| Common name (Example trade names) |
Mode of action1 | Selectivity2 (affected groups) | Predatory mites3 | General predators4 | Parasites4 | Honey bees5 | Duration of impact to natural enemies6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| abamectin (Agri-Mek SC) | 6 | moderate (mites, leafminers) | M | L | M/H | I | long to predatory mites and affected insects |
| acephate (Orthene) | 1B | broad (insects, mites) | H | H | M/H | I | intermediate |
| acetamiprid (Assail) | 4A | moderate (sucking insects, larvae) | —7 | —8 | — | II | moderate |
| azadirachtin (AzaGuard, Neemix) | 18B | broad (insects, mites) | M | L/M | L/M | II | short |
| Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. aizawai | 11A | narrow (caterpillars) | L | L | L | II | short |
| Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. kurstaki | 11A | narrow (caterpillars) | L | L | L | III | short |
| Beauveria bassiana (Mycotrol) | — | broad (insects) | L | L/M | L | II | — |
| bifenthrin (Capture) | 3A | broad (insects, mites) | H | H | H | I | long |
| chlorantraniliprole (Coragen) | 28 | narrow (primarily caterpillars) | L | L | L/M | III | short |
| clothianidin (Belay) | 4A | — (lygus, aphids) | — | M/H | M/H | I | long |
| cyantraniliprole (Exirel) | 28 | narrow (thrips, leafminers) | — | — | — | — | short |
| cyfluthrin (Baythroid XL) | 3A | broad (insects, mites) | H | H | H | I | moderate |
| cyromazine (Trigard) | 17 | narrow (leafminers) | L | L | L | II | short |
| diazinon (WP, EC) | 1B | broad (insects, mites) | L | H | H | I | moderate to long |
| dimethoate (E) | 1B | broad (insects, mites) | H | H | H | I | long |
| dinotefuran (Venom) | 4A | narrow (sucking insects) | L | — | L | I | short |
| emamectin benzoate (Proclaim) | 6 | narrow (caterpillars) | — | — | — | I | — |
| esfenvalerate (Asana) | 3A | broad (insect, mites) | H | M | H | I | moderate |
| flonicamid (Beleaf) | 9C | narrow (aphids) | L | L | L | III | short |
| flupyradifurone (Sivanto) | 4D | narrow (aphids, leafhoppers) | — | — | — | I | — |
| imidacloprid (Admire Pro) | 4A | narrow (sucking insects, beet armyworms, cutworms) | — | L | L | I | — |
| indoxacarb (Avaunt) | 22 | narrow (caterpillars) | L | L | L | I | moderate |
| insecticidal soap (M-Pede) | — | broad (exposed insects, mites) | M | M | M | III | short |
| lambda-cyhalothrin (Warrior II) | 3A | broad (plant bugs, beetles, caterpillars) | H | H | H | I | moderate |
| malathion | 1B | broad (insects, mites) | M | H | H | I | moderate |
| methomyl (Lannate SP, LV) | 1A | broad (insects, mites) | H | H | H | I | moderate |
| methoxyfenozide (Intrepid 2F) | 18A | narrow (caterpillars) | L | L | L | II | short |
| permethrin (Pounce) | 3A | broad (insects, mites) | L | H | H | I | long |
| permethrin (Permethrin Cutworm Bait) | 3A | broad (insects, mites) | — | — | — | — | — |
| polyhedral occlusion bodies (OBs) of the nuclear polyhedrosis virus of Helicoverpa zea (Gemstar) | — | narrow (caterpillars) | — | — | — | — | — |
| polyhedral occlusion bodies (OBs) of the nuclear polyhedrosis virus of Spodoptera exigua (Spod-X) | — | narrow (caterpillars) | — | — | — | — | — |
| pymetrozine (Fulfill) | 9B | narrow (aphids, whiteflies) | L | L | L | II | short |
| spinetoram (Radiant) | 5 | narrow (caterpillars, thrips, whiteflies, aphids, leafminers) | L/H | M9 | L/M | II | moderate10 |
| spinosad (Success, Entrust) | 5 | narrow (caterpillars, whiteflies, aphids, leafminers) | L | M9 | L/M | II | moderate9 |
| spiromesifen (Oberon SC) | 23 | narrow (whiteflies) | — | — | — | II | — |
| spirotetramat (Movento) | 23 | narrow (aphids, whiteflies) | L | L | L | II | short |
| thiamethoxam (Actara, Platinum) | 4A | narrow (sucking insects) | — | — | M | I | moderate |
| zeta-cypermethrin (Mustang) | 3A | broad (insects, mites) | H | M | M | I | moderate |
| H = high M = moderate L = low — = no information | |
| 1 | Rotate chemicals 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 development of resistance. For example, the organophosphates have a group number of 1B; chemicals with a 1B group number should be alternated with chemicals that have a group number other than 1B. Mode-of-action group numbers 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. |
| 4 | Toxicities are averages of reported effects and should be used only as a general guide. Actual toxicity of a specific chemical 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 pesticide label and regulations; III–No bee precaution, except when required by the pesticide label or regulations. For more information, 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 | May cause flare-ups of spider mite numbers. |
| 8 | Acute toxicity low but reproductive capacity is impacted. |
| 9 | Toxic against some natural enemies (predatory thrips, syrphid fly larva, beetles) when sprayed and 5 to 7 days after, especially for syrphid fly larvae. |
| 10 | 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, ANR Publication 3386.