Diamondback moth insecticide resistance management in vegetable brassicas

Page last updated: Wednesday, 16 November 2022 - 11:45am

Please note: This content may be out of date and is currently under review.

Diamondback moth can quickly develop resistance to insecticides. If this occurs, chemical options to control them are reduced.

The resistance management information here focuses on the diamondback moth specific two-window strategy for vegetable brassicas in Western Australia. The strategy advises appropriate insecticide rotation for a season. It is not compulsory to follow, however growers should be aware of its basis to manage insecticide resistance.

This strategy was updated most recetly in 2018, but the underlying principles are still relevant.

Resistance development

Some individual insects within a population can be naturally resistant to a particular, or multiple, insecticide modes of action.  Insecticides that belong to the same group, have the same mode of action. If the same mode of action insecticide is used regularly, those resistant individuals survive and go on to breed, possibly passing on the resistance trait to their offspring. Continued use of that mode of action without adequate rotation can lead to a resistant population over time and those insecticdes in that activity group will fail to control the pest.

Resistant populations of diamondback moth already exist. Strains with moderate to high resistance to the synthetic pyrethroid permethrin have been found in Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania and Western Australia.

Some Australian populations have resistance to the group 6 insecticide, emamectin, and group 28 insecticides, chlorantraniliprole and flubendiamide.

In Thailand and the Philippines resistance has also developed to flubendiamide and chlorantraniliprole. In a Hort Innovation Australia (HIA) project (VG08062) that identified resistant populations, the authors predicted “declining efficacy with a number of important synthetic insecticides” in the near future. For more information on this project search the Horticulture Innovation Australia website. Registered users can search the AusVeg website.

Managing resistance

A number of practices can help manage the risk of diamondback moth developing insecticide resistance. The CropLife Australia Insecticide Resistance Management Review Group has devised guidelines for a number of pests and crops, including diamonback moth in vegetable brassicas. The following is based on those guidelines:

  • Incoporate IPM techniques into the overall pest management program and monitor insect populations for loss of field efficacy of insecticides.
  • Ensure spray rig is properly calibrated and achieving good coverage with appropriate sized spray droplets.
  • Monitor crops regularly and only apply insecticide when the threshold for crop damage is reached and only to areas that need it.
  • Time applications to the most susceptible life stage of the target pest. For diamondback moth this is the small larvae.
  • Be aware of insecticide mode of actions used in the nursery phase of the crop and ensure a one generation break exists before re-use of that same mode of action in the field phase of the crop.
  • Always read and follow product labels. Some products place a limit on the number of times they can be applied per crop and when they can be applied.
  • To encourage beneficial insects, use Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) sprays and avoid broad spectrum sprays, particularly early to mid-crop cycle.
  • Be cautious of using tank mixes where both active ingredients control DBM as this strategy is generally not considered best practice for resistance management.
  • DO NOT re-treat a spray failure with a product from the same chemical group.
  • Practise good crop hygiene to reduce DBM pressure — plant clean seedlings and incorporate crop residue as soon as practical after harvest.
  • Select insecticides in accordance with the current insecticide resistance management strategy for your region.

The insecticide resistance management strategy for Western Australia is the two-window strategy.

Two-window strategy

The two-window strategy should be used as part of an integrated pest management (IPM) program in conjunction with the above guidelines. The strategy was developed by Australian researchers in conjunction with the chemical industry and growers.

The aim is to slow the development of resistance to insecticides that have been commercially available since 1998, or ‘newer’ chemistry.

The strategy highlights the importance of rotating between groups of insecticides, each with different modes of action. Where practical you should endeavour to use insecticides recommended in each of the windows at the correct time of year to ensure adequate rotation.

'Newer' chemistry’ insecticides are placed into two windows which divide the peak Western Australian diamondback moth season into two equal blocks, allowing equal frequency of use of chemicals from both windows.

Due to differences in climate and pest population peaks three strategies have been developed that cover all major Australian vegetable brassica growing areas. The Western Australian strategy is reviewed regularly - the update number and review date can be found in the top right corner. The strategy is specific to Western Australia and is for the vegetable brassica crops cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage and Brussels sprouts. 

Window 1 covers the portion of the season 1 July to 31 December. Registered insecticides from groups 5 (spinosad), 28 (chlorantraniliprole and flubendiamide) and 13 (chlorfenapyr) are placed here.

Trade names for common registered products are: group 5 SuccessTM Neo; group 28 Durivo®, Belt® and Coragen®; and group 13 Secure®. Registered products from any of these three groups can be used in this window. Label instructions must be followed.

Window 2 covers the rest of the season - 1 January to 30 June. Registered insecticides from groups 6 (emamectin benzoate), 22A (indoxacarb) and 2B (fipronil) are placed here.

Trade names for common registered products are: group 6 Proclaim®; group 22A Avatar®; and group 2B Regent®. Label instructions must be followed.

If the window recommendations are followed, diamondback moth populations will not be continually exposed to insecticides from the same chemical group for a whole growing season.

The WA two-window strategy as described in the text.
Update 22, 2017/18, of the Western Australian vegetable brassice DBM resistance management strategy.  It is described as a "window" strategy as insecticide use is divided into two windows over the main growing season.

Bts are not placed in a window as they are often only used on young crops when good spray coverage can be achieved. Other active ingredients are used in later crop stages.

Older chemistry including the synthetic pyrethroids and organophosphates are not placed in windows. Many diamondback moth populations already have resistance to some older chemistries. There is also evidence from overseas of cross-resistance between certain synthetic pyrethroid, organosphosphate and carbamate insecticides.

Synthetic pyrethroids and organophosphates are broad spectrum chemicals which will also kill beneficial insects. They are not preferred in an integrated pest management (IPM) program.

The group 28 product Durivo® appears first in window 1 rather than with the other group 28 products because it is used only as a seedling treatment. Ideally when using Durivo® with the window strategy it should not be applied in the final weeks of window 1 as it remains active in the plant for many weeks after application. Ceasing use of Durivo® by early December is recommended to reduce exposure of diamondback moths present from January onwards to group 28 insecticides.

Insecticides that appear in the window strategy have different levels of impact on beneficial insects. If you plan to encourage native populations of beneficial insects or release captive-bred beneficial insects you must carefully consider the insecticides to be used. More information on impact on beneficial insects can be found on the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) website.

Refer to the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) website for information regarding registration and label instructions for diamondback moth insecticides.

 

Diamondback moth insecticide resistance management in vegetable brassicas

Authors

Alison Mathews
Stewart Learmonth