| 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 (mites, leafminers) | H | L | M/H | I | long to predatory mites and affected insects |
| acequinocyl (Kanemite) | 20B | narrow (mites) | L | — | — | III | — |
| acetamiprid (Assail) | 4A | moderate (sucking insects, larvae) | —7 | — | — | II | moderate |
| Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. kurstaki | 11A | narrow (caterpillars) | L | L | L | III | short |
| bifenazate (Acramite) | 20D | narrow (mites) | L | L | L | II | short |
| bifenthrin (Brigade) | 3A | broad (insects, mites) | H | H | H | I | long |
| buprofezin (Centaur) | 16 | narrow (sucking insects, beetles) | L | H8 | L | II | long |
| carbaryl (Sevin) | 1A | broad (insects, mites) | L/H | H | H | I | long |
| chlorantraniliprole (Altacor) | 28 | narrow (primarily caterpillars) | L | L | L/M | III | short |
| clofentezine (Apollo) | 10A | narrow (mites) | L | L | L | III | short |
| Cydia pomonella granulovirus (Cyd-X) | — | narrow (codling moth) | none | none | none | III | none |
| cyfluthrin (Baythroid) | 3A | broad (insects, mites) | H | H | H | I | moderate |
| dicofol (Dicofol) | un | narrow (pest mites and mites) | H | M | M | III | long to beneficial mites |
| diflubenzuron (Dimilin) | 15 | — | L | H9 | L | II | — |
| emamectin benzoate (Proclaim) | 6 | narrow (caterpillars) | — | — | — | I | — |
| esfenvalerate (Asana) | 3A | broad (insects, mites) | H | M | H | I | moderate |
| etoxazole (Zeal) | 10B | narrow (mites) | —10 | — | — | II | short |
| fenbutatin oxide (Vendex) | 12B | narrow (pest mites) | L | L | L | III | short |
| fenpropathrin (Danitol) | 3A | broad (insects, mites) | H | H | H | I | — |
| hexythiazox (Onager) | 10A | narrow (mites) | L | L | L | II | short to moderate |
| imidacloprid (Admire Pro) | 4A | narrow (sucking insects) | — | — | H | I | short to moderate |
| lambda cyhalothrin (Warrior) | 3A | broad (plant bugs, beetles, caterpillars) | H | H | H | I | moderate |
| malathion | 1B | broad (insects, mites) | H | H | H | I | moderate |
| metaflumizone (Altrevin bait) | 22B | narrow (ants) | — | — | — | III | — |
| methoxyfenozide (Intrepid) | 18 | narrow (caterpillars) | L | L | L | II | none |
| methyl parathion (Penncap-M) | 1B | broad (insects) | M | M | M | I | — |
| permethrin (Ambush, Pounce) | 3A | broad (insects, mites) | L | H | H | I | long |
| petroleum oils | — | broad (exposed insects, mites) | L | L | L | II | short to none |
| phosmet (Imidan) | 1B | broad (insects, mites) | H | H | H | I | moderate to long |
| propargite (Omite) | 12C | narrow (pest mites) | M8 | L | L | III | short |
| pyriproxyfen (Seize) | 7C | narrow (scale, beetles) | L | H11 | L | II | long |
| rosemary oil/peppermint oil (Ecotrol) | — | broad (exposed insects, mites) | L | L | L | III | — |
| s-methoprene (Extinguish) | 7A | narrow (ants) | — | — | — | III | — |
| spinetoram (Delegate) | 5 | narrow (caterpillars, aphids, scales) | L/H | M12 | L/M | II | moderate13 |
| spinosad (Entrust, Success) | 5 | narrow (caterpillars, aphids, scales) | L/H | M12 | L/M | II | short to moderate |
| spinosad (GF-120) | 5 | narrow (husk fly) | — | — | — | II | — |
| spirodiclofen (Envidor) | 23 | narrow (mites) | — | — | — | II | — |
| 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 | Generally, toxicities are to western predatory mite, Galendromus occidentalis. Where differences have been measured in toxicity of the pesticide-resistant strain versus the native strain, these are listed as pesticide-resistant strain or native strain. |
| 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 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 2 weeks; and long means many weeks or months. |
| 7 | May cause an increase in spider mite numbers.
|
| 8 | Use lowest rates for best management of western predatory mite/spider mite ratio (propargite). |
| 9 | High toxicity to juvenile stages of predators and reduces fertility of adult green lacewings. |
| 10 | Acute toxicity low but reproductive capacity is impacted. |
| 11 | Kills lady beetles. |
| 12 | Toxic against some natural enemies (predatory thrips, syrphid fly larvae) when sprayed and shortly thereafter (8-24 hours). |
| 13 | 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.