This table summarizes the relative effects of insecticides and miticides (acaricides) on parasites and predators (natural enemies) and honey bees. See Best Management Practices to Protect Bees from Pesticides and Protecting Natural Enemies and Pollinators for more information.
| Common name (Example trade name) | Mode of Action1 | Selectivity (affected groups)2 | Predatory Mites3, 4 | Predators, other4 | Parasites4 | Duration of impact on natural enemies5 | Honey Bees6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| abamectin (Avid) | 6 | intermediate (leafminers, mites, thrips, whiteflies) | M | H | H | long | I |
| abamectin/S-methoprene bait (TruFin Ant Bait) | 6/7A | narrow (certain ants) | none | L11 | none | none | III |
| acephate (Acephate) | 1B | broad (insects, mites) | H | H | H | intermediate | I |
| acetamiprid (TriStar) | 4A | broad (insects) | L–M7 | H | H | long | II |
| azadirachtin (Azatin) (Ornazin) | — | broad (insects, mites) | L–M | M | M–H | short | II |
| Bacillus thuringiensis spp. aizawai (Xentari) | 11A | narrow (caterpillars, larvae of butterflies and moths) | none | none | L | none | II |
| Bacillus thuringiensis spp. israelensis (Gnatrol) | 11A | narrow (larvae of certain flies e.g., fungus gnats, mosquitoes) | none | none | none | none | III |
| Bacillus thuringiensis spp. kurstaki (Deliver) | 11A | narrow (caterpillars, larvae of butterflies and moths) | none | none | none | none | III |
| Beauveria bassiana
(BotaniGard, Mycotrol) |
— | narrow (aphids, lygus bugs, whiteflies) | L | L8 | L | short | II |
| bifenazate (Floramite) | 20D | narrow (mites) | M | L | none | intermediate | II |
| bifenthrin (Attain, Talstar) | 3A | broad (insects, mites) | H | H | H | long | I |
| borate (Revenge Granular Ant Bait) | 8D | narrow (ground-dwelling invertebrates including ants, crickets) | none | L11 | none | short | III |
| buprofezin (Talus) | 16 | narrow (leafhoppers, mealybugs, sharpshooters, soft scales, whiteflies) | L9 | L10 | none | intermediate | II |
| carbaryl foliar* (Carbaryl 4L) | 1A | broad (insects, mites) | H7 | H | H | long | I |
| chlorantraniliprole (Acelepryn) | 28 | intermediate (aphids, clearwing moths, lace bugs, leaf-feeding caterpillars, root-feeding grubs) | L | L | L–M | short | III |
| chlorfenapyr (Pylon) | 13 | narrow (leafminers, mites) | L | L | M | intermediate | II |
| cinnamaldehyde (Cinnacure) | — | intermediate (aphids, mites, thrips) | L | L | L | short | III |
| Cryptolaemus montrouzieri (mealybug destroyer) | — | narrow (ovisac-forming mealybugs and scales) | none | none | none | none | III |
| cyantraniliprole (Mainspring GNL) | 28 | intermediate (caterpillars, leafminers, sucking insects) | L | L | L | short | I |
| cyfluthrin (Decathlon) | 3A | broad (insects, mites) | H | H | H | intermediate | I |
| cyfluthrin/imidacloprid (Discus) | 3A/4A | broad (insects, mites) | H | H | H | long | I |
| cyromazine (Citation) | 17 | narrow (fungus gnats, leafminers, shore flies) | L | M | none | short | II |
| diazinon (Diazinon AG500) | 1B | broad (insects, mites) | H | H | H | intermediate to long | I |
| diflubenzuron (Adept) | 15 | narrow (fungus gnats) | L | M | L | intermediate | II |
| dinotefuran (Safari) | 4A | broad (insects) | L | M | M | long | I |
| etoxazole (Eschaton) | 10B | narrow (mites) | — | — | — | — | — |
| fenazaquin (Magus) | 21A | narrow (mites) | M | — | — | — | I |
| fenpropathrin (Tame) | 3A | broad (insects, mites) | H | H | H | intermediate | I |
