Insecticide Resistance

Abstract

Insecticides, including contact chemicals and fumigants, are essential components of the majority of stored product protection systems. Their use enables the implementation of effective quarantine systems, ensures food security and facilitates domestic and international trade. Insecticides have many advantages. They can be integrated easily into grain handling logistics; they reliably provide the freedom from insect infestation demanded by many markets; and they are relatively inexpensive to apply. Despite their central importance, however, there are a surprisingly small number of chemicals used in the protection of stored products. Chemical residue levels are tightly regulated as stored products are usually foods. In addition, because of the often large volumes of commodity involved and convenience of application, fumigants are frequently the preferred treatments, rather than liquid insecticides. However, fumigant use requires strict workplace health and safety precautions and must comply with stringent environmental constraints. These factors, coupled with toxicological considerations, limit the range of materials available for application to grain and make them costly to develop. For these reasons, loss of any one chemical treatment will have a significant impact on pest management. Consequently, the development of resistance in stored product pests to any registered insecticide is a particularly significant problem that requires urgent solutions.