Inheritance and fitness costs associated with resistance to Bt corn by western corn rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte)

Management of western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte, often includes planting transgenic corn that produces one or more Cry toxins derived from Bacillus thuringiensis. Planting of Bt corn places a selective pressure on pest populations to evolve Bt resistance. Refuges of non-Bt corn function to delay the development, with greater delays expected when inheritance of resistance is recessive and fitness costs are associated with resistance.  Our research tests the inheritance of resistance and the associated fitness costs in strains of western corn rootworm with field-derived resistance to Cry3 corn.