| fenpyroximate (Akari) | 21A | narrow (mites) | M | L | M | short to intermediate | III |
| flonicamid (Aria) | 29 | intermediate (sucking insects) | L | L | L | short | III |
| flupyradifurone (Altus) | 4D | broad (insects) | L | M | H | intermediate | II |
| Heterorhabditis spp. (entomopathogenic nematodes) | — | narrow (soil-dwelling insects) | none | L | none | short | III |
| hexythiazox (Hexygon) | 10A | narrow (mite immatures) | M | L | L | long | II |
| imidacloprid, soil (Marathon) | 4A | broad (insects, mites) | L7 | L | M | long | I |
| Isaria fumosorosea (Ancora) | — | narrow (certain insects) | L | L | L | short | II |
| lambda-cyhalothrin (Scimitar) | 3A | broad (insects) | H | H | H | intermediate | I |
| malathion (Malathion 8) | 1B | broad (insects, mites) | M | H | H | intermediate | I |
| metaflumizone bait (Siesta) | 22B | narrow (certain ants) | none | L | none | intermediate | III |
| metam sodium* (Vapam) | 8F | broad (soilborne fungi, soil-dwelling insects, nematodes, mites, weeds) | L | M | L | short | III |
| Metarhizium anisopliae (MET 52) | — | broad (insects, mites) | L | L | L | short | III |
| Methiocarb (Mesurol 75-W) | 1A | — | — | — | — | ||
| methoxyfenozide (Intrepid 2F) | 18 | narrow (caterpillars) | L | L | L | short | II |
| narrow-range oil
(JMS Stylet Oil, Organic JMS Stylet Oil) |
— | broad (insects, mites) | M | M | L | short | II |
| neem oil (Triact 70, Trilogy) | — | intermediate (exposed insects) | M | M | M | short | II |
| novaluron (Pedestal) | 15 | broad (caterpillars, leafminers, lygus bugs, thrips, whiteflies) | L | M–H | M | intermediate | I |
| permethrin (Perm-UP 25 DF) | 3A | broad (insects, mites) | H | H | H | long | I |
| polybutene (Tanglefoot) | — | narrow (ants, certain other flightless insects) | L | L | L | long | III |
| potassium salts of fatty acids (M-Pede) | — | broad (insects, mites) | L | L | L | short | III |
| pymetrozine (Endeavor) | 9B | narrow aphids, whiteflies) | L | L | M | short | II |
| pyrethrins (PyGanic) | 3A | broad (insects, mites) | M | M | H | short | I |
| pyrethrins/PBO12 (Pyrethrum TR) | 3A/— | broad (insects) | M | H | H | short | I |
| pyridaben (Sanmite) | 21A | narrow (mites) | H | M | H | intermediate | I |
| pyridalyl (Overture) | — | narrow (caterpillars, thrips) | L | — | — | — | — |
| pyrifluquinazon (Rycar) | 9B | intermediate (sucking insects) | L | — | — | — | — |
| pyriproxyfen (Distance) | 7C | intermediate (aphids, armored scales, fungus gnats, leafminers, shore fly, soft scales, whiteflies) | L | H | M | long | II |
| pyriproxyfen bait (Distance) | 7C | narrow (certain ants) | none | L | none | intermediate | III |
| S-Kinoprene (Enstar) | 7A | intermediate (immature insects) | none | M | none | short | III |
| spinosad (Conserve SC, Entrust Naturalyte, Entrust SC) | 5 | intermediate (caterpillars, leafminers, thrips) | M | M13 | H | intermediate | II |
| spiromesifen (Savate) | 23 | narrow (mites, whiteflies) | — | — | — | — | II |
| spirotetramat (Kontos) | 23 | intermediate (sucking insects, mites) | L | L | L | short | II |
| Steinernema spp. (entomopathogenic nematodes) | — | narrow (fungus gnats, soil-dwelling insects and larvae and pupae of certain other insects) | none | L | none | short | III |
| sulfur dust (various products) | — | intermediate (mites) | M | L–M | M | intermediate | III |
| sulfur wettable (various products) | — | intermediate (mites) | L–M | L | L | short | III |
