Efforts have bcen made over the last several decades to develop natural enemies that are pesticide resistant with the goal of better integration of chemical and biological control. Genetically manipulated arthropod natural enemies have been used only a few times in IPM programs. Only one transgenic arthropod natural enemy has been released on an experimental basis , a transgenic strain of the predatory mite Metaseiulus occidentalis. while this approach may have potential for improving resistance to pesticides , as well as other traits of natural enemies , a variety of scientific , regulatory , and political issues remain to be resolved before trans genic arthropod natural enemies can be used in practical pest management programs. Meanwhile , traditional selective breeding programs attempting to develop pesticide resistant strains of beneficial insects continue to be explored. While some authors have advocated the use of resistant beneficial insects in IPM programs, it could be argued that this approach is counterproductive to the goals of IPM because it could ezncourage more pesticide use as with herbicide resistant soybean cultivars