cryptic confounding compounds: a brief consideration of the influences of anthropogenic contaminants on courtship and mating behavior

“…We refer the interested reader to (Clotfelter et al 2004; Zala and Penn 2004; Woodruff et al 2008) for tables categorizing contaminants and their mechanisms. The groups of chemical compounds we discuss should be viewed as broad categories, and should interest those studying behavior because they have detrimental effects on organisms both in the lab (Haegele and Hudson 1977; Fry and Toone 1981; Gray et al 1989; Howdeshell et al 1999; Baatrup and Junge 2001; Nash et al 2004; Sebire et al 2009; Xu et al 2010; Hued et al 2012) and in the field (Guillette et al 1994; Kirby et al 2004; Gagne et al 2006; Eeva et al 2008; Lye et al 2008; Hinck et al 2009; Hallinger et al 2010). Below we list and briefly discuss some of the major classes of contaminants that we consider here (see table 1).…”