Intensification of insecticide resistance in UK field populations of the peach-potato aphid, Myzus persicae (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in 1996

Abstract

The well-established carboxylesterase-based resistance to insecticides in Myzus persicae Sulzer has recently been accentuated by the appearance of aphids with a modified acetylcholinesterase (MACE) insensitive to pirimicarb and the novel aphicide, triazamate. This target site resistance mechanism was found in M. persicae from crops in the UK for the first time in 1996, together with especially large proportions of aphids with R₂ and R₃ levels of carboxylesterases, a combination that was associated with serious insecticide failures. This paper describes the incidence of both mechanisms and discusses the implications for future recommendations for aphid control in the UK.