| 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) | M | L | M/H | I | long to predatory mites and affected insects |
| acequinocyl (Kanemite) | 20B | narrow (mites) | —7 | — | — | III | — |
| acetamiprid (Assail) | 4A | moderate (sucking insects) | —8 | —7 | — | II | moderate |
| azadirachtin (AzaGuard, Neemix) | un | broad (insects, mites) | M | L/M | L/M | II | short |
| Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. aizawai (Agree, Xentari) | 11A | narrow (caterpillars) | L/M | L/M | L | II | short |
| Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. kurstaki (Deliver, Dipel) | 11A | narrow (caterpillars) | L | L | L | III | short |
| Beauveria bassiana (BotaniGard) | — | broad (insects, mites) | — | — | — | II | — |
| bifenazate (Acramite) | 20D | narrow (spider mites) | L | L | L | II | short |
| bifenthrin (Brigade) | 3A | broad (insects, mites) | H | H | H | I | long |
| Burkholderia rinojensis (Venerate) | — | broad (insects, mites) | — | — | — | — | — |
| carbaryl, bait (Sevin Bait) | 1A | narrow (armyworms, cutworms, grasshoppers) | L | L | L | I | short |
| chlorantraniliprole (Coragen) | 28 | narrow (primarily caterpillars) | L | L | L/M | III | short |
| Chromobacterium subtsugae (Grandevo) | — | broad (insects, mites) | — | — | — | — | — |
| diazinon | 1B | broad (insects, mites) | L | H | H | I | moderate to long |
| etoxazole (Zeal) | 10B | narrow (mites) | H7 | L | — | II | short |
| fenbutatin oxide (Vendex) | 12B | narrow (pest mites) | L | L | L | III | short |
| fenpropathrin (Danitol) | 3A | broad (insects, mites) | H | H | H | I | — |
| fenpyroximate (FujiMite 5SC) | 21A | narrow (mites, some insects | H | L | L | III | short |
| hexythiazox (Savey) | 10A | narrow (mites) | M | L | L | II | short to moderate |
| imidacloprid (Admire) | 4A | narrow (beet armyworm, cutworms, sucking insects) | — | L | — | I | — |
| insecticidal soap (M-Pede) | — | broad (exposed insects, mites) | L | L | L | III | short |
| Isaria fumosorosea (Pfr-97) | — | broad (insects, mites) | — | — | — | — | short |
| malathion | 1B | broad (insects, mites) | M | H | H | I | moderate |
| Metarhizium brunneum (Met52) | broad (insects, mites) | — | — | — | — | — | |
| methomyl (Lannate) | 1A | broad (insects, mites) | H | H | H | I | moderate |
| methoxyfenozide (Intrepid) | 18 | narrow (caterpillars) | L | L | L | II | short |
| naled (Dibrom) | 1B | broad (insects, mites) | H | H | H | I | — |
| neem oil (Trilogy) | — | broad (soft-bodied insects) mites) | L | L | L | II | shorts |
| novaluron (Rimon) | 15 | narrow (insects) | L | L/M | — | — | short to moderate |
| paraffinic oil (JMS Stylet Oil) | — | broad (exposed insects, mites) | L | L | L | II | short |
| petroleum oil | — | broad (exposed insects, mites) | L9 | L | L | II | short |
| pyrethrins (PyGanic) | 3A | broad (insects) | — | M | M | I | short |
| pyrethrin/piperonyl butoxide (Pyrenone) | 3A/— | broad (insects) | — | — | — | I | short to moderate |
| pyriproxyfen (Esteem) | 7C | narrow (whiteflies) | L | H10 | L | II | long |
| rosemary oil (Hexacide) | — | broad (exposed insects, mites) | L | L | L | III | — |
| spinetoram (Radiant) | 5 | narrow (caterpillars, fruit flies, leafminers, thrips, whiteflies) | M | M11 | L/M | II | moderate12 |
| spinosad (Entrust, Success) | 5 | narrow (caterpillars, fruit flies, leafminers, thrips, whiteflies) | M | M11 | L/M | II | short to moderate11 |
| spiromesifen (Oberon SC) | 23 | narrow (mites, whiteflies) | — | — | — | II | — |
| thiamethoxam (Actara) | 4A | narrow (sucking insects) | —8 | — | M | I | moderate |
| H = high M = moderate L = low — = no information | |
| 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 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. Mode-of-action group numbers for insecticides and miticides (un=unknown or uncertain mode of action) 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 generally to Phytoseiulus persimilis. |
| 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 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 label and regulations; III-No bee precaution, except when required by the 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 two weeks; and long means many weeks or months. |
| 7 | Acute toxicity low but reproductive capacity is reduced. |
| 8 | May cause an increase in spider mites. |
| 9 | Use lowest rates for best management of predatory mite to spider mite ratio. |
| 10 | Kills lady beetles. |
| 11 | Toxic to some 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. |
| 12 | 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, UC ANR Publication 3386.