Resistance Management

What is Resistance?

Resistance is a biological mechanism for survival of the species. Resistance occurs when an organism develops the ability to withstand the effects of a harmful agent. Resistance or tolerance is a trait that can and usually is inherited by future generations. The most common type of resistance is genetic, where the organism develops ways to detoxify the harmful agent. Resistance can develop through several routes. Constant or chronic exposure or through sublethal dosing are two for the most common ways that accelerate tolerance in a population. Genetic resistance can sometimes be overcome by eliminating exposure to the chemical. This may take many generations or even years to overcome. Once a population has become tolerant again, care must be taken not to expose them to the formerly tolerant agent for prolonged periods, as the tolerance could return and possibly at higher incidence.

Few conventional chemistries are immune to the potential for resistance development. Resistance develops by selecting out the individuals that are susceptible to the agent leaving the more tolerant individuals to reproduce. Eventually, the entire population becomes tolerant to the control agent. Resistance development can be contained or possibly eliminated by proper management of mite control tools. An integrated approach is an option to stave off the resistance quagmire. In an integrated program other tools are used in conjunction with traditional mite control materials. The most important tool when managing resistance is to rotate mite control agents that have different modes of action such as Hivastan^® and Apistan^®.