Thrips are major insect pests that cause significant economic losses in protected cultivation systems and orchards in Korea, and the development of insecticide resistance resulting from repeated use of the same insecticides has emerged as a serious pr...
Thrips are major insect pests that cause significant economic losses in protected cultivation systems and orchards in Korea, and the development of insecticide resistance resulting from repeated use of the same insecticides has emerged as a serious problem. This study aimed to assess farmers’ awareness of insecticide resistance and their pest control practices, and to investigate the nationwide status of insecticide resistance in three major thrips species in Korea(Frankliniella occidentalis, Scirtothrips dorsalis, and Thrips palmi) in order to propose effective resistance management strategies.
To evaluate farmers’ awareness of insecticide resistance, a questionnaire survey was conducted with 969 farmers nationwide. Although 85.7% of respondents reported being aware of the concept of insecticide resistance, it was confirmed that resistance-promoting practices, such as the consecutive use of insecticides with the same mode of action, were commonly implemented in actual pest control programs. Insecticide resistance in thrips populations was investigated over a three-year period starting in 2022 across 32 cities and counties in five regions of Korea (Gangwon, Gyeonggi, Yeongnam, Chungcheong, Honam, and Jeju). F. occidentalis was collected from 15 cities and counties in pepper-growing areas, S. dorsalis from six cities and counties in mango-growing areas, and T. palmi from 11 cities and counties in cucumber-growing areas. A total of 27 active ingredients belonging to 10 insecticide classes were tested using the IRAC standard leaf-dip bioassay. Resistance levels were evaluated based on corrected mortality and resistance index (RI) values.
The results of the resistance assays were generally consistent with the pest control practices identified in the farmer survey. F. occidentalis exhibited high levels of resistance nationwide to most insecticides frequently used by farmers, including pyrethroids (IRAC Group 3A), neonicotinoids (4A), diamides (28), and benzoylureas (15). In contrast, intermediate resistance levels were observed for certain spinosyns (5) and avermectins (6), while relatively low resistance was detected for the more recently registered isoxazolines (30) and flumetoquin (34). S. dorsalis showed high resistance to pyrethroids (3A) and neonicotinoids (4A), but remained susceptible to spinosyns (5) and emamectin benzoate (6). T. palmi exhibited high resistance to some pyrethroid (3A) and neonicotinoid (4A) insecticides; however, susceptibility was maintained to several other insecticides, including sulfoxaflor (4C), spinosyns (5), emamectin benzoate (6), chlorfenapyr (13), diamides (28), isoxazolines (30), and flumetoquin (34).
For effective resistance management in the future, it is essential to implement rotation programs based on insecticide mode of action, strategically utilize insecticides to which susceptibility is maintained, establish integrated pest management (IPM) systems incorporating biological control, develop region-specific pest control strategies, and strengthen education programs on resistance management for farmers.