First Report on the Mechanisms of Insecticide Resistance in Field Populations of the Small Hive Beetle in Florida

The small hive beetle (Aethina tumida Murray) is a serious threat to beekeeping and crops that rely on honeybees for pollination. not only causes significant damage by feeding pollen honey, attacking bee brood causing stored honey ferment, but also might serve as vector of diseases. In addition, the has developed resistance pyrethroid organophosphate insecticides registered control honeybee pests in United States. development populations great concern industry; thus, there an urgent need strategies manage resistance. Therefore, we used synergist probes determine mechanisms population these insecticides. Our studies toxicity alone or with synergists piperonyl butoxide (PBO) S,S,S,-tributyl phosphorotrithionate (DEF) suggested mixed-function oxidases esterases were major factors studied beetle. contrast, was no synergism diethyl maleate (DEM), triphenyl phosphate (TPP) formamidine. glutathione-S-transferase, carboxylesterase target site involved insecticide Rotation classes (with different modes action) metabolic successful management programs. To best our knowledge, this first study Florida suggests alternative colonies.