UC Management Guidelines: Relative Toxicities of Insecticides and Miticides Used in Olives to Natural Enemies and Honey Bees

UC Pest Management Guidelines

Olive

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

(Reviewed 1/08, updated 1/08)

In this Guideline:

Common name (trade name and formulation)

Mode of action¹

Selectivity² (affected groups)

Predatory mites³

General predators⁴

Parasites⁵

Honey bees⁵

Duration of impact to natural enemies⁶

carbaryl (Sevin) 80

broad (insects, mites)

L/H

long

methidathion (Supracide)

broad (insects, mites)

moderate to long

petroleum oil

—

broad (exposed insects, mites)

L⁷

III

short to none

spinosad (GF-120 Fruit Fly Bait)

narrow (fruit flies)

short to none

sulfur

—

narrow (mites and citrus thrips)

L/H

M/L

short

= high

= moderate

= low

—

= no information

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/.

Selectivity: broad means it affects most groups of insects and mites; narrow means it affects only a few specific groups.

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

Rating depends on rate used.

UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines: Olive
UC ANR Publication 3452
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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How to Manage Pests

UC Pest Management Guidelines

Olive

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

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