Status of Insecticide Resistance in Field-collected Populations of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Abstract

To cite this paper: Al-Ayedh, H., A. Hussain, M. Rizwan-ul-Haq and A.M. Al-Jabr, 2016. Status of insecticide resistance in field-collected populations of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae AbstractThe first monitoring of the resistance to two organophosphates (methidathion and ethion) and one pyrethroid (cypermethrin) insecticides presented by three field collections of different Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier) populations was performed in this study. The LD50 doses of three insecticides against newly moulted eighth-instar R. ferrugineus larvae were estimated through toxicity bioassays, in which the larvae were fed on artificial diet supplemented with different individual doses of cypermethrin, methidathion or ethion. A population of R. ferrugineus collected from Wadi Ad-Dawasir was chosen as the reference strain, because of its susceptibility to each of the tested insecticide. Compared with the susceptible strain, populations sampled from Al-Ahsa and Al-Qatif showed 8.72 and 4.51-folds increase in resistance to cypermethrin and 3.77 and 2.85-fold increases in resistance to ethion, respectively. The LD50 values of cypermethrin (1.62 ppm), methidathion (3.15 ppm) and ethion (9.12 ppm) in the susceptible population (Wadi Ad-Dawasir) were used to investigate the feeding performances and physiological impacts on eighth-instar R. ferrugineus larvae. The larvae showed no resistance to the most potent insecticide (methidathion) resulting highest growth reduction. However, moderate resistance was observed from red palm weevil population collected from Al-Qatif and Al-Ahsa against cypermethrin resulting lowest reduction in the efficacy of conversion of ingested food (ECI) and digested food (ECD). In addition, glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activity assay further strengthen our findings. Results suggest that enhanced GST activity likely contributes to cypermethrin and ethion resistance exhibited by the R. ferrugineus populations sampled from Al-Qatif and Al-Ahsa. Toxicity bioassays, dietary utilization experiments and GST assays examined in this study support the use of methidathion against R. ferrugineus as the most potent insecticide against all the sampled populations. However, cypermethrin and ethion resistance appears to be evolving in the R. ferrugineus populations from Al-Qatif and Al-Ahsa, justifying the concern of farmers regarding the low efficacy of insecticides.

Toxicity of Plant Secondary Metabolites Modulating Detoxification Genes Expression for Natural Red Palm Weevil Pesticide Development

“…Red palm weevil control is facing a threat because of the development of insecticide resistance in Rhynchophorus ferruginous against conventional synthetic insecticides, warranting the development of newer plant-based eco-friendly insecticides [ 3 ]. Our screening program for discovering potent compounds was designed by evaluating toxicity, feeding performance and host detoxification against selected phenylpropanoids.…”

“…Previously, the red palm weevil control strategy mainly depended on the use of synthetic insecticides. The intensive use of insecticides against the invaded populations of red palm weevil impart detrimental effects on non-target animals, environmental pollution, and insecticide residues in the food [ 3 ]. Recent reports on the continued low efficacy of insecticides due to the development of insecticide resistance in the most destructive pest of palm, R. ferrugineus is challenging for farmers, researchers, and policy-makers.…”

Nano essential oils against the red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

“…Synthetic insecticides have been used to manage the populations of R. ferrugineus (Aljabr et al 2014; Al‐Shawaf et al 2010; Shar et al 2012). Although several insecticides have been found to be potent, environmental pollution and development of insecticide resistance limit their efficacy on red palm weevils (Al‐Ayedh et al 2016; EL‐Saeid & AL‐Dosary 2010; Kamel et al 2007). Al‐Ayedh et al (2016) mentioned that synthetic pesticides do not provide an effective control on R. ferrugineus .…”

“…Although several insecticides have been found to be potent, environmental pollution and development of insecticide resistance limit their efficacy on red palm weevils (Al‐Ayedh et al 2016; EL‐Saeid & AL‐Dosary 2010; Kamel et al 2007). Al‐Ayedh et al (2016) mentioned that synthetic pesticides do not provide an effective control on R. ferrugineus . About 90% of agricultural pesticides never reach the target organisms (Moses et al 1993), and environmental mobility causes contamination of several environmental compartments (Chowdhurry et al 2009; Mansour 2008; Rechcigl & Rechcigl 2000; Tawtsin et al 2001).…”

Controversial aspects about red date palm weevil

“…In another study, 8.72 RRs were calculated from RPW larvae fed on artificial diet incorporated with Cypermethrin in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Al-Ayedh et al, 2016). This study was performed on RPWs populations collected from main date palm growing areas of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.…”