ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the evolution of insecticide resistance in insects along with quantitative techniques for measuring resistance and resistance inheritance. It deals with the biological and operational factors affecting resistance development, and the development of a resistance management program. The most important reason for possible field failures is the evolution of resistance in insects to insecticides. Resistance is the ability in individuals of a species to withstand doses of toxic substances that would be lethal to the majority of individuals in a normal population. The number of generations required to develop resistance varies with the insecticide selection pressure, the genetic makeup of the insect, insect species, insect stage, and the environment. Characterizing resistance using dose-mortality tests is time consuming, because insects have to be collected and reared in the laboratory, and large number of insects is required for testing. Resistance evaluation procedures that simulate actual exposure of insects to insecticides in the field are needed.
