Developing tool to detect insecticide resistance in the carrot weevil

Description

The carrot weevil, Listronotus oregonensis (Leconte; Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is an insect pest that causes significant damage to carrot and celery crops. A recent study demonstrated that at least one Ontario population of carrot weevils was resistant to the organophosphate, phosmet. In Quebec, the number of applications targeting the weevil has been increasing for several years, now reaching up to five applications during a season. The loss of effectiveness of insecticides approved for several years is one of the factors that may explain the difficulty in controlling the carrot weevil, which is on the list of Quebec pests suspected of resistance to insecticides. In order to avoid the development of resistance in several farms in Quebec for phosmet or other active ingredients, it is important to obtain diagnostic tools for this pest.

Objective(s)

The objective of this project is to develop diagnostic tools for resistance to insecticides in the carrot weevil in natural populations in Quebec through bioassays and the identification of resistance genes.

More specifically, the project aims to:

1. Identify resistance to insecticides present in carrot weevil populations in Quebec;
2. Develop a molecular resistance diagnostic tool for the carrot weevil;
3. Validate molecular tools with natural populations in Quebec;
4. Transfer the methodology to the MAPAQ phytoprotection expertise and diagnosis laboratory.