Artificial selection for emamectin benzoate resistance in the biological control agent Orius laevigatus

•Wild populations of Orius laevigatus varied in susceptibility to emamectin.•Four strains were selected for increased emamectin resistance for 41–47 generations.•All instars expressed resistance, without evidence of cross-resistance to abamectin.•Resistance remained stable for 18 generations without emamectin exposure.•Inhibitors of the detoxification enzymes failed to restore susceptibility.