Some pesticides are less toxic than others to natural enemies such as green lacewings, lady beetles, parasitic wasps, beneficial mites, and predatory bugs. When an insecticide causes less harm to the natural enemies than the pests, it is a selective insecticide. Insecticides that kill a wide range of insects, including natural enemies, are called broad-spectrum. Examples of broad-spectrum pesticides include most organophosphate (malathion, dimethoate), carbamate (Sevin, Lannate), pyrethroid (Baythroid, Danitol), and neonicotinoid (Admire, Assail) insecticides. To reduce the detrimental effects on natural enemies, use broad-spectrum insecticides in a selective manner (e.g., in baits, spot treatments, at times of the year when natural enemies are not active, or applied systemically through irrigation water).
Within each of the major groups of pests in citrus, there are selective and broad-spectrum pesticides that can be used to control them. For instance, lepidopterous pests, such as fruittree leafroller and citrus cutworm, can be controlled with broad-spectrum carbamate insecticides (Lannate), with selective Bacillus thuringiensis microbial insecticides (Dipel), or the stomach poison cryolite (Prokil Cryolite). Armored scale can be controlled with broad-spectrum carbamate insecticides (Sevin), selective narrow range oils, selective insect growth regulators such as pyriproxyfen (Esteem) and buprofezin (Centaur), spirotetramat (Movento), or by releases of Aphytis parasites. Botanical, microbial, and oil insecticides are not disruptive to most natural enemies because of their limited persistence. In addition, some broad-spectrum pesticides can be relatively selective when used infrequently, with outside coverage, or at low rates. For example, a low rate of a highly broad-spectrum pyrethroid applied as outside coverage can easily kill katydids without disrupting natural enemies needed for scale control.
Some insecticides are selective or safe for one group of natural enemies but not another. For example, lacewings are naturally tolerant of pyrethroids, but parasitic wasps, predatory mites, and beetles are very susceptible to this group of pesticides. Insect growth regulators such as pyriproxyfen (Esteem) and buprofezin (Centaur) are safe for parasitic wasps but are very toxic to beetles such as the vedalia beetle needed for cottony cushion scale control. The miticide and insecticide spirotetramat (Movento) is safe for predatory and parasitic insects but is quite toxic to predatory mites.
Both selective and broad-spectrum pesticides can be quite persistent, or residues may degrade quickly. For example, both sabadilla (Veratran D) and pyriproxyfen (Esteem) are relatively selective, but sabadilla persists only for a short period of time (several days), whereas residues of pyriproxyfen are quite persistent (can harm predatory beetles for 2 to 3 months or more). If a persistent, broad-spectrum pesticide has been applied, residues on the plant may be harmful to natural enemies for weeks or months. For example, if adult Aphytis wasps are placed in a jar with leaves that were sprayed in the field with the dilute rate needed to control California red scale, carbaryl (Sevin) affects adults for 5 months after the pesticide application. In the case of the predatory mite Euseius tularensis, some San Joaquin Valley populations have developed resistance to organophosphates and their populations are largely unaffected by this group of pesticides. Occasional, single applications of broad-spectrum pesticides are much less harmful to natural enemies than multiple selective pesticides.
It is important to carefully consider the selectivity of a pesticide when making a treatment decision. This includes the effect the pesticide has on nontarget species, its persistence in the environment, and whether or not resistance to the pesticide has developed. These factors are listed in the table below and under each recommendation in the guideline.
- Range of Activity is listed first and denotes the degree of selectivity each pesticide recommendation has, along with the group of organisms primarily affected by the application. For example, the range of activity for dimethoate is listed as "broad (insects)." This means dimethoate affects most groups of insects. It also harms beneficial mites as noted in the next column. On the other hand, Bacillus thuringiensis is listed as "narrow (caterpillars)" because it only affects caterpillars.
- Persistence, or the length of time a pesticide remains effective or toxic, is listed next and is categorized as short (days), intermediate (up to 6 weeks), or long (months).
- Resistance information is included in instances where it has been observed in either the pest or natural enemy.
