Reducing Resistance Gene Frequency

The basic concept of resistance management is that resistance gene frequency in a given pest population can be prevented from rising by not selecting so rigorously with insecticides. There may be a number of ways to achieve such an objective  

Using low doses of insecticides—In doing so, plenty of susceptible phenotypes will be spared. The use of reduced application rates is also in line with current IPM programs. In the past, most spray schedules and label directions for insecticide use were found to be overprescribed because of the philosophy of pest eradication (Metcalf, 1980). It is now believed that an insecticide which kills 50% of the insect pest and none of its predators is more valuable than one which kills 95% of insect pests but at the same time eliminates their natural enemies. 

Using pesticides with short environmental persistence to reduce selection pressure. 

Reducing the extent of treatment—Treating only a certain proportion of the affected area to provide a refugia where susceptible individuals survive and reproduce. 

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