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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Gainesville, Florida » Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology » Mosquito and Fly Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #375919
Research Project: Improved Surveillance and Control of Stable Flies, House Flies, and Other Filth Flies

Location: Mosquito and Fly Research

Title: Insecticide resistance development in the filth fly pupal parasitoid, Spalangia cameroni (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), using laboratory selections

Author
item MAIQUEZ, VINCENT - California State University
item PITZER, JIMMY - California State University
item Geden, Christopher - Chris

Submitted to: Journal of Economic Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/15/2020
Publication Date: 12/25/2020
Citation: Maiquez, V.F., Pitzer, J.B., Geden, C.J. 2020. Insecticide resistance development in the filth fly pupal parasitoid, Spalangia cameroni (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), using laboratory selections. Journal of Economic Entomology. 114(1):326-331. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toaa286.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toaa286

Interpretive Summary: Filth flies remain one of the most injurious pest groups affecting the animal production industry. Parasitic wasps are often are used as biocontrol agents to manage filth fly populations such as house flies and stable flies. The wasps search for fly pupae as hosts in areas that are sometimes treated with insecticides. Although some wasps die after exposure to insecticides, those that survive might have offspring with higher insecticide tolerance. Therefore, a study was conducted by researchers at California State University (Sacramento) and USDA-ARS-CMAVE (Gainesville) to determine the potential of the parasitic wasp Spalangia cameroni to develop resistance to the commonly-used insecticide permethrin, as well as compare permethrin susceptibility among several wasp strains. After 10 selected generations, susceptibility was significantly lower for the selected strain when compared to that of its unselected parent strain. A comparison of several parasitoid strains collected from different U.S. states indicated that permethrin susceptibility was significantly higher in an insectary strain than more recently-established field strains. The results suggest that parasitic wasps can be improved by selection to have greater effectiveness on farms where pesticide use might otherwise limit their survival.

Technical Abstract: Filth flies remain one of the most prevalent pest groups affecting the animal production industry. Spalangia spp. and Muscidifurax spp. are beneficial parasitic wasps that often are utilized to manage filth fly populations such as house flies, Musca domestica L. and stable flies, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.). These wasps search for filth fly pupae as hosts in areas potentially treated with insecticides, which may result in non-target insecticide selection effects. However, research regarding resistance development in parasitic wasps such as S. cameroni Perkins, is limited. Therefore, a study was conducted to determine the potential of S. cameroni to develop resistance to the commonly-used insecticide permethrin, as well as compare permethrin susceptibility among several S. cameroni strains. After 10 selected generations, susceptibility was significantly lower for the selected strain when compared to that of its unselected parent strain. A comparison of several parasitoid strains collected from different U.S. states indicated that permethrin susceptibility was significantly higher in an insectary strain than more recently-established field strains. The implications of this previously unrecognized non-target insecticide exposure effect on filth fly parasitoids are discussed.