Monitoring the Resistance of the Citrus Red Mite (Acari: Tetranychidae) to Four Acaricides in Different Citrus Orchards in China

Abstract

Abstract The citrus red mite, Panonychus citri (McGregor), is an important spider mite pest in citrus producing areas. Owing to long-term acaricide exposure, resistance has evolved rapidly in recent years. To evaluate the extent of resistance, seven field mite populations sampled from various geographical locations in China during 2015–2018 were tested using the leaf-dip bioassay method to determine their susceptibilities to four acaricides. In comparison with the susceptible strain maintained in the laboratory, low or moderate levels of fenpropathrin resistance, while no resistance to abamectin or cyflumetofen, were found among populations sampled from Liangping, Wanzhou, Daying, and Anyue in Southwestern China during the test period. High levels (>1,000-fold, with LC50 values that were greater than the recommended concentration) of resistance to fenpropathrin had evolved in field populations from Southern China, including Guilin, Nanning, and Yuxi, when compared with that of the susceptible strain. Populations from Guilin and Nanning also evolved high resistance levels to abamectin (1,088-fold and 1,401-fold) and cyflumetofen (2,112-fold and 9,093-fold). All the populations sampled in 2018 showed a moderate or high resistance to bifenazate. Generally, field populations of citrus red mites from Southwestern China were more sensitive to the tested acaricides than those of Southern China. The data provide a foundation for developing acaricide resistance management strategies in these regions.