Image credit: Olaf Leillinger

Diamondback Moth

Plutella xylostella

P. xylostella is a highly migratory, cosmopolitan species and one of the most important pest of cruciferous crops worldwide. Globally, direct losses and control costs are estimated to be US$ 1 billion. In temperate regions, P.…

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P. xylostella is a highly migratory, cosmopolitan species and one of the most important pest of cruciferous crops worldwide. Globally, direct losses and control costs are estimated to be US$ 1 billion. In temperate regions, P. xylostella are unable to overwinter and therefore annual outbreaks are attributed to migration, but in tropical and subtropical regions there can be a large number of continuous generations per year. P. xylostella is considered to be one of the most difficult pests to control and for many years continuous insecticide applications have been the main tool with the result that today this species shows resistance to almost all insecticides, including recently introduced compounds with new modes of action.

Distribution map for Diamondback Moth
Global distribution of diamondback moth

Resistance status

Several biochemical mechanisms are described as conferring resistance to insecticides in P. xylostella. Many of these mechanisms listed below act in concert and can provide resistance factors of 1000-fold or greater. 1. Enhanced metabolic detoxification mechanisms:…

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Several biochemical mechanisms are described as conferring resistance to insecticides in P. xylostella. Many of these mechanisms listed below act in concert and can provide resistance factors of 1000-fold or greater.

1. Enhanced metabolic detoxification mechanisms:

Microsomal monooxygenases – different forms of cytochrome P450 play a major role in P. xylostella resistance to pyrethroids, organophosphates, abamectin and benzoylphenyl ureas.
Glutathione S-transferases – for example reported to confer organophosphate resistance
Carboxylesterases – involved in resistance to organophosphates and other chemical classes of insecticides

2. Insensitive acetylcholinesterase – proven to play a role in P. xylostella resistance development to organophosphates and carbamates.

3. Reduced Cry1C binding to target site in midgut membrane and reduced conversion of Cry1C protoxin to toxin – factors in resistance development to Bacillus thuringiensis protein Cry1C.

4. Knock-down resistance – mutation(s) in voltage-gated sodium channels providing pyrethroid resistance.

5. Other mechanisms – include modified GABA-gated chloride channels and reduced penetration.

Key resources

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Key references

Key references
ReferenceYearAuthorsPublisher
Dominant Inheritance of Field-Evolved Resistance to Fipronil in Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae)Vol. 109 (1), pp. 334-338. DOI: doi.org/10.1093/jee/tov317 2016Wang X, Wu S, Gao W, Wu YJournal of Economic Entomology
Geographic spread, genetics and functional characteristics of ryanodine receptor based target-site resistance to diamide insecticides in diamondback moth, Plutella xylostellaVol. 63, pp.14-22. DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2015.05.001 2015Steinbach D, Gutbrod O, Lümmen P, Matthiesen S, Schorn C, Nauen RInsect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Frequencies of the M918I mutation in the sodium channel of the diamondback moth in China, Thailand and Japan and its association with pyrethroid resistanceVol. 102 (2), pp. 142-145. DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2011.12.005 2012Sonoda S, Shi X, Song D, Zhang Y, Li J, Wu G, Liu Y, Li M, Liang P, Wari D, Matsumura M, Minakuchi C, Tanaka T, Miyata T, Gao XPesticide Biochemistry and Physiology
Expand referencesCollapse references
Key references
ReferenceYearAuthorsPublisher
Insecticide resistance in populations of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), from the state of Pernambuco, Brazil.Vol 40 (2), DOI: 10.1590/S1519-566X2011000200017 2011Santos VC, de Siqueira HAA, da Silva JE, de Farias MJDCNeotropical Entomology
Resistance to emamectin benzoate in Plutella xylostella collected from different geographic locationsVol. 4 (1) pp. 168-171 2011Patil SS, Ugale TB, Lande GK, Barkhade UPInternational Journal of Plant Protection
Widespread pyrethroid resistance in Australian diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.), is related to multiple mutations in the para sodium channel geneVol. 101 (4), pp 393-405. DOI: 10.1017/S0007485310000684 2011Endersby NM, Viduka K, Baxter SW, Saw JBulletin of Entomological Research
Current control methods for diamondback moth and other brassica insect pests and the prospects for improved management with lepidopteran-resistant Bt vegetable brassicas in Asia and AfricaVol 29 (1) pp. 68-79, DOI: 10.1016/j.cropro.2009.08.009 2010Grzywacz D, Rossbach A, Rauf A, Russell DA, Srinivasan R, Shelton AMCrop Protection
Alternatively spliced sodium channel transcripts expressed in field strains of the diamondback mothVol. 38 (9), pp. 883-890. DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2008.06.006 2008Sonoda S, Igaki C, Tsumuki HInsect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Investigation of resistance mechanisms to fipronil in diamondback moth (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae)Vol. 99(3):914-9. 2006Li A, Yang Y, Wu S, Li C, Wu YJournal of Economic Entomology
Monitoring of diamondback moth (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) resistance to spinosad, indoxacarb, and emamectin benzoateVol. 99(1):176-81, DOI: 10.1603/0022-0493(2006)099[0176:MODMLP]2.0.CO;2 2006Zhao JZ, Collins HL, Li YX, Mau RF, Thompson GD, Hertlein M, Andaloro JT, Boykin R, Shelton AMJournal of Economic Entomology
High-altitude migration of the diamondback moth Plutella xylostella to the U.K.: a study using radar, aerial netting, and ground trappingVol. 27 (6) pp 641-650, DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2311.2002.00472.x 2002Chapman Jw, Reynolds DR, Smith AD, Riley JR, Pedgley DE, Woiwod IPEcological Entomology
Binding and toxicity of Bacillus thuringiensis protein Cry1C to susceptible and resistant diamondback moth (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae).Vol. 93(1):1-6 2000Liu YB, Tabashnik BE, Masson L, Escriche B, Ferré JJournal of Economic Entomology
Toxicological, Electrophysiological, and Molecular Characterisation of Knockdown Resistance to Pyrethroid Insecticides in the Diamondback Moth, Plutella xylostella(L.)Vol. 59 (3), pp. 169-182. DOI: 10.1006/pest.1998.2320 1998Schuler TH, Martinez-Torres D, Thompson AJ, Denholm I, Devonshire AL, Duce IR, Williamson MSPesticide Biochemistry and Physiology
Detoxifying Enzymes of Selected Insect Species with Chewing and Sucking HabitsVol. 83 (2) pp 361-365, DOI: 10.1093/jee/83.2.361 1990Hung CF, Kao CH, Liu CC, Lin JG, Sun CNJournal of Economic Entomology

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