| tau-fluvalinate (Mavrik) | 3A | broad (insects, mites) | H | H | H | long | I |
| Tebufenozide (Confirm 2F) | 18 | narrow (caterpillars) | L | L | L | short | II |
| thiamethoxam, foliar (Flagship) | 4A | broad (insects) | M | M–H | H | long | I |
| thiamethoxam, systemic (Flagship) | 4A | broad (insects) | L | L | M | long | I |
| tolefenpyrad (Hachi-Hachi) | 21A | broad (insects) | — | — | — | — | I |
| Relative adverse effect: H = high, or medium to high M = medium, or low to medium L = low or none | |
| — = Information not available or not presented | |
| 1 | To prevent the development of resistance, rotate pesticides with a different mode-of-action group number, and do not use products with the same mode of action more than twice per season, especially if they target the same, or successive, generations of a pest. For example, 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 for acaricides (miticides), insecticides, nematicides, and molluscicides are assigned by the Insecticide Resistance Action Committee (IRAC). |
| 2 | Selectivity: Broad means the pesticide affects most groups of insects and mites. Narrow means the pesticide affects only one or a few specific groups. |
| 3 | Toxicities generally are to western predatory mite, Galendromus occidentalis. |
| 4 | Toxicities are averages of reported effects and should be used only as a general guide. Actual toxicity of a specific pesticide can vary depending on factors including application rate, environmental conditions, and the life stage and species of parasite or predator. |
| 5 | Duration: Long means many weeks or months. Intermediate (medium) means days to 2 weeks.Short means hours to days. |
| 6 | Honey bees, guidance on how to avoid bee poisoning: |
| 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. | |
| 7 | May cause an increase in spider mites. |
| 8 | Toxic to (infects and kills) soil-dwelling predators e.g., predaceous ground beetles and certain spiders. |
| 9 | Use lowest rates for best management of predatory mite/spider mite ratio. |
| 10 | Kills lady beetles and other predatory beetles. |
| 11 | Toxic to ground-dwelling predators including predaceous ground beetles and rove beetles e.g., Dalotia =Atheta spp. |
| 12 | PBO = piperonyl butoxide |
| 13 | Toxic to certain natural enemies (lacewing and syrphid fly larvae, predatory beetles and thrips) when sprayed and up to 5 to 7 days after, especially for syrphid fly larvae. |
| * | Permit required from county agricultural commissioner for purchase or use. |
| # | Acceptable for use on organically grown ornamentals. |
Sources: Bee Precaution Pesticide Ratings; Croft BA. 1990. Arthropod Biological Control Agents and Pesticides. Wiley, New York; Data mining of the 2018 University of California, Integrated Pest Management Pest Management Guidelines (UC IPM PMGs); Hassan SA. et al. 1994. Results of the Sixth Joint Pesticide Testing Programme of the IOBC/WPRS Working Group–Pesticides and Beneficial Organisms. Entomophaga 39:107–119; Jepson PC. 1989. Pesticides and Non-target Invertebrates. Wimborne. Dorset, UK; Orchard Pesticide Effects on Natural Enemies Database (OPENED); International Organisation for Biological and Integrated Control - West Palearctic Region Section IOBC-WPRS Pesticide Side Effect Database; Sterk G. et al. 1999. Results of the Seventh Joint Pesticide Testing Programme Carried Out by the IOBC/WPRS-Working Group Pesticides and Beneficial Organisms. BioControl 44 (1): 99–117.