Insecticide resistance and synergism in Brazilian populations of Sitophilus zeamais (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Abstract Insecticide resistance to three organophosphate (chlorpyrifos-methyl, malathion and pirimiphos-methyl) and three pyrethroid (cypermethrin, deltamethrin and permethrin) insecticides was surveyed in nine field-collected populations of the maize weevil from six Brazilian States and contrasted with a standard susceptible population and a DDT and pyrethroid resistant population. Bioassay tests were carried out in glass vials (20 ml) impregnated with dried insecticide residue and the resistant populations were recognized by using discriminating concentrations established from LC 95 s estimated for a standard susceptible population. Four field-collected populations had reduced susceptibility to cypermethrin (64–77% mortality) and to chlorpyrifos-methyl (76–77% mortality). All populations were susceptible to malathion and pirimiphos-methyl and only the DDT and pyrethroid resistant check showed resistance to all pyrethroids. Concentration–mortality curves showed non-significant levels of insecticide resistance in the field-collected populations and moderate (10–100-fold) to very high levels (>1000-fold) of resistance to pyrethroids in the DDT and pyrethroid resistant population. Results from insecticide bioassays with synergists (diethyl maleate, piperonyl butoxide, and triphenyl phosphate) suggested a major involvement of esterase as the cypermethrin resistance mechanism, while no clear result was obtained for chlorpyrifos-methyl. Synergism results provide support for target site resistance to pyrethroids in the DDT and pyrethroid resistant population used in this study.