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How to Manage Pests

UC Pest Management Guidelines

| More pests | More crops | About guidelines |

Tomato

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

(Reviewed 1/07, updated 1/08)

In this Guideline:
Common name (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 II moderate to affected insects
acetamiprid (Assail) 4A moderate (sucking insects, larvae) —6 — III moderate
Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. aizawai 11.B1 narrow (caterpillars) L L IV short
Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. kurstaki 11.B2 narrow (caterpillars) L L IV short
carbaryl (Sevin) 80 1A broad (insects, mites) H H I long
carbaryl (Sevin) XLR Plus 1A broad (insects, mites) H H II long
carbaryl (Sevin) bait 1A narrow (cutworms, armyworms, grasshoppers, etc.) L L IV short
cyfluthrin (Baythroid) 3 broad (insects, mites) H H I moderate
cyromazine (Trigard) 17 narrow (leafminers) L L III none
diazinon–granular 1B narrow (soil insects, symphylans) L L IV short
dimethoate 1B broad (insects, mites) H H I long
dinotefuran (Venom) 4A narrow (sucking insects) L — — —
endosulfan (Thionex) 2A broad (insects, mites) M M II moderate
esfenvalerate (Asana) 3 broad (insect, mites) M H I moderate
fenpropathrin (Danitol) 3 broad (insects, mites) H H I —
imidacloprid (Admire Pro) 4A narrow (beet armyworm, cutworms, sucking insects) L — II —
imidacloprid (Provado) 4A narrow (sucking insects) — H II short to moderate
indoxacarb (Avaunt) 22 narrow (caterpillars) L L I moderate
insecticidal soap (M-Pede) — broad (insects) M M IV short to none
kaolin clay (Surround) — broad (insects, mites) M — IV —
lambda-cyhalothrin (Warrior) 3 broad (plant bugs, beetles, caterpillars) H H I moderate
malathion 1B broad (insects) H H II moderate
methamidophos (Monitor) 1B broad (insects, mites) H H I moderate to long
methomyl (Lannate) 1A broad (insects) H H III moderate
methoxyfenozide (Intrepid) 18A narrow (caterpillars) L L IV none
neem oil (Trilogy) — broad (soft-bodied insects) L L III short
oxamyl (Vydate) 1A broad (insects, mites) H H III moderate
pymetrozine (Fulfill) 9B narrow (aphids) L L III short
pyrethrin (PyGanic) 3 broad (insects) M M III short
pyriproxyfen (Knack) 7C narrow (aphids, whiteflies) H7 L IV short
rosemary/peppermint oils (Ecotrol) — broad (exposed insects, mites) L L L —
spinosad (Entrust, Success) 5 narrow (caterpillars, whiteflies, thrips, aphids, leafminers, scales) M8 L/M III short
spiromesifen (Oberon) 23 narrow (psyllids, mites, whiteflies) — — — —
sulfur — narrow (mites and thrips) M H 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 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 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 (164 KB, PDF), Pacific Northwest Extension Publication PNW591.
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 5-7 days after, expecially for syrphid fly larvae.

[Precautions]

PUBLICATION

[UC Peer Reviewed]

UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines: Tomato
UC ANR Publication 3470

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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Statewide IPM Program, Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California
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