Insecticide Toxicity, Synergism, and Resistance in the German Cockroach (Dictyoptera: Blattellidae)

Authors

Jeffrey G. Scott, Comstock Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
Donald C. Cochran, Comstock Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
Blair Siegfried, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

October 1990

Comments

Published in Journal of Economic Entomology Vol. 83, no. 5. Copyright 1990 Entomological Society of America. Used by permission.

Abstract

The toxicity of, synergism of, and resistance to insecticides in four strains of German cockroach, Blattella germanica (L.), were investigated. Toxicity of nine insecticides by topical application to the susceptible strain varied >2,000-fold, with deltamethrin (LD₅₀ = 0.004 μg per cockroach) and malathion (LD₅₀ = 8.4 μg per cockroach) being the most and least toxic, respectively. Resistance to pyrethrins (9.5-fold) in the Kenly strain was unaffected by the synergists piperonyl butoxide (PBO) or S,S,S-tributylphosphorotrithioate( DEE), suggesting that metabolism is not involved in this case. Malathion resistance in the Rutgers strain was suppressible with PBO, implicating oxidative metabolism as a resistance mechanism. The Ectiban-R strain was resistant to all the pyrethroids tested, and cypermethrin resistance was not suppressible with PBO or DEE. These findings support results of previous studies that indicated this strain has a kdr-like mechanism. Bendiocarb resistance in both the Kenly and Rutgers strains was partially suppressed by either PBO or DEE, suggesting that oxidative and hydrolytic metabolism are involved in the resistance. Trends between the effects of the synergists on the susceptible versus resistant strains are discussed.