Author ORCID Identifier
Date Available
8-3-2025
Year of Publication
2025
Document Type
Master's Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
College
Agriculture, Food and Environment
Department/School/Program
Entomology
Faculty
Dr. Zachary C. DeVries
Faculty
Dr. Subba Reddi Palli
Abstract
German cockroaches (Blattella germanica L.) are one of the most prevalent and pervasive indoor pest species in the world. Infestations can lead to many negative impacts on humans, including sensitization to allergens, increase in asthmatic symptoms, mental health declines, and potentially, the spread of diseases. While insecticides remain the most effective and affordable option for German cockroach control, resistance to many commonly used insecticide active ingredients (AIs), such as pyrethroids, has been observed globally at high levels across different populations. Given such resistance to pyrethroids, inclusion of insecticides with alternative modes of action into insecticidal treatments could potentially improve cockroach control. Previous studies over the past decade have found relatively low levels of neonicotinoid resistance in German cockroaches despite the use of neonicotinoid-containing insecticidal products indoors since the late 1990’s. However, there is limited information available on the stability of neonicotinoid resistance in German cockroaches and what impacts, if any, resistance levels have on formulated product efficacy. In this study, we investigated German cockroach neonicotinoid resistance magnitude in populations collected from homes and businesses throughout the eastern United States, with a focus on the neonicotinoid dinotefuran. We also evaluated the efficacy of neonicotinoid-containing commercial products utilized for German cockroach control to determine the relationship between insecticide resistance and product performance. Furthermore, we evaluated changes in resistance as a result of selection pressure via sublethal insecticide exposure. Understanding German cockroach resistance to neonicotinoid AIs will facilitate better cockroach control, thereby improving human health and quality of life.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.13023/etd.2025.289
Funding Information
Hannah F. Blevins was supported by the Pi Chi Omega Founders Endowment Scholarship in 2024, the Entomological Society of America MUVE Student Recognition Award in Urban Entomology in 2024, and the Pest Management Foundation Arrow Exterminators Scholarship in 2025.
This work was funded in part by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Healthy Homes Program (KYHHU0061-20 and KYHHU0090-24) and The Bill Gatton Foundation. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the sponsors.
Recommended Citation
Blevins, Hannah F., "DINOTEFURAN RESISTANCE IN THE GERMAN COCKROACH (BLATTELLA GERMANICA L.)" (2025). Theses and Dissertations--Entomology. 91.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/entomology_etds/91
