IRAC Susceptibility Test Method 017

Introduction

This method relates to the larvae developmental stage.

Method suitable for L1 larvae

Method

1. Collect a representative sample of insects from a field. These may be larvae, pupae or adults for rearing to the appropriate stage or material from which an F1 population for testing can be reared. The insects should not be subjected to temperature, humidity or starvation stress after collection. A minimum of 100 larvae or diapausing pupae should be collected for each population to be tested, in order to establish a breeding colony of at least 50 adults.

2. Prepare accurate dilutions of the test compound from the identified commercial product.  Ensure thoroughly mixing at each dilution step.  Six evenly spaced rates allowing to get a clear dose response are recommended.

3. A half milliliter (0.5 ml) of each insecticide solution is required per 20 g of diet to be prepared.
   Weigh and add 20 g of Stonefly Heliothis Premix Diet to the glass bowl and thoroughly mix all the ingredients together until soft, smooth dough is obtained. Ensure protective gloves are worn during this procedure to avoid exposure to the insecticide.

4. Add 0.5 g pieces of the dough to individual wells of a 10-20 mm diameter well plate, press the dough gently and evenly to fill the base of each well. A minimum of 40 wells per insecticide concentration should be prepared.

5. Repeat steps (c) & (d) for each of the insecticide concentrations utilized in the study and a control treatment, which should utilize distilled water only for step (c) instead of insecticide solution. Ensure that mixing equipment is cleaned and protective gloves are replaced between treatments to prevent contamination.

6. Add a single neonate (less than 24 hour old) of Cydia pomonella larvae to each individual test well using a fine artist’s paintbrush. Once a plate is fully infested, seal tightly with the lid (ensure no gap between the top of the plate and the lid) to prevent larvae from moving out of their assigned well.

7. Store the plates under 22±2°C, 60% RH and 16:8 light/dark regime is preferred.  If not possible, avoid direct sunlight or extremes of temperature and record maximum and minimum temperatures.

8. In the case of diamide insecticides, a final assessment of larval mortalities (dead and live) is made after 96 hours. For other insecticides please see guidelines provided at the top of this document.

9. The number of dead larvae and moribund larvae (seriously affected larvae which are unable to make coordinated movement and cannot return to an upright position when turned upon their backs with a seeking pin or fine pointed forceps) are to be summed added and considered as dead. Untreated mortality should be recorded. Express results as percentage mortalities, correcting for “untreated” (control) mortalities using Abbott’s formula. It is recommended that the corrected mortality data is utilised to perform a probit or logit dose response analysis to provide LC50 and LC90 estimates for each insecticide or insect population tested.

Precautions & Notes

1. Disposable plastic equipment is preferred provided that it is not affected by the formulation constituents; glass equipment may be used but must be adequately cleaned with an appropriate organic solvent before re-use.
2. Insecticide products contain varied concentrations of active ingredient(s). Ensure insecticide dilutions are based on active ingredient content (g a.i.). Some diamide insecticides are sold as pre-mixtures with other insecticides; these products should not be used to determine the susceptibility of insect populations to the single insecticide, as the mixture partner may have a significant impact on the mortality data generated.
3. Where possible, bioassays to measure the variation in insecticide susceptibility of field populations should run in parallel with a known susceptible standard population of the insect.

Comments

For the purposes of this methodology the density of water is assumed to be 1.00g/ml.

Mortality assessment period may vary depending on insecticide mode of action.  The following guidelines may be used:

96-hour assessment period

• Organophosphate (1B)
• Pyrethroid (3A)
• Neonicotinoids (4A)
• Spinosyn (5)
• Avermectin (6)
• Indoxacarb (22A)
• Metaflumizone (22B)
• Diamides (28)
• Pyridalyl (un)

120-hour assessment period (Larvae should go through full molt before mortality assessment).

• Juvenile Hormone Mimics (7A)
• Fenoxycarb (7B)
• Benzyl urea (15)
• Diacylhydrazine (18)