Insecticide Resistance Action Committee

Understanding Insecticide Mode of Action

in Crop Protection Strategies

Caydee Savinelli
Annual Crop Protection School, 2015
 Click to editResistance
Insect Master title style

• Experts estimate that there are over 500

species of insects and mites known to be
resistant to at least one class of pesticide.

• Every major agricultural crop and

ornamental has one or more resistant
pests.

• In addition to synthetic chemicals, pests

can develop resistance to insecticidal
soaps, B.t. and even pheromone disruption.

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 Click
Insect to edit MasterMechanisms
Resistance title style

• Target Site Resistance

 The target site is where the insecticide acts in the insect.
 May be genetically modified to prevent the insecticide binding
or interacting at its site of action – reduces the effect of the
insecticide.

• Metabolic Resistance
 Metabolic resistance is the most common mechanism.
 Resistant insects may detoxify or destroy the toxin faster than
susceptible insects, or quickly rid their bodies of the toxic
molecules.
 Insects use their internal enzyme systems to break down
insecticides.
 Resistant strains may possess higher levels or more efficient
forms of these enzymes.

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 Click
Insect to edit MasterMechanisms
Resistance title style

• Penetration Resistance
 Outer cuticle of the insect slows the absorption of
a broad range of chemicals.
 Penetration resistance is often present along with
other forms of resistance.
• Behavioral Resistance
 Resistant insects may detect or recognize a danger
and avoid the toxin.
 This mechanism of resistance has been reported
for several classes of insecticides, including
organochlorines, organophosphates, carbamates
and pyrethroids.

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 WhatClick
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Master arthropod
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resistance?
• Over 550 species of arthropods are resistant to pesticides
 88% insects, 12% mites
• Most of those insects come from 4 groups:
 Coleoptera (Beetles)
 Diptera (Flies)
 Hemiptera (Sucking Bugs)
 Lepidoptera (Moths & Butterflies)
• 60%+ of all resistant arthropods are agricultural pests
• Rest are:
 animal health (ticks and lice)
 public health (flies, mosquitoes, cockroaches)
 stored product pests (grain beetles)
 non-target organisms (predatory mites)
Source: Arthropod Pesticide Resistance Database – Michigan State University
 ClickResistant
Leading Global to edit Master title style Arthropods
Agricultural

Common Name Species Order No. active

ingredients
Two Spotted Spider Mite Tetranychus urticae Acari 79

Diamondback Moth Plutella xylostella Lepidoptera 76

Green Peach Aphid Myzus persicae Hemiptera 68

Colorado Potato Beetle Leptinotarsa decemlineata Coleoptera 48

Silverleaf Whitefly Bemisia tabaci Hemiptera 39

European Red Mite Panonychus ulmi Acari 38

Cotton Aphid Aphis gossypii Hemiptera 37

Cotton Bollworm Helicoverpa armigera Lepidoptera 33

Tobacco Budworm Heliothis virescens Lepidoptera 33

Egyptian Cotton Leafworm Spodoptera littoralis Lepidoptera 30

Source: Arthropod Pesticide Resistance Database – Michigan State University

 Does insecticide
Click to edit resistance mean the
Master title style
total loss of insecticides?
• With current agricultural practices, the development of
insecticide resistance is inevitable.
• However, even though there is resistance, this does not mean
the insecticide is no longer effective.
• With crop protection insecticides, it is possible to manage
resistance and maintain susceptibility.

Organophosphates Pyrethroids Neonicotinoids

Introduced Introduced Introduced

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 Are some
Click toinsects more
edit Master title prone
style to
resistance ?
• Common claim that some insects are more prone to resistance
development than others.
• Exposure to insecticide is key factor.
• Some insects, do appear to develop resistance faster than other
species, even if insecticide exposure is the same.

