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How to Manage Pests
UC Pest Management Guidelines
Citrus
Selectivity of Insecticides and Miticides
(Reviewed 9/08,
updated 6/12)
In this Guideline:
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Some pesticides are less toxic than others to natural enemies such as green
lacewings, lady beetles, parasitic wasps, beneficial mites, and predatory
bugs. When an insecticide is less
toxic to the natural enemy than the pest it feeds on, it is a selective
insecticide. Insecticides that are not selective, but may be even more toxic to
the natural enemy than to the pest or have an impact on a wide range of pests
and natural enemies, are called broad-spectrum. Examples of broad-spectrum
pesticides include most organophosphate (e.g., malathion,
dimethoate), carbamate (e.g., carbaryl–Sevin,
methomyl–Lannate), pyrethroid (e.g., beta-cyfluthrin–Baythroid, fenpropathrin–Danitol), and foliar-applied neonicotinoid (imidacloprid–Provado,
acetamiprid–Assail) insecticides. If
broad-spectrum insecticides are used in a selective manner, such as in baits,
spot treatments, or applied systemically through irrigation water, some of the
detrimental effects on natural enemies can be avoided.
Within each of the major groups of pests in citrus, there are
selective and broad-spectrum pesticides that can be used to control them. For
instance, citrus thrips can
be controlled with the broad-spectrum organophosphate dimethoate and the carbamate insecticide formetanate hydrochloride (Carzol) or with selective insecticides
such as sabadilla (Veratran),
abamectin (Agri-Mek, etc.),
or spinetoram (Delegate). Lepidopterous pests, such as fruittree leafroller and citrus
cutworm, can be controlled with
broad-spectrum organophosphate and carbamate insecticides (chlorpyrifos–Lorsban and methomyl–Lannate)
or with selective Bacillus thuringiensis microbial insecticides (Javelin, Dipel, etc.) or the stomach poison cryolite (Prokil Cryolite and Kryocide). Finally, armored scale can be controlled with broad-spectrum
organophosphate and carbamate insecticides (chlorpyrifos–Lorsban, methidathion–Supracide, and
carbaryl–Sevin), by
selective narrow range oil treatments, or by releases of Aphytis parasites. Botanical, microbial, and
oil insecticides are not disruptive to most natural enemies. Oil can reduce
natural enemies present at the time of treatment but is fairly selective
because of its limited persistence. In addition, some broad-spectrum pesticides
can be relatively selective when used infrequently and at very low rates: for
example, 0.5 pint per acre of chlorpyrifos (Lorsban) for katydids, compared to high rates (6 to 12 pints per
acre) used for California red scale.
Some insecticides are selective or safe for one group of natural
enemies but not another. For example, lacewings are naturally tolerant of pyrethroids, but parasitic wasps, and predatory mites, and
beetles are very susceptible to this group of pesticides. Insect growth
regulators such as pyriproxyfen (Esteem) and buprofezin (Applaud) are safe for parasitic wasps but are
very toxic to beetles such as the vedalia beetle
needed for cottony cushion scale control. The miticide dicofol (Kelthane) is safe
for predatory and parasitic insects but is quite toxic to predatory mites.
Both selective and broad-spectrum pesticides can be quite persistent
or residues may degrade quickly. For example, both sabadilla (Veratran D) and pyriproxyfen (Esteem) are relatively selective, but sabadilla persists only for a short period of time (several days), whereas residues of pyriproxyfen are quite persistent (2 to 3 months or more
with detrimental impacts on beetles). If a persistent, broad-spectrum pesticide
has been applied, residues on the plant may be harmful to natural enemies for
weeks or months. For example, if adult Aphytis wasps are placed in a jar with leaves that were
sprayed in the field with the dilute rate needed to control California red
scale, chlorpyrifos (Lorsban)
residues are toxic to adult Aphytis for 3 to 6 weeks, methidathion (Supracide) affects adults for 9 weeks, and carbaryl (Sevin) affects adults
for 5 months after the treatment. In the case of the predatory mite Euseius tularensis, some San Joaquin Valley populations have
developed resistance to chlorpyrifos (Lorsban) and their populations are unaffected by this
pesticide, but they are easily killed for several months by the carbamate formetanate hydrochloride (Carzol). Occasional, single treatments
of broad-spectrum pesticides are much less harmful to natural enemies than
multiple selective treatments.
It is important to carefully consider
the selectivity of a pesticide when making a treatment decision. This includes
the effect the pesticide has on nontarget species,
its persistence in the environment, and whether or not resistance to the
pesticide has developed. These factors are listed in the table below and under
each recommendation in the guideline.
Range of Activity is listed first and denotes the degree of selectivity
each pesticide recommendation has, along with the group of organisms primarily
affected by the treatment. For example, the range of activity for dimethoate is listed as "Broad (insects)." This
means dimethoate affects most groups of insects. It
also has an impact on beneficial mites as noted in the next column. On the
other hand, Bacillus thuringiensis is listed as "Narrow (caterpillars)" because it only affects
caterpillars. Persistence, or the
length of time a pesticide remains effective or toxic, is listed next and is
categorized as short (days), intermediate (up to 6 weeks), or long (months).
