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How to Manage Pests

UC Pest Management Guidelines

| More pests | More crops | About guidelines |

Potato leafhopper, Empoasca fabae.

Potato

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

(Reviewed 8/07, updated 5/08)

In this Guideline:
Common name (trade name) Mode of action1 Selectivity2 (affected groups) Predatory mites3 General predators4 Parasites4 Honey bees5 Duration of impact to natural enemies6
abamectin (Agri-Mec EC) 6 moderate (psyllids) M L M/H I7 moderate to affected insects
carbaryl (Sevin bait) 1A narrow (cutworms) L L L IV short
carbaryl (Sevin S) 1A broad (insects, mites) M/H M/H H I long
cyfluthrin (Baythroid) 3 broad (insects, mite) H H H I moderate
dinotefuran (Venom) 4A narrow (sucking insects) L — L — short
endosulfan (Endosulfan EC) 2A broad (insects, mites) L M M II8 short
esfenvalerate (Asana XL) 3 broad (insect, mites) H M H I moderate
ethoprop (Mocap) –soil appl. 1B narrow (soil insects) L L L IV short
imidacloprid (Admire) 4A narrow (sucking insects) — L — I9 —
imidacloprid (Provado) 4A narrow (sucking insects) — — H II short to moderate
indoxacarb (Avaunt) 22 narrow (caterpillars) — L L III moderate
methamidophos (Monitor) 1B broad (insects, mites) M M M I moderate
methomyl (Lannate LV) 1A broad (insects, mites) H H H III moderate
novaluron (Rimon) 15 narrow (caterpillars) L L — I short
spinosad (Entrust, Success) 5 narrow (caterpillars, thrips) L M10 L/M III moderate10
spiromesifen (Oberon SC) 23 narrow (psyllids, whiteflies) — — — I —

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 (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 If rate is 0.025 lb a.i./acre, rating is II.
8 If rate is 0.5 lb a.i./acre or less, rating is III.
9 If rate is 0.1 lb a.i./acre, rating is II.
10  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: Potato
UC ANR Publication 3463
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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