Enhanced Insecticide-resistance Spectrum in Green Lacewing Predator, Chrysoperla zastrowi sillemi (strain PTS-8) And Its Potential Role In The Management Of Sucking Pests Of Cotton

The green lacewing or aphid lion, Chrysoperla zastrowi sillemi (Esben-Petersen) is an important predator of sucking pests, and eggs and neonate larvae of lepiodopteran pests under many crop ecosystems of India. In the present study, enhanced insecticide resistance spectrum in an insecticide-resistant population of C. zastrowi sillemi (strain PTS-8) was evaluated against four commonly used insecticides on cotton. The insecticide resistant C. zastrowi sillemi PTS-8 showed 16.4-, 14.8-, 12.7- and 7.2-fold resistance against chlorpyriphos 20% EC, cypermethrin 10% EC, acetamipirid 20% SP and chlorantraniliprole 18.5% SC respectively, compared to the susceptible strain. Biochemical assays revealed an elevated level of three major detoxifying enzymes, viz. carboxylesterase (1.48-fold), glutathione S-transferase (1.27-fold) and cytochrome p450 monooxygenase (1.36-fold) in PTS-8 strain compared to the susceptible strain. The field survival and biocontrol potential of PTS-8 strain were significantly better on cotton plants treated with recommended dose of insecticides. The study indicated the potential role of insecticide-resistant natural enemies under biointensive IPM programmes to avoid compatibility conflict with insecticides.