Diamide insecticides: Global efforts to address insect resistance stewardship challenges

Abstract

The diamides are the most recent addition to the limited number of insecticide classes with specific target site activity that are highly efficacious, control a wide pest spectrum, and have a favorable toxicological profile. Currently available diamide insecticides include chlorantraniliprole and flubendiamide, with cyantraniliprole already being sold in some countries as launch progresses. Flubendiamide, the first diamide insecticidal compound, was discovered by Nihon Nohyaku and co-developed with Bayer. Shortly after, DuPont introduced chlorantraniliprole and cyantraniliprole, which are commercialized by DuPont and Syngenta. Thus, collaboration among companies is critical to prevent or delay the evolution of insect resistance since the four companies competitively sell multiple brands from this novel insecticide class worldwide. In addition, due to the value provided by the diamides, growers are rapidly adopting these products at the risk of excluding the use of alternate-chemistry insecticides in resistance management rotation schemes. DuPont commercializes chlorantraniliprole and cyantraniliprole under the technical trade names Rynaxypyr® and Cyazypyr™ and has a major interest in preserving diamide efficacy. Therefore, DuPont is actively engaged, alone and together with the other companies, in multiple insecticide resistance management activities worldwide, which are the focus of this review.