And finally, in instances where resistance
has been observed in either the pest or natural enemy, this information is
included.
Factors Affecting the Selectivity of
Treatment Materials for Citrus Pest Management
| Treatment material |
Range of Activity |
Resistance |
| Pests targeted |
Persistence against pest |
Natural enemies affected |
Persistence against natural enemies |
abamectin (Agri-Mek, etc.)
(Clinch) |
intermediate (citrus thrips, mites, leafminers)
narrow (fire ants) |
intermediate
intermediate |
predatory mites & thrips
other ants |
intermediate
intermediate |
no
no |
| acequinocyl (Kanemite) |
narrow (mites) |
intermediate |
predatory mites |
intermediate |
no |
| acetamiprid (Assail) |
broad (many insects) |
intermediate |
most natural enemies |
long |
no |
| Aphytis melinus |
narrow (armored scales) |
long, unless broad-spectrum pesticide used |
none |
none |
no |
| azadirachtin (Neemix) |
narrow (whiteflies, aphids, leafminers, caterpillars) |
short |
few |
short |
no |
| azinphosmethyl (Guthion) |
broad (many insects) |
intermediate |
most natural enemies |
long |
no |
| Bacillus thuringiensis |
narrow (caterpillars) |
short |
none |
none |
no |
| beta-cyfluthrin (Baythroid) |
broad (many insects) |
intermediate |
most natural enemies |
low
rates-intermediate
high rates-long
|
resistance in some San Joaquin Valley citrus thrips populations |
| bifenazate (Acramite) |
narrow (mites) |
intermediate |
predatory mites |
intermediate |
no |
| bifenthrin (Brigade) trunk spray |
broad (insects and mites) |
long |
unknown (likely few) |
unknown |
no |
| buprofezin (Applaud) |
narrow (scales, whiteflies) |
intermediate |
predatory beetles |
intermediate |
no |
| carbaryl bait |
narrow (earwigs, grasshoppers, cutworms) |
intermediate |
none |
none |
no |
carbaryl (Sevin 80S,
Sevin XLR Plus)
|
broad (many insects) |
long |
most natural enemies |
long |
aggravates mites;
resistance in some armored scale populations; resistance in some Euseius tularensis populations
|
| chlorantraniliprole (Altacor) |
narrow (aphids, psyllids, caterpillars) |
intermediate |
parasitic wasps |
intermediate |
no |
| chlorpyrifos (Lorsban) |
broad (many insects) |
low rates-short
high rates-intermediate |
most natural enemies |
low rates-short
high rates-intermediate |
resistance in some
armored scale and citricola scale populations; resistance in some Euseius tularensis populations and Aphytis melinus populations
|
| copper bands |
narrow (brown garden snail only) |
long |
none |
none |
no |
| copper sulfate |
narrow (snails) |
long, unless washed off |
few, if any |
none to short |
no |
cryolite (Kryocide,
Prokil Cryolite)
|
intermediate (foliage feeders such as worms, katydids, and Fuller rose beetle) |
long, unless washed off by rain |
few, if any |
none to short |
no |
| Cryptolaemus montrouzieri |
narrow (mealybugs) |
intermediate, does not survive winters well |
none |
none |
no |
| dicofol (Kelthane) |
narrow (mites) |
intermediate |
predatory mites |
intermediate |
resistance in some citrus red mite and twospotted spider mite populations |
| diflubenzuron (Micromite) |
intermediate (katydids, peelminer, leafminer, grasshoppers) |
intermediate |
predatory beetles |
intermediate |
no |
| dimethoate (Dimethoate) |
broad (many insects) |
intermediate |
most natural enemies |
long |
resistance in some citrus thrips populations |
| Treatment material |
Range of Activity |
Resistance |
| Pests targeted |
Persistence against pest |
Natural enemies affected |
Persistence against natural enemies |
| disodium tetraborate |
narrow (sugar-feeding ants) |
as long as the bait station is filled |
none |
none |
no |
| etoxazole (Zeal) |
narrow (mites) |
intermediate |
predatory mites |
intermediate |
no |
| fenbutatin oxide (Vendex) |
narrow (mites) |
short |
predatory mites |
short |
no |
| fenpropathrin (Danitol) |
broad (many insects and mites) |
intermediate |
most natural enemies |
long |
resistance in some San Joaquin Valley citrus thrips populations |
| fenproximate (Fujimite) |
narrow (mites) |
intermediate |
predatory mites |
intermediate |
no |
| formetanate hydrochloride (Carzol) |
broad (many insects) |
intermediate |
most natural enemies |
long, unless washed off |
resistance in some citrus thrips populations |
| hexythiazox (Onager) |
narrow (mites) |
intermediate |
predatory mites |
short to intermediate |
no |
| hydrated lime |
narrow (leafhoppers) |
long |
interferes with searching ability of many natural enemies |
long |
no |
imidacloprid, foliar
