Effect of abamectin on body protein content and activity of selected enzymes in adults of insecticide-resistant and-susceptible strains of Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

The effects of lc10 and lc20 of a biopesticide,abamectin,as a formulation (sure 1.8ec),were studied,in the laboratory on 10 days old adults of insecticide-resistant and -susceptible strains of red flour beetle,tribolium castaneum. the beetles were released on the biopesticide-treated glass petri dishes and exposed for 48 h. the surviving beetles were then homogenized in saline and centrifuged to analyes the various soluble biochemical components of whole body. the biopesticide affected the activities and levels of carboxylesterase (ce),total esterases (te),acid phosphatase (acp) total protein,and free amino acids (faa) in both the strains. however,in adults of resistant strain,the te and ce activities were inhibited with depletion of total protein contents and elevation of faa contents in both the doses. in susceptible strain,at lc10 the ce activity was increased with increase of soluble protein and depletion of total protein and faa contents,while at lc20,the te and ce activities were elevated and acp was inhibited with increase of total proteins. © 2012 zoological society of pakistan.