From owner-drosophila@net.bio.net Thu Feb 01 22:00:00 1996 Path: biosci!ene.engg.upd.edu.ph!bolivs From: bolivs@ene.engg.upd.edu.ph ("Benjamin J. Bolival") Newsgroups: bionet.drosophila Subject: Re: Gall Midge Date: 2 Feb 1996 01:19:15 -0800 Organization: BIOSCI International Newsgroups for Molecular Biology Lines: 40 Sender: daemon@net.bio.net Distribution: world Message-ID: References: <4epk1s$eb3@newsbf02.news.aol.com> NNTP-Posting-Host: net.bio.net On 1 Feb 1996, Mannoman wrote: > > I'm looking for a way to eradicate the critters from a home. They seem to > resist commercial pesticides. > > > Ted > Hello Ted, There are many mechanisms involved in insecticide resistance. They can be generally grouped into three (according to RA Morton's classification in Genome 1993): metabolic resistance, target resistance, and exposure resistance. Metabolic resistance involves the action of detoxication enzymes that convert nonpolar insecticides into polar forms that are less harmful and can be easily excreted. Target resistance involves changes in the insecticide's targets in the insects' bodies which render them less susceptible to insecticidal action. Exposure resistance involves decreased insecticide penetration through the cuticle and certain behavior that makes them avoid insecticides. In order to overcome insecticide resistance, you may either use a combination of different forms (like combine an organophosphate with a pyrethroid) or switch to another insecticide (like if all the previous brands you used were organophosphates and carbamates, you can try using a pyrethroid) or you can try to use a brand that includes synergists (chemicals that inhibit detoxication enzymes) in its formulation. I do hope this was of help, Benjamin j. Bolival, Jr. Natural Sciences Research Institute University of the Philippines, Diliman 1101 Quezon City, Philippines email: nsri@nicole.upd.edu.ph bolivs@ene.engg.upd.edu.ph .