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How to Manage Pests

UC Pest Management Guidelines

| More pests | More crops | About guidelines |

Avocado

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

(Reviewed 1/07, updated 8/08)

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
L/M
II
 moderate to predatory mites and long to affected insects
Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. aizawai
11.B1
 narrow (caterpillars)
L
L
L
IV
 none
Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. kurstaki
11.B2
 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
imidacloprid (Admire)
4A
 narrow (sucking insects)
—
L
L
I 8
 long
insecticidal soap (M-Pede)
—
 broad (exposed insects, mites)
M
M
M
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)
L
M9
L/M
III
 moderate10
spinosad (Success, Entrust)
5
 narrow (thrips)
M
M9
L/M
III11
 moderate9
sulfur
—
 narrow (mites)
L/H
L
—
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 (164 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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Statewide IPM Program, Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California
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