Agriculture

Relative Toxicities of Insecticides and Miticides Used in Corn to Natural Enemies and Honey Bees

Updated: 08/2008

The Honey Bee Precaution Pesticide Ratings may differ from the pollinator precautionary statements on pesticide labels. These ratings come from the UC IPM Bee Precaution Pesticide Ratings and are developed independently from the Pest Management Guidelines. They are meant to provide supplementary information to help readers choose pesticides less hazardous to honey bee. For information about how these ratings are established, see Bee Precaution Pesticide Ratings Frequently Asked Questions. Users of pesticides must always comply with all label instructions and legal requirements, which represent the minimum precautions to protect honey bee.

Common name Example trade name Group Order MoA 1 Selectivity 2 Bees 3 Predatory mites 4 Predators 5 Parasitoids 5 Residue duration 6 Last updated 7
various products # 8

11A

narrow II low low low none 08/2008
various products # 8

11A

narrow III low low low none 08/2008
Sevin 5 Bait 8

1A

III low low low short 08/2008
*
Sevin XLR Plus 8

1A

broad I low high low long 08/2008
Poncho 600 1

4A

narrow I 08/2008
Dimethoate 400 8

1B

broad I high high high long 08/2008
*
Thionex 3EC 8

2A

broad II low moderate moderate short 08/2008
Asana XL 8

3A

broad I high moderate high moderate 08/2008
Avaunt 8

22A

narrow I low low moderate 08/2008
Malathion 8-E 8

1B

broad I high high high moderate 08/2008
*
Lannate SP 8

1A

broad I high high high moderate 08/2008
Intrepid 2F 8

18

narrow II low low low none 08/2008
various products # 8

UNM

broad II low low low none to short 08/2008
Ambush 25W 8

3A

broad I low high high long 08/2008
Comite 8

12C

narrow III moderate 8 low low short 08/2008
Radiant SC 8

5

narrow II low moderate 9 low/moderate moderate 10 08/2008
Entrust # 8

5

narrow II low moderate 9 low/moderate short to moderate 9 08/2008
Oberon 2 SC 8

23

narrow II 08/2008
Cruiser 5FS 1

4A

narrow I none to short 08/2008

Legend

No information.
I
Do not apply or allow to drift to plants that are flowering including weeds. Do not allow pesticide to contaminate water accessible to bees including puddles.
II
Do not apply or allow to drift to plants that are flowering including weeds, except when the application is made between sunset and midnight if allowed by the pesticide label and regulations. Do not allow pesticide to contaminate water accessible to bees including puddles.
III
No bee precaution, except when required by the pesticide label or regulations.
  • * a b c  Permit required from county agricultural commissioner for purchase or use.
  • # a b c d  Acceptable for use on certified organic crops. Check with your certifier to confirm before application.
  • 1 Group numbers for insecticides and miticides are assigned by the Insecticide Resistance Action Committee (IRAC). Insecticides with unknown modes of action are assigned mode-of-action group numbers (MoAs) that begin with UN. 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; insecticides with a 1B group number should be alternated with insecticides that have a group number other than 1B.
  • 2 Range of insect and mite groups affected by a pesticide. Broad means the pesticide affects most groups of insects and mites; narrow means the pesticide affects only a few specific groups.
  • 3 Risk of harm to honey bees. For more information, see Bee Precaution Pesticide Ratings.
  • 4 Risk of harm to predatory mites. Toxicities are generally 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 or native strain.
  • 5 a b Risk of harm to parasitoids and general predators. Toxicities are averages of reported effects and should be used only as a general guide. Actual toxicity of a specific insecticide depends on factors including the application rate, environmental conditions, and the life stage and species of a parasitoid or predator.
  • 6 Length of time residue affects natural enemies. Short means hours to days; moderate means days to 2 weeks; and long means many weeks or months.
  • 7 Date information was last updated in the UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines.
  • 8 Use lowest rates for best management of predatory mite to spider mite ratio.
  • 9 a b c Toxic to some natural enemies (lacewing and syrphid fly larvae, predatory beetles, and thrips) when sprayed and up to 5 to 7 days after.
  • 10 Residual is moderate if solution is between a pH of 7 and 8.
UC Peer Reviewed Logo

UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines: Corn
UC ANR Publication 3443

Authors and Credits