First report of insecticide resistance to organophosphates and pyrethroids in the small hive beetle,(coleoptera: nitidulidae)and development of a resistance monitoring technique

Authors: KANGA, LAMBERT - Florida A & M University; MARCHAL, WALKER - Florida A & M University; Legaspi, Jesusa; HASEEB, MUHAMMAD - Florida A & M University

Submitted to: Journal of Economic Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/21/2021
Publication Date: 3/4/2021
Citation: Kanga, L.H., Marchal, W., Legaspi, J.C., Haseeb, M. 2021. First report of insecticide resistance to organophosphates and pyrethroids in the small hive beetle,(coleoptera: nitidulidae)and development of a resistance monitoring technique. Journal of Economic Entomology. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toab017.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toab017

Interpretive Summary: Bee health is critical for the success of pollination-based agriculture, which produces about one-third of the diet in the United States. Unfortunately, the number of honey bee colonies in the U.S. continues to decline and colony losses occur concurrent with an increasing demand for the pollination of fiber, fruit, vegetable and nut crops. The loss of honey bee colonies is mostly attributed to pathogens and two arthropod pests (Varroa mite and small hive beetle). For control of these pests, beekeepers rely on chemical applications. Researchers from Florida A&M University and USDA, ARS, CMAVE in Tallahassee, FL assessed the susceptibility of small hive beetle populations to insecticides and developed and field-tested a technique to monitor resistance in field populations. A glass vial assay was developed for resistance monitoring and diagnostic concentrations determined for the pyrethroids cypermethrin, fluvalinate, and organophosphates malathion, chlorpyrifos, and coumaphos. Resistance in small hive beetle populations in the field to the pyrethroid fluvalinate and the organophosphate coumaphos was reported for the first time. The adult glass vial bioassay provided an effective approach for monitoring resistance in small hive beetle populations and provides foundation for the development of a resistance management strategy

Technical Abstract: The small hive beetle (SHB), Aethina tumida Murray, is a serious threat to the honey bee industry which relies on chemicals for the control of major honey bee pests. To monitor field populations of the SHB for insecticide resistance, a glass vial technique was developed for use in a resistance management strategy. Diagnostic concentrations needed to separate susceptible genotypes from resistant individuals were determined for the pyrethroids cypermethrin (25.0 µg/vial), fluvalinate (25.0 µg/vial), and organophosphates malathion (10.0 µg/vial), chlorpyrifos (2.5 µg/vial), and coumaphos (25.0 µg/vial). Here we report that resistance to fluvalinate and coumaphos was widespread in SHB populations in Florida in 2019. There was no evidence of resistance to cypermethrin, malathion and chlorpyrifos in field populations of the SHB. The frequencies of resistance varied between classes of insecticides. Over the last 10 years, SHBs have developed 43.7-fold resistance to coumaphos and 5.4-fold to fluvalinate. The levels of insecticide resistance were unstable, suggesting that resistance can be managed. These results demonstrated the use of the glass vial bioassays to detect and monitor for resistance in the SHB and provide the basis for the development of a resistance management strategy designed to extend the efficacy of these insecticide classes for control of the SHB. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of occurrence of insecticide resistance in SHB populations and suggest an urgent need for alternative control strategies for major pests of honey bees.