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How to Manage Pests

UC Pest Management Guidelines

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Spinach

Relative Toxicities of Pesticides Used in Spinach to Natural Enemies and Honey Bees

(Reviewed 12/09, updated 12/09)

In this Guideline:
Common name (trade name) Mode of Action1 Selectivity2 (affected groups) Predatory mites3 General predators4 Parasite4 Honey bees5 Duration of impact to natural enemies6
acetamiprid(Assail) 4A moderate (sucking insects, larvae) —7 —8 — III moderate
azadirachtin (Aza-Direct, Neemix) 18B broad (insects, mites) M L/M L/M III short
Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. aizawai 11.B1 narrow (caterpillars) L L L IV short
Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. kurstaki 11.B2 narrow (caterpillars) L L L IV short
chlorantraniliprole (Coragen) 28 narrow (primarily caterpillars) L L L/M IV short
cyromazine (Trigard) 17 narrow (leafminers) L L L III short
diazinon–foliar 1B broad (insects, mites) L H H I moderate to long
diazinon–granular 1B narrow (soil insects) L L L IV short
imidacloprid (Admire) 4A narrow (sucking insects, beet armyworm, cutworms) — L — II9 —
imidacloprid (Provado) 4A narrow (sucking insects) — — H II short to moderate
insecticidal soap (M-Pede) — broad (exposed insects, mites) M M M IV short
methomyl (Lannate) 1A broad (insects, mites) H H H III moderate
methoxyfenozide (Intrepid) 18A narrow (caterpillars) L L L IV short
permethrin (Ambush) 3 broad (insects, mites) L H H I long
pymetrozine (Fulfill) 9B narrow (aphids) L L L III short
spinetoram (Radiant) 5 narrow (caterpillars, aphids, leafminers) L/H M10 L/M III moderate11
spinosad (Entrust, Success) 5 narrow (caterpillars, aphids, leafminers) L M10 L/M III short to moderate
spirotetramat (Movento) 23 narrow (primarily aphids) L L L — short
thiodicarb (Larvin) 1A narrow (caterpillars) L L L III —
zeta-cypermethrin (Mustang) 3 broad (insects, mites) H M M I 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 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 to western predatory mite, Galendromus occidentalis.
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 May cause flare-ups of spider mite populations
8 Does not kill adults but sterilizes females.
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, especially for syrphid fly larvae.
11 Residual is moderate if solution is between pH of 7 to 8.

[Precautions]

PUBLICATION

[UC Peer Reviewed]

UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines: Spinach
UC ANR Publication 3467
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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