Pyrethroid insecticides were widely used against codling moth (Cydia pomonella) in the Río Negro and Neuquén valley, which are the main production areas of pome fruits in Argentina.
Entomologists at Universidad Nacional del Comahue (Buenos Aires) have evaluated both the lambda-cyhalothrin resistance levels in C. pomonella larvae from orchards of this area that are currently managed with pyrethroids treatments and the frequency of kdr mutation in C. pomonella across Argentina.
"High levels of resistance to lambda-cyhalothrin were found in all the populations evaluated. The L1014F (kdr) mutation was evaluated in 355 diapausing larvae collected in 12 orchards from San Juan to Santa Cruz provinces (1690 km away from each other). The highest frequency of kdr mutation was determined in larvae from the Río Negro and Neuquén valley - the scientists explain - The kdr allele was absent or present at very low frequencies in orchards subjected to low pyrethroid pressure, this suggests that the frequency of kdr mutation in C. pomonella is related to the use of pyrethroids against this pest in different areas".
