US EPA

7456750 

Journal Article 

CUTICLE THICKNESS AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH INSECTICIDE RESISTANCE IN BACTROCERA CUCURBITAE (DIPTERA : TEPHRITIDAE) 

Verma, D; Kumari, S; Kumar, D 

2019 

Connect Journal 

19 

2 

3507-3512 

English 

10.35124/bca.2019.19.2.3507 

Bactrocera cucurbitae is a serious pest of cucurbits. So far, many workers have reported resistance against pyrethroid, spinosad and carbamate in different Bactrocera species. Insects’ cuticle plays key role in the insecticide resistance. Aim of present study was to extend our knowledge about the change in cuticle thickness of Bactrocera cucurbitae with age and its effect on the insecticide resistance. The mean cuticle thickness of ageing insects was 4.63 ± 0.36 μm for day 3, = 6.67 ± 0.13 μm for day 9, 10.36 ± 0.11 μm for 15 day old insects. Parallelly, we isolated the resistant and susceptible population of 10 day old Bactrocera cucurbitae and compared the cuticle thickness. In the present investigation, resistant B. cucurbitae were found to have cuticle thickness 15.84% greater than the susceptible flies. To affirm the role of cuticle thickness in insecticide resistance, we treated thoracic and abdominal segments of Bactrocera cucurbitae with insecticide and noted down the survival percentage. Survival percentage was significantly high in case of thoracic application of deltamethrin than the abdominal application. Higher cuticle thickness is associated with improved insecticide resistance in the same age group of Bactrocera cucurbitae population. However, for ageing insects, it protects the insect to a certain life stage © 2020. All Rights Reserved. 

cuticle; detoxification; insecticide resistance; Tergites