Use of the synergist piperonyl butoxide slows the development of insecticide resistance in the whitefly Bemisia tabaci

In the current study we examined the speed of resistance development in the silverleaf whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, after selection with either a neonicotinoid (thiacloprid) or pyrethroid (alpha-cypermethrin) insecticide alone or in combination with PBO. We used one control sample with no selection, 2 samples for neonicotinoid (thiacloprid) and Pyrethroid treatment and 2 samples for neonicotinoid (thiacloprid) + PBO and Pyrethroid + PBO treatments. The findings of this study demonstrate that PBO used in combination with certain insecticides can suppress the development of resistance in a laboratory setting.