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UC Pest Management Guidelines

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Peppermint

Relative Toxicities Of Insecticides And Miticides Used In Peppermint To Natural Enemies And Honey Bees

(Reviewed 8/12, updated 8/12)

In this Guideline:
Common name
(trade name and formulation)		 Mode of action1 Selectivity2
(affected groups)		 Predatory mites3 General predators4 Parasites4 Honey bees5 Duration of impact to natural enemies6
abamectin (Agri-Mek EC) 6 moderate (mites, leafminers) H L M/H I7 long to predatory mites and affected insects
bifenazate (Acramite) 25 narrow (mites) L L L III short
chlorantraniliprole (Coragen) 28 narrow L L L/M IV short
chlorpyrifos (Lorsban Advanced) 1B broad (insects, mites) M H H I8 moderate
ethoprop (Mocap 15G) 1B narrow (soil insects) L L L IV —
etoxazole (Zeal) 10B narrow (mites) —9 — — IV short
fenpyroximate (Fujimate) 21 narrow (mites and some insects) — L L IV short
hexythiazox (Onager EC) 10A narrow (mites) M L L IV short to moderate
neem oil (Trilogy) — broad (soft-bodied) insects) L L L III short
propargite (Omite) 12C narrow (pest mites) M10 L L IV short
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). For additional information, see their Web site at http://www.irac-online.org/.
2 Selectivity: Broad means it affects most groups of insects and mites; narrow means it affects only a few specific groups.
3 Generally, toxicites 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/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 to blooming plants; II-Apply only during late evening; III-Apply only during late evening, night, or early morning; and IV-Apply at any time with reasonable safety to bees. For more information, see How to Reduce Bee Poisoning From Pesticides (PDF), Pacific Northwest Extension Publication PNW591.
6 Duration: Short means hours to days; moderate means days to 2 weeks; and long means many weeks or months.
7 If rate is 0.025 lb a.i./acre, rating is II.
8 If rate is 0.05 lb a.i./acre or less, rating is III.
9 Acute toxicity low, but reproductive capacity impacted.
10 Use lowest rates for best management of western predatory mite/spider mite ratio (propargite).

[Precautions]

PUBLICATION

[UC Peer Reviewed]

UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines: Peppermint
UC ANR Publication 3457
General Information
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.

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