Characterizing the differential susceptibility and resistance to insecticides in populations of Chrysodeixis includens and Rachiplusia nu (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Brazil

Abstract BACKGROUND Chrysodeixis includens (Walker) and Rachiplusia nu (Guenée) are major Plusiinae pests of soybean in the Southern Cone region of South America. In recent decades, C. includens was the main defoliator of soybean in Brazil, but from 2021 onwards, R. nu emerged as an important soybean pest in various regions of the country. Here, we characterize the differential susceptibility and resistance to insecticides in these Plusiinae pests from two soybean regions of Brazil. RESULTS Except for spinetoram and chlorfenapyr (comparable lethality against both species) and a Bt ‐based biopesticide (more lethal for C. includens ), the tested insecticides showed higher lethality against R. nu than against C. includens , but populations of the same species, even separated by long distances, presented similar resistance levels. For both species, the 90% lethal concentration (LC 90 ) values of most insecticides were higher than the field‐recommended dose. Nevertheless, the field‐recommended doses of spinetoram, metaflumizone, emamectin benzoate, cyclaniliprole and chlorfenapyr showed comparable control efficacy against both species, whereas indoxacarb, chlorantraniliprole, flubendiamide, teflubenzuron and chlorfluazuron were more lethal for R. nu , and methoxyfenozide and the Bt ‐based insecticide were more lethal for C. includens . Thiodicarb, methomyl and lambda‐cyhalothrin showed low lethality against both species. CONCLUSIONS Large interspecific differences in the susceptibility to insecticides was found in major Plusiinae pests of soybean in Brazil. Furthermore, variations in susceptibility to insecticides occurred consistently among species and populations, regardless of the collection site and thus despite unequal temporal and spatial exposure to insecticides. These results demonstrate that accurate species identification is essential for effective control of Plusiinae in soybean. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.