| 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.
Text Updated: 09/16