Characterization of pyridaben resistance in Tetranychus urticae in Israel

Tetranychus urticae , the Two-Spotted Spider Mite (TSSM) is a plant pest causing serious economic damages in various crops worldwide. The main means of controlling TSSM in the field are based on chemical pesticides. The number of reports of pesticide resistance among populations of this pest has crowned it the pest resistant to the highest number of compounds worldwide. Pyridaben is one of the pesticides used against TSSM, it works by inhibiting complex I of the mitochondrial electron transport pathway. In the study, we examined three populations of TSSM with different genetic backgrounds, all with different resistance abilities to pyridaben. We focused on the underling mechanisms of resistance as well as possible fitness costs associated with the resistance. We show that resistance to pyridaben in the three populations is metabolic, and that high resistance abilities incur high fitness costs. Our data sheds light on the current situation of TSSM resistance to pyridaben in Israel.