| 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 (leafminers, mites, thrips) | M | L | M/H | I | moderate to predatory mites and affected insects |
| azadirachtin (AzaGuard) | un | broad (insects, mites) | M | L/M | L/M | II | short |
| Beauveria bassiana (Mycotrol) | — | broad (insects) | L | L/M | L | II | — |
| clothianidin/imidacloprid (Sepresto 75 WS) | 4A | broad (insects) | — | L/M | L/M | I | — |
| cyromazine (Trigard) | 17 | narrow (leafminers) | L | L | L | II | none |
| methomyl (Lannate) | 1A | broad (insects, mites) | H | H | H | I | moderate |
| spinetoram (Radiant SC) | 5 | narrow (aphids, caterpillars, leafminers, scales, thrips, whiteflies) | M | M8 | L/M | II | moderate7 |
| spinosad (Entrust, Success) | 5 | narrow (leafminers, thrips) | M | M8 | L/M | II | short to moderate |
| spinosad (Lumiverd) | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| spinosad/thiamethoxam
(FarMore) |
5/4A | broad (insects) | — | — | — | — | — |
| spirotetramat (Movento) | 23 | narrow (aphids, psyllids, scales, whiteflies) | L | L | L | II | short |
| H = high M = moderate L = low — = no information un = unknown or uncertain mode of action | |
| 1 | Rotate insecticides 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; insecticides with a 1B group number should be alternated with insecticides 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 insecticide depends on factors including the application rate, environmental conditions, and life stage and species of the parasite or predator. |
| 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 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 | Residual is moderate if solution is between pH of 7 to 8. |
| 8 | Toxic against some natural enemies (predatory beetles, lacewing larvae, syrphid fly larvae, and predatory thrips) when sprayed and up to 5 to 7 days after, especially for syrphid fly larvae. |
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.