Relative Toxicities of Insecticides and Miticides Used in Tomatoes to Natural Enemies and Honey Bees

Common name (Example trade name)	Mode of action1	Selectivity2 (affected groups)	General predators3	Parasites3	Honey bees4	Duration of impact to natural enemies5
abamectin (Agri-Mek)	6	moderate (mites, leafminers)	L	M/H	I	moderate to affected insects
acetamiprid (Assail)	4A	moderate (sucking insects, larvae)	—6	—	II	moderate
Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. aizawai	11A	narrow (caterpillars)	L	L	II	short
Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. kurstaki	11A	narrow (caterpillars)	L	L	III	short
beta-cyfluthrin (Baythroid)	3A	broad (insects, mites)	H	H	I	moderate
bifenthrin (Capture)	3A	broad (jnsects, mites)	H	H	I	long
buprofezin (Courier)	16	narrow (sucking insects, beetles)	H7	L	II	long
carbaryl (Sevin XLR Plus)	1A	broad (insects, mites)	H	H	I	long
carbaryl (Sevin bait)	1A	narrow (cutworms, armyworms, grasshoppers, etc.)	L	L	III	short
chlorantraniliprole (Coragen)	28	narrow (primarily caterpillars)	L	L/M	III	short
clothianidin (Belay)	4A	lygus bugs, aphids	L	L	I	short
diazinon–granular	1B	narrow (soil insects, symphylans)	L	L	III	short
dimethoate	1B	broad (insects, mites)	H	H	I	long
dinotefuran (Venom)	4A	narrow (sucking insects)	L	—	I	—
emamectin benzoate (Proclaim)	6	narrow (caterpillars)	—	—	I	—
esfenvalerate (Asana)	3A	broad (insect, mites)	M	H	I	moderate
fenpropathrin (Danitol)	3A	broad (insects, mites)	H	H	I	—
flonicamid (Beleaf)	29	narrow (plant bugs, fleahopper, aphids)	L	L	III	short
imidacloprid, systemic (Admire Pro)	4A	narrow (sucking insects)	L	—	I	—
imidacloprid, foliar (various)	4A	narrow (sucking insects)	—	H	I	short to moderate
indoxacarb (Avaunt)	22A	narrow (caterpillars)	L	L	I	moderate
insecticidal soap (M-Pede)	—	broad (insects)	M	M	III	short to none
kaolin clay (Surround)	—	broad (insects, mites)	M	—	III	—
lambda-cyhalothrin (Warrior)	3A	broad (plant bugs, beetles, caterpillars)	H	H	I	moderate
malathion	1B	broad (insects)	H	H	I	moderate
methomyl (Lannate)	1A	broad (insects)	H	H	I	moderate
methoxyfenozide (Intrepid)	18	narrow (caterpillars)	L	L	II	none
novaluron (Rimon)	15	narrow (caterpillars)	L	—	I	short
oxamyl (Vydate)	1A	broad (insects, mites)	H	H	I	moderate
permethrin (Pounce, Ambush)	3A	broad (insects, mites)	H	H	I	long
pymetrozine (Fulfill)	9B	narrow (aphids)	L	L	II	short
pyriproxyfen (Knack)	7C	narrow (aphids, whiteflies)	H7	L	II	short
rosemary/peppermint oils (Ecotrol)	—	broad (exposed insects, mites)	L	L	III	—
spinetoram (Radiant)	5	narrow (caterpillars, thrips, whiteflies, aphids, scales, leafminers)	M9	M/H	II	moderate10
spinosad (Entrust, Success)	5	narrow (caterpillars, whiteflies, thrips, aphids, leafminers, scales)	M8	L/M	II	short
spiromesifen (Oberon)	23	narrow (psyllids, mites, whiteflies)	—	—	II	—
spirotetramat (Movento)	23	narrow (aphids, scale, psyllids, whiteflies)	L	L	II	short
sulfur	—	narrow (mites and thrips)	M	H	III	short
thiamethoxam, foliar (Actara)	4A	narrow (sucking insects)	M/H	M/H	I	moderate
thiamethoxam, systemic (Platinum)	4A	narrow (sucking insects)	—	M	I	moderate
thyme oil	—	broad (exposed insects, mites)	L	L	—	—
zeta-cypermethrin (Mustang)	3A	broad (insects, mites)	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 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 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.
4	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.
5	Duration: short means hours to days; moderate means days to 2 weeks; and long means many weeks or months.
6	May cause flare-ups of spider mite populations.
7	Kills lady beetles.
8	Toxic against some natural enemies (predatory thrips, syrphid fly and lacewing larvae, beetles) when sprayed and up to 5 to 7 days after, especially for syrphid fly larvae.
9	Toxic against some natural enemies (predatory thrips, syrphid fly and lacewing larvae, beetles) when sprayed and up to 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, UC ANR Publication 3386.