Intra- and Interspecific Variation in the Susceptibility to Insecticides of Stink Bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) That Attack Soybean and Maize in Southern Brazil

Abstract

This study evaluated intra- and interspecific variation regarding the susceptibility to insecticides of key pentatomid pests of soybean (Glycine max L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) crops in Brazil. To perform bioassays, populations of Euschistus heros (F.), Diceraeus (=Dichelops) furcatus (F.), Nezara viridula (L.), and Piezodorus guildinii (Westwood) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) were collected in soybean fields in Southern Brazil during the 2020/2021 crop season. Then, stink bugs were exposed to doses of commercial insecticides commonly applied for its control in dip-test bioassays using fresh green bean pods. In general, all stink bug species and populations studied were susceptible to acephate, acetamiprid + bifenthrin, imidacloprid + bifenthrin, and ethiprole, with mortality rates > 80%. Most populations of E. heros and D. furcatus, considered the main stink bugs that attack soybean and maize, respectively, presented low or intermediate susceptibility to acetamiprid + α-cypermethrin, ζ-cypermethrin + bifenthrin, dinotefuran + λ-cyhalothrin, and bifenthrin + carbosulfan. Except for bifenthrin + carbosulfan (mortality < 57%), secondary stink bugs species that attack soybean (N. viridula and P. guildinii) showed pronounced susceptibility to all insecticides tested, with mortality rates > 70%. In summary, the populations of E. heros and D. furcatus showed diminished susceptibility to various insecticides formulated with the mixture of neonicotinoids + pyrethroids, whereas N. viridula and P. guildinii were most susceptible to the insecticides evaluated. The implications of these findings to integrated and resistance management programs are discussed.

Sex‐dependent body mass and respiratory responses on Euschistus heros individuals resistant to imidacloprid

“…Our present efforts highlight the involvement of other resistance mechanisms in the ImiPBOSel strain, as the application of PBO (an inhibitor of the monooxygenase system) speeds up the selection of imidacloprid resistant individuals, leading ImiPBOSel individuals to resist exposure to imidacloprid concentrations as high as 40‐fold the field rate recommendation. The existence of multiple resistance mechanisms may contribute to the increasing number of reports indicating that imidacloprid‐containing commercial formulations do not adequately control E. heros populations (Somavilla, Reis, et al, 2020, Somavilla, da Gubiani, et al, 2020; Sosa‐Gómez et al, 2020; Steinhaus et al, 2022; Tibola et al, 2021; Tuelher et al, 2018).…”

“…The adoption of this control strategy has caused neonicotinoid substances to be integrated (alone or in combination with other molecules) into virtually all insecticide formulations registered for controlling stink bugs in the Neotropical region (MAPA, 2022), which threatens the efficacy of the strategy. Reductions on the strategy efficacy might derive from the indiscriminate use and overuse of neonicotinoids, as it has favoured the selection of resistant individuals (Castellanos et al, 2019; Somavilla, da Gubiani, et al, 2020; Somavilla, Reis, et al, 2020; Sosa‐Gómez et al, 2020; Steinhaus et al, 2022; Tibola et al, 2021; Tuelher et al, 2018), and led to hormetic (i.e., stimulatory) effects on the behavioural and physiological responses of sublethally exposed insects (Haddi et al, 2016; Rodrigues et al, 2021; Santos, Campos, et al, 2016; Tuelher et al, 2017). The selection of resistant individuals and the undesirable hormetic effects, that is, when mild stress protects and improves animal performance (Berry & López‐Martínez, 2020; Cutler et al, 2022; Guedes et al, 2016), may have contributed to E. heros population outbreaks in Neotropical regions.…”

“…Among neonicotinoids, imidacloprid is one of the largest marketable insecticides worldwide (Casida, 2018; Jeschke et al, 2011, 2013) and one of the most commonly used for the control of E. heros . However, an increasing number of reports of imidacloprid resistance have been demonstrated in Brazilian populations of E. heros (Somavilla, da Gubiani, et al, 2020; Somavilla, Reis, et al, 2020; Steinhaus et al, 2022; Tibola et al, 2021; Tuelher et al, 2018). Imidacloprid exerts its toxicity primarily by causing irreversible disruption of the functions of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subtypes expressed in the insect nervous system (Jeschke & Nauen, 2008; Oliveira et al, 2010, 2011; Salgado, 2016; Salgado & Saar, 2004), although its actions at secondary targets also play pivotal roles in its efficacy (Castellanos et al, 2021; Perez Campos et al, 2021; Stamm et al, 2011; Yuan et al, 2021).…”

Insecticidal Effect of Cry Toxins Produced by Bacillus thuringiensis on Diceraeus melacanthus (Dallas, 1851) and Euschistus heros (Fabricius, 1798) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)

“…The main difference between Heteroptera and other insects of the Hemiptera order is the presence of scent glands located in the abdomen as nymphs, and in the abdomen and thorax as adults, with different functions depending on the species (Panizzi et al, 2000;Possebom et al, 2020). Within the Heteroptera suborder, Pentatomidae is the most abundant family of insects found in many crop areas in Brazil, causing significant losses and damage (Panizzi et al, 2012;Sosa-Gómez et al, 2020;Steinhaus et al, 2022).…”

“…The primary control tactic against these stink bugs almost exclusively involves the use of synthetic insecticides (Bueno et al, 2013;Panizzi, 2013;Gomes et al, 2020;Somavilla et al, 2020;Steinhaus et al, 2022) of broad-spectrum action (pyrethroids, neocotinoids, and organophosphate) (Sosa-Gómez et al, 2020;MAPA, 2021). These compounds are applied indiscriminately and negatively impact agroecosystems, such as reduction in biodiversity, selection of resistant stink bug populations, and emergence of new pest outbreaks (Lundgren et al, 2009;Gomes et al, 2020).…”