(Provado)
|
narrow (citricola scale, aphids) |
intermediate |
most natural enemies |
intermediate |
no |
| imidacloprid, systemic (Admire, Nuprid) |
narrow (aphids, glassy-winged sharpshooters) |
long |
predatory beetles and parasites |
intermediate |
no |
| imidacloprid (Vitis Liquid Ant Bait) |
narrow (sugar-feeding ants) |
as long as the bait station is filled |
none |
none |
no |
| iron phosphate (Sluggo) |
narrow (snails) |
intermediate |
beneficial snails |
intermediate |
no |
| malathion |
broad (many insects) |
intermediate |
most natural enemies |
intermediate |
no |
| metaldehyde (Deadline) |
narrow (snails) |
short |
beneficial snails |
short |
no |
| Metaphycus helvolus |
narrow (soft scales) |
long, unless broad-spectrum pesticides used |
none |
none |
no |
| methidathion (Supracide) |
broad (many insects) |
long |
most natural enemies |
long |
resistance in some armored scale and vedalia beetle populations |
| methomyl (Lannate) |
broad (many insects) |
short |
most natural enemies |
intermediate |
no |
| methoxyfenozide (Intrepid) |
narrow (caterpillars) |
intermediate |
few |
intermediate |
no |
| micronized sulfur |
broad (mites, citrus thrips) |
intermediate |
most natural enemies |
intermediate |
no |
| naled (Dibrom) |
broad (many insects) |
short |
most natural enemies |
intermediate |
no |
| oil (dilute application) |
broad (unprotected stages of insects/mites) |
short |
most natural enemies |
short |
no |
| oil (low-volume) |
narrow (citrus red mite) |
short |
predatory mites |
short |
no |
| phosmet (Imidan) |
broad (many insects, mites) |
intermediate |
most natural enemies |
short |
no |
| propargite (Omite) |
narrow (mites) |
intermediate |
predatory mites |
intermediate |
resistance in some twospotted mite populations |
| pyrethrin/piperonyl butoxide (Pyrenone Crop Spray, etc.) |
broad (many insects) |
very short |
most natural enemies |
very short |
no |
pyrethrin/rotenone
(Pyrellin E.C.)
|
broad (many insects) |
short |
most natural enemies |
short |
no |
| pyriproxyfen (Esteem) |
narrow (armored scale insects) |
long |
predatory beetles |
long |
no |
| (Esteem Ant Bait) |
narrow (fire ants) |
as long as the bait station is filled |
none |
none |
no |
| Treatment material |
Range of Activity |
Resistance |
| Pests targeted |
Persistence against pest |
Natural enemies affected |
Persistence against natural enemies |
| pyridaben (Nexter) |
narrow (mites) |
intermediate |
predatory mites |
intermediate |
no, but stimulates citrus thrips |
| Rumina decollata |
narrow (brown garden snail) |
long, unless snail bait used |
none |
none |
no |
| sabadilla (Veratran-D) |
narrow (citrus thrips) |
very short |
predatory thrips |
very short |
no |
| s–methoprene (Tango) |
narrow (sugar-feeding ants) |
as long as the bait station is filled |
none |
none |
no |
| spinetoram (Delegate) |
narrow (thrips, katydids) |
intermediate |
predatory thrips |
intermediate |
resistance in some citrus thrips populations |
| spinosad (Success, Entrust) |
narrow (thrips, orangeworms, katydids) |
intermediate |
predatory thrips |
intermediate |
resistance in some citrus thrips populations |
| spirodiclofen (Envidor) |
narrow (mites) |
intermediate |
predatory mites |
intermediate |
no |
| spirotetramat (Movento) |
broad (mites, thrips, leafminer, aphids, armored scales) |
long |
predatory mites |
short |
no |
| sticky materials |
narrow (trunk climbers) |
long |
few, if any |
long |
no |
| thiamethoxam (Actara) – foliar |
broad (many insects) |
long |
most |
long |
no |
| thiamethoxam (Platinum) – systemic |
narrow (sucking insects) |
long |
predatory beetles and parasitic wasps |
intermediate |
no |
| vedalia beetle |
narrow (cottony cushion scale) |
long |
none |
none |
no |
| wettable sulfur |
narrow (mites and citrus thrips) |
intermediate |
most natural enemies |
intermediate |
no |
| zeta-cypermethrin |
broad (many insects and mites) |
intermediate |
most natural enemies |
long |
no |
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UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines: Citrus
UC ANR Publication 3441
General Pesticide Information
E. E. Grafton-Cardwell, Kearney Agricultural Center, Parlier
J. G. Morse, Entomology, UC Riverside
N. V. O‘Connell, UC Cooperative Extension, Tulare County
P. A. Phillips, UC IPM Program, UC Cooperative Extension, Ventura County
C. E. Kallsen, UC Cooperative Extension, Kern County
D. R. Haviland, UC Cooperative Extension, Kern County
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