Association between insecticide use and greenhouse whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum westwood) resistance to insecticides in hawaii

Abstract Susceptibility to acephate, methomyl, and permethrin was determined with laboratory bioassays for adults of greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood, from 12 to 14 sites in Hawaii. Comparisons at LC50 showed up to 42‐fold resistance to acephate, 36‐fold resistance to methomyl, and 8‐fold resistance to permethrin. Higher levels of resistance to acephate and methomyl than to permethrin are consistent with greater use of organophosphates and carbamates than pyrethroids by growers. Insecticide use varied from 1 to 98 insecticide sprays per site per season. Significant positive associations between LC50 for each insecticide and frequency of application of the same insecticide were found across sites. This finding suggests that local variation in insecticide use was an important cause of variation in susceptibility.