Resistance development in Culex quinquefasciatus to spinosad: a preliminary report

A Culex quinquefasciatus colony was established from surviving late instars and pupae from a semifield microcosm test with Natular XRG (a granular formulation containing 2.5% spinosad) applied at 14.2 kg/ha. The initial lethal concentrations for 50% and 90% of the population (LC50 and LC90) against Natular XRG were determined in the laboratory for the 1st generation progeny (F1). Selection was applied at LC70-90 levels to 10,000-15,000 of late 3rd and early 4th instars each generation. Susceptibility changes were determined every other generation and referenced to a susceptible laboratory colony as well as freshly collected wild populations of the same species concurrently. Tolerance to spinosad (resistance ratio < 5.0 fold) was observed up to F8 generation in the selected population. Thereafter, resistance ratios increased significantly from F10 to F16 generations, being 7.26- to 20.52-fold at the LC50 and 7.48- to 20.08-fold at the LC90 level.