Combined metabolic and target-site resistance mechanisms confer fipronil and deltamethrin resistance in field-collected German cockroaches (Blattodea: Ectobiidae)

Despite insecticide resistance issues, pyrethroids and fipronil have continued to be used extensively to control the German cockroach, Blattella germanica (L.) (Blattodea: Ectobiidae) for more than two decades. We evaluated the physiological insecticide resistance in five German cockroach populations collected from 2018 to 2020 and measured the extent of metabolic detoxification and target-site insensitivity resistance mechanisms. Topically applied doses of the 3 x LD95 of deltamethrin, fipronil, DDT, or dieldrin of a susceptible strain (UCR, Diagnostic Dose) failed to cause >23% mortality, and the 10 x LD95 of deltamethrin or fipronil failed to cause >53% mortality. All field-collected strains possessed a combination of metabolic and target-site insensitivity mechanisms that cause reduced susceptibility. Elevated activities of esterase and glutathione S-transferase were measured, and the synergists piperonyl butoxide or S,S,S-tributyl phosphorotrithioate increased topical mortality up to 100% for deltamethrin and 93% for fipronil 10 x LD95. The target-site mutations L993F of the para-homologous sodium channel and A302S of the GABA-gated chloride channel associated with pyrethroid and fipronil resistance, respectively, were found at similar to 80-100% frequency in field populations. Pyrethroid and fipronil spray formulations also were ineffective in a choice box assay against field-collected strains suggesting that these treatments would fail to control cockroaches under field conditions.