Insecticide resistance in the bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera from Indonesia

Helicoverpa armigera collected from cotton growing areas of South Sulawesi, Indonesia in 1987 and early 1988 were resistant to cypermethrin. It is suggested that the 86‐fold resistance to cis‐cypermethrin in 1987 and the 65‐fold resistance to cis/trans‐cypermethrin in 1988 are consistent with this being a major cause of failure to control the insects in cotton in this area. The second laboratory generation showed a 20‐fold resistance to fenvalerate. The larvae collected in 1988 additionally had a 203‐fold resistance to DDT and a 5.6‐fold resistance to endosulfan. The results are discussed in relation to the fact that this is a further region in which Helicoverpa armigera has developed resistance to a number of pyrethroids.