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 Click
Are mites attohigh
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risk for resistance?
• 20 acaricide modes of action (MoAs)

• Two spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) has developed

resistance mechanisms against 17 MoAs

• Many populations have resistance to multiple MoAs

• Resistance develops rapidly in green houses

 Closed environment (limited gene flow)

 All year production

 High value crops – low tolerance of pest

 Mites - High fecundity, Short generation time

• Resistance in field crops generally slower

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 IRMtoImplementation
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Key Groups

IRAC

Industry
Insecticides or
Traits

University EPA

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 Insecticide Resistance
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IRAC’s Role
• IRAC-US is a task force affiliated to CropLife America.
 IRAC is comprised of scientists representing many companies which develop
and market agricultural chemicals
 Allows companies to effectively pool resources on IRM-related issues;
especially, with related chemistries or traits.
 Individual companies do not have the resources to carry out all aspects of IRM
- Collecting & Monitoring

• Gains alignment on IRM recommendations and educational messages

• Serves as a coordinating group for outlining methodologies for
resistance surveys
• Provides funding to address emerging resistance issues
 i.e. – Soybean looper
 Click to edit
IRAC Website Master title style
- www.irac-online.org
 Insecticide Resistance
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Industry View
• Resistance, real or perceived, can greatly diminish the
value of products in the marketplace
 Increase in number & frequency of applications
 Product non-performance complaints go up and farmer
confidence goes down
• Resistance reduces the effective life of a product
 Shorter product life will lower the return on investment
 With discovery and registration costs of $200-350 million and
development timelines of 8-15 years, it is important to maintain
the current products in the market.
• Resistance management is an important component of
product stewardship
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 Insecticide Resistance
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Industry’s Role
• Expertise
 Research & Development, Registration, Product Stewardship

• Interactions
 RACS, Universities, Consultants, IPM Centers, Customers

• Labels
 Mode of Action Labeling

 Effective rates and use patterns to minimize selection pressure

 Resistance Management Guidance

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Mode of toAction
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Classification
• All products have been assigned to groups based on their
mode of action:
 i.e. pyrethroids are Group 3; Neonicotinoids are Group 4A,
Spinosad is Group 5, Diamides are Group 28

• Product labels include the number corresponding to the

mode of action group.

• The aim is to help product users make better decisions

such as product rotations or tank mixing.
 IRAC - Insecticide Mode of Action Classification
Click to edit Master title style
Insecticide Resistance Action Committee www.irac-online.org

Growth & Development Targets Respiration Targets

 Group 7 - Juvenile hormone mimics
 Group 12 - Inhibitors of mitochondrial ATP
 Group 10 - Mite growth inhibitors synthesis
 Group 15 - Inhibitors of chitin biosynthesis  Group 13 - Uncouplers of oxidative
 Group 16 - Inhibitors of chitin biosynthesis phosphorylation

 Group 17 - Molting disruptor  Group 20 - Mitochondrial complex III electron

transport inhibitors
 Group 18 - Ecdysone agonists / molting
 Group 21 - Mitochondrial complex I electron
disruptors
transport inhibitors
 Group 23 - Inhibitors of acetyl CoA
Nerve & Muscle Targets carboxylase
 Group 1 - Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors -  Group 25 - Mitochondrial complex II electron
1A Carbamates, 1B Organophosphates transport inhibitors
 Group 2 - GABA-gated chloride channel antagonists -
2A Cyclodiene Organochlorines, 2B Phenylpyrazoles
 Group 3 - Sodium channel modulators
3A Pyrethrins, Pyrethroids
Midgut Targets
 Group 4 - Acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) agonists
4A Neonicotinoids, 4C Sulfoxaflor, 4D Flupyradifurone  Group 11 Microbial disruptors of insect midgut
membranes
 Group 5 - Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor channel agonists
- Spinosyns 11A Bacillus thuringiensis,
 Group 6 - Chloride channel activators - Avermectins 11B Bacillus sphaericus
 Group 9 - Modulators of Chordotonal Organs
 Group 14 - Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor channel blockers
 Group 19 - Octopamine receptor agonists
 Group 22 - Voltage dependent sodium channel blockers
 Group 28 - Ryanodine receptor modulators - Diamides
 IRAC-US
Click IRM Plan
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Plant Protection Insecticides
• Determine insecticide mode of action.

• Establish the baseline susceptibility of key high-resistance-risk pests prior

to and/or in the early years of commercialization.
• Include mode of action group on product labels.

• Provide resistance management recommendations on product labels.

• Encourage use of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices by growers.

