| Common name (Example trade name) |
Mode of Action1 | Selectivity2 (affected groups) |
Predatory Mites3 | General Predators4 | Parasites4 | Honey Bees5 | Duration of impact to natural enemies6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| abamectin (Agri-Mek) | 6 | moderate (mites, leafminers) | L | H | M/H | I | long to affected insects |
| abamectin (Clinch) | 6 | narrow (ants) | L | L | L | — | — |
| acequinocyl (Kanemite) | 20B | narrow (mites) | L | — | — | III | — |
| Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. kurstaki | 11A | narrow (caterpillars) | L | L | L | III | short |
| bifenazate (Acramite) | un | narrow (mites) | L | L | L | II | short |
| bifenthrin (Brigade) | 3A | broad (insects, mites) | H | H | H | I | long |
| buprofezin (Centaur) | 16 | narrow (sucking insects, beetles) | L | H7 | L | II | long |
| carbaryl (Sevin XLR Plus) | 1A | broad (insects, mites) | L/H | H | H | I | long |
| chlorantraniliprole (Altacor) | 28 | narrow (primarily caterpillars) | L | L | L/M | III | short |
| clofentezine (Apollo) | 10A | narrow (mites) | L | L | L | III | short |
| clothianidin | 4A | — | — | M/H | M/H | I | — |
| cyfluthrin (Baythroid) | 3A | broad (insects, mites) | H | H | H | I | moderate |
| diflubenzuron (Dimilin) | 15 | narrow (caterpillars) | L | H8 | L | II | — |
| emamectin benzoate (Proclaim) | 6 | narrow (caterpillars) | — | — | — | I | — |
| esfenvalerate (Asana) | 3A | broad (insects, mites) | H | M | H | I | moderate |
| etoxazole (Zeal) | 10B | narrow (mites) | —9 | — | — | II | very long to predatory mites |
| fenbutatin oxide (Vendex) | 12B | narrow (pest mites) | L | L | L | III | short |
| fenpropathrin (Danitol) | 3A | broad (insects, mites) | H | H | H | I | — |
| fenpyroximate (Fujimite) | 21A | narrow (mites and some insects) | H | L | L | III | very long to predatory mites |
| hexythiazox (Onager) | 10A | narrow (mites) | L | L | L | II | short to moderate |
| lambda-cyhalothrin (Warrior) | 3A | broad (plant bugs, beetles, caterpillars) | H | H | H | I | moderate |
| metaflumizone (Altrevin) | 22B | narrow (ants) | L | L | L | III | — |
| methoprene (Extinguish) | 7A | narrow (ants) | L | L | L | III | — |
| methoxyfenozide (Intrepid) | 18 | narrow (caterpillars) | L | L | L | II | none |
| petroleum oils | — | broad (exposed insects, mites) | L | L | L | II | short to none |
| phosmet (Imidan) | 1B | broad (insects, mites) | H | H | H | I | moderate to long |
| propargite (Omite) | 12C | narrow (pest mites) | M7 | L | L | III | short |
| pyriproxyfen (Seize) | 7C | narrow (scale, beetles) | L | H10 | L | II | long |
| pyriproxyfen (Esteem) | 7C | narrow (ants) | L | L | L | III | — |
| spinetoram (Delegate) | 5 | narrow (caterpillars, aphids, scales) | L/H | M11 | L/M | II | moderate12 |
| spinosad (Entrust, Success) | 5 | narrow (caterpillars, aphids, scales) | L/H | M11 | L/M | II | short to moderate |
| spirodiclofen (Envidor) | 23 | narrow (mites) | L | — | — | II | — |
| sulfur | — | narrow (mites and thrips) | L/H | M/L | H | III | short |
| H = high M = moderate L = low — = no information un = unknown or uncertain mode of action | |
| 1 | Rotate pesticides with a different mode-of-action group number, and do not use products with the same mode-of-action group number more than twice per season to help prevent the development of resistance. For example, the organophosphates have a group number of 1B; pesticides with a 1B group number should be alternated with pesticides that have a group number other than 1B. Mode-of-action group numbers (un=unknown or uncertain mode of action) are assigned by IRAC (Insecticide Resistance Action Committee). |
| 2 | Selectivity: broad means it affects most groups of insects and mites; narrow means it affects only a few specific groups. |
| 3 | Generally, toxicities are to western predatory mite, Galendromus occidentalis. Where differences have been measured in toxicity of the pesticide-resistant strain versus the native strain, these are listed as pesticide-resistant strain/native strain. |
| 4 | Toxicities are averages of reported effects and should be used only as a general guide. Actual toxicity of a specific pesticide depends on the species of predator or parasite, environmental conditions, and application rate. |
| 5 | Ratings are as follows: I–Do not apply or allow to drift to plants that are flowering; II–Do not apply or allow to drift to plants that are flowering, except when the application is made between sunset and midnight if allowed by the label and regulations; III–No bee precaution, except when required by the label or regulations. For more information about pesticide synergistic effects, see Bee Precaution Pesticide Ratings. |
| 6 | Duration: short means hours to days; moderate means days to 2 weeks; and long means many weeks or months. |
| 7 | Use lowest rates for best management of western predatory mite/spider mite ratio. |
| 8 | High toxicity to juvenile stages of predators and reduces fertility of adult green lacewings. |
| 9 | Acute toxicity low but reproductive capacity is impacted. |
| 10 | Kills lady beetles. |
| 11 | Toxic against some natural enemies (predatory thrips, syrphid fly larvae) when sprayed and shortly thereafter (8–24 hours). |
| 12 | Residual is moderate if solution is between pH of 7 to 8. |
Acknowledgments: This table was compiled based on research data and experience of University of California scientists who work on a variety of crops and contribute to the Pest Management Guideline database, and from Flint, M. L. and S. H. Dreistadt. 1998. Natural Enemies Handbook: An Illustrated Guide to Biological Pest Control, UC ANR Publication 3386.