In recent years, there has been severe outbreaks of insecticide–resistant diamondback moth (DBM), Plutella xylostella, in Cole crops, such as cabbage, collards, leafy greens, broccoli and cauliflower, in the South Eastern United States.

The basis of DBM insecticide resistance is dependent on specific genetic mutations which can vary among different populations. We estimate that annual losses from this problem exceeded 10% of the Farm-gate value of this crop group valued at $102 million in 2017 or -$10.2 million in Georgia alone.

We are currently providing better regional documentation of insecticide resistance based on rapid, field-specific resistance monitoring methods to support short-term pest control decisions and regionally based insecticide resistance management (IRM). We are also coordinating with the Cooperative Extension Service for the insecticide resistance monitoring to not only warn growers of resistance levels in their specific fields, but also to increase the understanding of how regional DBM resistance outbreaks occur in vegetable crop systems in the South Eastern U.S.