• Develop educational literature for growers, researchers and extension

agents to increase resistance management awareness, particularly at the
grower level.
• Monitor product performance over a wide range of geographies and
observe or track changes in the susceptibility of pest populations over
time.
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 Click to edit
Insecticide Master title
Mixture style
Statement
 Click to edit
Insecticide Master title
Mixture style
Statement
• Insecticide Mixtures

 Mainly used for pest management

• Insecticide mixture considerations

 Active ingredients, use patterns, targeted pest complex.

• Mixtures of insecticides provide technical advantages for

controlling pests
 Increases level of target pest control

 Increases the spectrum

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 Click to edit
Insecticide Master title
Mixture style
Statement
• All of the following should be considered when using
mixtures for IRM:

 Individual insecticides in mixtures should be highly

effective & applied at effective rates.

 Mixtures with components having the same IRAC mode

of action classification are not recommended for IRM.

 When using mixtures, consider cross-resistance issues

between the individual components for the targeted
pest/s.

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 Insecticide
Click Resistance Management
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EPA’s Role
• For conventional pesticides, EPA has historically relied on voluntary
measures to encourage proactive resistance management by pesticide
users.

• Agency-approved labels are an important tool, but resistance

management labeling is voluntary (not mandatory for registrants).

• Bt Plant-Incorporated Protectants (PIPs) – a special case:

 EPA places a high value on preserving the significant agricultural and
environmental benefits of Bt PIPs
 EPA requires an Insect Resistance Management (IRM) plan for each registered Bt
crop.

• IRAC-US has provided a list of key pests with high potential for
resistance and an insecticide resistance management plan to EPA

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 Insecticide Resistance
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University’s Role
• Lead or participate in the development of IRM plans

• Provide education and lead implementation of IRM

plans in respective geographies for the growers and
crop consultants.

• Monitor susceptibility of insects of concern.

• Provide feedback to companies on successes and

challenges with IRM plans.

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 Neonicotinoid IRM
Click to editPlan & Implementation
Master title style -
Bemisia tabaci – Arizona/California vs. Florida
Arizona / California Florida
• Multiple Host Crops • Single Host Crop
 Vegetables, Melons,  Tomato
Cotton • Tomato Season - August
• Crops grown throughout through May
the year.

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 Neonicotinoid IRM
Click to editPlan & Implementation
Master title style -
Bemisia tabaci – Arizona/California vs. Florida
• IRM Plan Development
 Led by university extension entomologists
 Team – Chemical Companies, Crop Consultants, Grower Groups,
Commodity Groups
• IRM Plan Implementation
 Newsletters
 Meetings
• Success Measurements
 Susceptibility monitoring
 Grower adoption surveys

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 Neonicotinoid IRM
Click to editPlan & Implementation
Master title style -
Bemisia tabaci – Arizona/California vs. Florida
AZ / CA Recommendations FL Recommendations
• Guidelines based on the • Cultural Controls
cropping system  Crop Hygiene
 Tomato free period
• Neonicotinoids
 Application Method & Timing

• Neonicotinoid Uses

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 IRMClick
Plan & Implementation
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Diamide Insecticides
• IRAC Diamide Working Groups
 Formed before registration of MOA
Group 28 products

 Global Alignment on IRM for Diamides

• Identified key insects of concern – U.S.

Insect Scientific Name Crop
Diamondback Moth Plutella xylostella Brassicas
Beet Armyworm Spodoptera exigua Vegetables
Codling Moth Cydia pomonella Pome Fruit
Colorado Potato Beetle Leptinotarsa decemlineata Potato

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 IRM Plan
Click & Implementation
to edit Master title style
Diamide Insecticides – IRAC-US Diamide WG
• Labels - MoA Symbol, Resistance Management Language
• Collaborate with University Research & Extension
 Develop best management guidelines for IRM
 Literature pieces
 Address emerging issues

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 Click to Summary
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• Industry is motivated to have insect resistance

management as part of our product stewardship efforts in
order to protect the life of our products.
• IRAC is the industry task force used to create IRM
guidelines, educate and promote the value of insect
resistance management in crop production, ornamentals
and public health.
• In order for insect resistance management to be
successful, we need cooperation from all stakeholders!