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How to Manage Pests

UC Pest Management Guidelines

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Avocado

Relative Toxicities of Insecticides, Miticides, and Molluscicides Used in Avocados to Natural Enemies and Honey Bees

(Reviewed 1/07, updated 1/11)

In this Guideline:
Common name
(trade name)		 Mode of action1 Selectivity2
(affected groups)		 Predatory mites3 General predators4 Parasites4 Honeybees5 Duration of impact to natural enemies6
abamectin (Agri‑Mek) 6 moderate (mites, thrips) M M7 M/H II moderate to predatory mites and long to affected insects
Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. aizawai 11 narrow (caterpillars) L L L IV none
Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. kurstaki 11 narrow (caterpillars) L L L IV none
boric acid bait (Gourmet) — narrow (ants) L L L IV none
copper sulfate (Bordeaux mixture) trunk spray — narrow (snails) L L7 L IV long as a barrier
fenpropathrin (Danitol) 3 broad (insects, mites) H H H I —
imidacloprid (Admire) 4A narrow (sucking insects) — L L I 8 long
insecticidal soap (M-Pede) — broad (exposed insects, mites) L L L IV short
iron phosphate (Sluggo) — narrow (snails and slugs) L H7 L IV short
malathion 1B broad (insects, mites) H H H II moderate
metaldehyde (Deadline) — narrow (snails and slugs) L H7 L IV short
oil, narrow-range — broad (exposed insects, mites) L L L III short
pyrethrin (PyGanic) 3 moderate (insects) — M M III short
pyrethrin/ piperonyl butoxide (Pyrenone) 3/— moderate (insects) — M M III short
sabadilla (Veratran‑D) — narrow (feeding thrips) L L L IV short
spinetoram (Delegate) 5 narrow (thrips) M M9 L/M III moderate10
spinosad (Success, Entrust) 5 narrow (thrips) M M9 L/M III11 moderate9
spirodiclofen (Envidor) 23 narrow (mites) L — — I —
sulfur — narrow (mites) L/H L H IV 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 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, 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/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 (700 KB, 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 Toxic to predatory decollate snail.
8 Remove bee hives from avocado orchards before to application; hives may be returned only after the avocado bloom period has ended.
9 Toxic against some natural enemies (predatory thrips, syrphid fly and lacewing larvae, beetles) when sprayed and up to 5-7 days after, especially for syrphid fly larvae.
10 Residual is moderate if solution is between pH of 7 to 8.
11 Safe to bees 2 hr after application has dried.

[Precautions]

PUBLICATION

[UC Peer Reviewed]

UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines: Avocado
UC ANR Publication 3436
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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