1. UC IPM
  2. Agriculture
  3. Spinach
  4. Relative Toxicities of Pesticides Used in Spinach to Natural Enemies and Honey Bees
Agriculture: Spinach Pest Management Guidelines

Relative Toxicities of Pesticides Used in Spinach to Natural Enemies and Honey Bees

Common name (Example trade name) Mode of Action1 Selectivity2 (affected groups) Predatory mites3 General predators4 Parasite4 Honey bees5 Duration of impact to natural enemies6
Acetamiprid (Assail) 4A moderate (sucking insects, larvae) —7 —8 — II moderate
Azadirachtin (Aza-Direct, Neemix) un 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
Chlorantraniliprole (Coragen) 28 narrow (primarily caterpillars) L L L/M III short
Cyromazine (Trigard) 17 narrow (leafminers) L L L II short
Diazinon–foliar 1B broad (insects, mites) L H H I moderate to long
Diazinon–granular 1B narrow (soil insects) L L L III short
Imidacloprid (Admire) 4A narrow (sucking insects, beet armyworm, cutworms) — L — I —
Imidacloprid (Provado) 4A narrow (sucking insects) — — H I short to moderate
Insecticidal soap (M-Pede) un broad (exposed insects, mites) M M M III short
Methomyl (Lannate) 1A broad (insects, mites) H H H I moderate
Methoxyfenozide (Intrepid) 18 narrow (caterpillars) L L L II short
Permethrin (Ambush) 3A broad (insects, mites) L H H I long
Pymetrozine (Fulfill) 9B narrow (aphids) L L L II short
Spinetoram (Radiant) 5 narrow (caterpillars, aphids, leafminers) L/H M9 L/M II moderate10
Spinosad (Entrust, Success) 5 narrow (caterpillars, aphids, leafminers) L M9 L/M II short to moderate
Spirotetramat (Movento) 23 narrow (primarily aphids) L L L II short
Thiodicarb (Larvin) 1A narrow (caterpillars) L L L II —
Zeta-cypermethrin (Mustang) 3A broad (insects, mites) H M M I moderate
H = high     M = moderate    L = low    — = no information   un = unknown or uncertain mode of action
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 the 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 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 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 May cause flare-ups of spider mite populations.
8 Does not kill adults but sterilizes females.
9 Toxic against some natural enemies (predatory thrips, syrphid fly and lacewing larvae, beetles) when sprayed and up to 5-7 days after, especially for syrphid fly larvae.
10 Residual is moderate if solution is between ph of 7 to 8.

Acknowledgements: 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.

Text Updated: 12/09
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