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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 1/07)

In this Guideline:

Common name (trade name) Chemical class1 Mode of action2 Selectivity3 (affected groups) Predatory mites 4 General predators5 Parasites5 Honey bees6 Duration of impact to natural enemies 7
abamectin (Agri‑Mek) M 6 moderate (mites, thrips) M M8 L-M II moderate to predatory mites and long to affected insects
Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. aizawai M 11.B1 narrow (caterpillars) L L L IV none
Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. kurstaki M 11.B2 narrow (caterpillars) L L L IV none
boric acid bait (Gourmet) I — narrow (ants) L L L IV none
copper sulfate (Bordeaux mixture) trunk spray I — narrow (snails) L L8 L IV long as a barrier
imidacloprid (Admire) N 4A narrow (sucking insects) — L L I9 long
insecticidal soap (M-Pede) CON — broad (exposed insects, mites) M M M IV short to none
iron phosphate (Sluggo) I — narrow (snails and slugs) L H8 L IV short
malathion OP 1B broad (insects, mites) H H H II moderate
metaldehyde (Deadline) A — narrow (snails and slugs) L H8 L IV short
oil, narrow-range CON — broad (exposed insects, mites) L L L III short to none
pyrethrin (PyGanic) B 3 moderate (insects) — M M III short
pyrethrin/
piperonyl butoxide (Pyrenone)		 B/S 3 moderate (insects) — M M III short
sabadilla (Veratran‑D) B — narrow (feeding thrips) L L L IV short
spinosad (Success, Entrust) M 5 narrow (thrips) M M10 L–M III11 moderate
sulfur I — narrow (mites) L–H L — IV moderate
H = highM = moderateL = low— = no information
1 Chemical class: A = acetaldehyde; B = botanical; C = carbamate; CON = contact including smothering and barrier effects; I = inorganic; M = microbial; N = neonicotinoid; OP = organophosphate; S = synergist
2 Modes of action are important in preventing the development of resistance to pesticides. 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. 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 is assigned by IRAC (Insecticide Resistance Action Committee). For additional information, see their Web site at http://www.irac-online.org/
3 Selectivity: Broad means it affects most groups of insects and mites; narrow means it affects only a few specific groups.
4 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.
5 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.
6 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, (164KB, PDF) Pacific Northwest Extension Publication PNW518.
7 Duration: Short means hours to days; moderate means days to 2 weeks; and long means many weeks or months.
8 Toxic to predatory decollate snail.
9 Remove bee hives from avocado orchards before to application; hives may be returned only after the avocado bloom period has ended.
10 Toxic against some natural enemies (predatory thrips, syrphid fly larva, beetles) when sprayed and shortly after (8-24 hrs.).
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
Acknowledgments: This table was compiled based on research data and experience of University of California scientists working on a variety of crops.

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Statewide IPM Program, Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California
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