Clofentezine and fenbutatin oxide resistance in the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) from deciduous fruit tree orchards in Western Australia

The resistance status of Tetranychus urticae Koch to the miticides clofentezine and fenbutatin oxide was investigated in deciduous fruit tree orchards in Western Australia. Mites were collected from 30 orchards across three fruit growing regions and subjected to discriminating-dose assays. There was a significant relationship between clofentezine (V=0.64) and fenbutatin oxide (V=0.44) use and the proportion of resistant mites in each sample. Improved clofentezine models were obtained when the Perth Hills region (V=0.90) was modelled separately from Donnybrook and Manjimup (V=0.80). Clofentezine could be expected to fail in the latter regions after four sprays and in the former region after only one spray. The relatively low pest status of T. urticae in Western Australia did not delay the clofentezine resistance. For any given number of spray applications the response of T. urticae to fenbutatin oxide was more variable than it was to clofentezine.