Repeated use of field corn (Zea mays L.) hybrids expressing the Cry3Bb1 and mCry3A traits
in Nebraska has selected for field-evolved resistance in some western corn rootworm (WCR;
Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte) populations. Therefore, this study was conducted to
characterize spatial variation in local WCR susceptibility to Cry3Bb1 and mCry3A traits in
Keith and Buffalo counties, Nebraska, and determine the relationship between past
management practices and current WCR susceptibility. Adult WCR populations were …

The western corn rootworm (WCR), Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte, is an
economically important pest species of field corn (Zea mays L.) in the US Corn Belt. Yield
losses and control costs exceed greater than $1 billion annually. Over the past 10+ years,
growers have adopted transgenic corn hybrids expressing rootworm-active Bacillus
thuringiensis (Bt) proteins as a primary WCR management tactic. Field-evolved resistance to
Cry3Bb1 and mCry3A proteins expressed in single-trait Bt hybrids has been confirmed in …