The sustainable chemical control and resistance management of aphids, mites and mirids in Australian cotton, 2014-2019

This project provided resistance monitoring for aphids, mites, thrips, and mirids. Resistance data produced feeds directly into a process driven by the Transgenic and Insecticide Management Strategy (TIMS) Committee, the peak industry body responsible for formulating the Insecticide Resistance Management Strategy for cotton.

In addition to ongoing monitoring, key project highlights included:

1. DNA based methods were developed to identify Strawberry Spider Mite (SSM), Two Spotted Mite (TSM) and Bean Spider Mite (BSM);

2. TSM was restricted to NSW and testing showed discriminating dose survivors of bifenthrin and abamectin;

3. SSM was the most prevalent mite and baseline resistance data for it was established for abamectin, propargite and diafenthiuron;

4. cotton aphid testing found pyrethroid resistance but none to pirimicarb or organophosphates;

5. Neonicotinoid resistance was detected in cotton seedling thrips; and

6. Western Flower Thrip was the most abundant thrip and spinetoram resistance was detected.