The evolution of insecticide resistance in the white backed planthopper Sogatella furcifera (Horvath) of China in the period 2014-2022

The white-backed planthopper, Sogatella furcifera (Horv & PRIME;ath), is a kind of important rice pest in China. Chemical control is the most effective method in the field control of S. furcifera. However, due to the intensive use of chemicals, it has developed resistance to multiple insecticides. Here, we conducted insecticide resistance monitoring of 55 field populations of S. furcifera over the period 2014-2022. Monitoring data demonstrated that most of the field populations showed increased resistance to neonicotinoids such as imidacloprid, dinotefuran and thiamethoxam, which had developed moderate resistance levels. All field populations were still susceptible to triflumezopyrim (RR = 0.1-4.1-fold). Nearly all populations developed a low to moderate level of resistance to pymetrozine (RR = 1.0-46.1). About half of the field populations kept high levels of resistance to buprofezin (RR = 18.4-351.6-fold), and nearly all populations kept moderate levels of resistance to chlorpyrifos (RR = 0.1-88.2fold). Synergism assay was conducted on a field buprofezin-resistant population and no significant synergistic effect was observed for three inhibitors, which implies that other mechanisms may be involved in resistance evolution in white-backed planthopper.

Automated summary

This study investigated the insecticide resistance of the white-backed planthopper in China. The field populations showed increased resistance to neonicotinoids, while remaining susceptible to triflumezopyrim. Moderate levels of resistance were observed for pymetrozine. High levels of resistance to buprofezin and moderate levels of resistance to chlorpyrifos were also found. Synergism assay indicated a lack of significant synergistic effect, suggesting the involvement of other mechanisms in resistance evolution.