Factors Affecting the Selectivity of Treatment Materials for Citrus Pest Management
Range of Activity
Common name (Example trade name)
Pests targeted
Persistence
against pest
Natural enemies affected
Persistence against natural enemies
Resistance
abamectin (Agri-Mek)
intermediate (citrus thrips, mites, leafminers)
intermediate
predatory mites & thrips
intermediate
no
abamectin (Clinch Ant
Bait)
narrow (fire ants)
intermediate
other ants
intermediate
no
acequinocyl (Kanemite)
narrow (mites)
intermediate
predatory mites
intermediate
no
acetamiprid (Assail)
broad (many insects)
intermediate
most natural enemies
intermediate
no
afidopyropen (Sefina Inscalis)
narrow (aphids, psyllids)
intermediate
parasitic wasps
short
no
Aphytis melinus
narrow (armored scales)
long, unless broad-spectrum pesticide used
none
none
no
azadirachtin (Neemix)
narrow (whiteflies, aphids, leafminers, caterpillars)
short
few
short
no
Bacillus thuringiensis (Dipel)
narrow (caterpillars)
short
none
none
no
beta-cyfluthrin (Baythroid)
broad (many insects)
intermediate
most natural enemies
low rates-intermediate
high rates-long
resistance in some San Joaquin Valley citrus thrips populations
bifenazate (Acramite)
narrow (mites)
intermediate
predatory mites
intermediate
no
bifenthrin, trunk spray (Brigade)
broad (insects and mites)
long
unknown (likely few)
unknown
no
buprofezin (Centaur WDG)
narrow (scales, mealybugs, whiteflies)
intermediate
predatory beetles
intermediate
no
carbaryl, bait
narrow (earwigs, grasshoppers, cutworms)
intermediate
none
none
no
carbaryl (Sevin XLR Plus)
broad (many insects)
long
most natural enemies
long
aggravates mites; resistance in some armored scale populations;
resistance in some
Euseius tularensis populations
chlorantraniliprole (Altacor)
narrow (psyllids, caterpillars)
intermediate
parasitic wasps
intermediate
no
chlorpyrifos (Lorsban 15G)
broad (many insects)
intermediate
most natural enemies
intermediate
none for target pests
Chromobacterium subterfugae (Grandevo)
narrow (Asian citrus psyllid)
short
few
short
no
copper bands
narrow (brown garden snail only)
long
none
none
no
copper sulfate
narrow (snails)
long, unless washed off
few, if any
none to short
no
cryolite (Prokil Cryolite)
intermediate (foliage feeders such as worms, katydids, and Fuller rose beetle)
long, unless washed off by rain
few, if any
none to short
no
Cryptolaemus montrouzieri
narrow (mealybugs)
intermediate, does not survive winters well
none
none
no
cyflumetofen (Nealta)
narrow (mites)
intermediate
predatory mites
short
no
cyfluthrin (Tombstone)
broad (many insects and mites)
intermediate
most
long
resistance in some San Joaquin Valley citrus thrips populations
cyantraniliprole, foliar (Exirel)
narrow (aphids, leafminer, Asian citrus psyllid, sharpshooters, thrips)
intermediate
none
none
no
cyantraniliprole, systemic (Verimark)
narrow (citrus leafminer, Asian citrus psyllid, aphids)
intermediate
none
none
no
cyantraniliprole/abamectin (Minecto Pro)
intermediate (Asian citrus psyllid, bud mite, broad mite, citrus thrips, cotton aphid, twospotted spider mite, citrus leafminer and rust mite)
intermediate
predatory mites and thrips
intermediate
no
diflubenzuron (Micromite)
intermediate (katydids, Asian citrus psyllid, peelminer, leafminer, grasshoppers)
intermediate
predatory beetles
intermediate
no
dimethoate (Dimethoate)
broad (many insects)
intermediate
most natural enemies
intermediate
resistance in some citrus thrips populations
fenbutatin oxide (Vendex)
narrow (mites)
short
predatory mites
short
no
fenpropathrin (Danitol)
broad (many insects and mites)
intermediate
most natural enemies
long
resistance in some San Joaquin Valley citrus thrips populations
fenpyroximate (Fujimite)
narrow (mites, Asian citrus psyllid)
intermediate
predatory mites
intermediate
no
flonicamid (Beleaf)
narrow (aphids, Asian citrus psyllid)
short
predatory thrips
short
no
flupyradifurone (Sivanto)
narrow (soft scales, aphids, Asian citrus psyllid, sharpshooters)
short
parasitic wasps
short
no
formetanate hydrochloride (Carzol)
broad (many insects)
intermediate
most natural enemies
long, unless washed off
resistance in some citrus thrips populations
hexythiazox (Onager)
narrow (mites)
intermediate
predatory mites
short to intermediate
no
hydrated lime
narrow (leafhoppers)
long
interferes with searching ability of many natural enemies
long
no
imidacloprid, foliar
(Admire Pro)
narrow (citricola scale, aphids, Asian citrus psyllid, glassy-winged sharpshooters, whiteflies)
intermediate
most natural enemies
intermediate
resistance in some glassy-winged sharpshooter populations
imidacloprid, systemic (Admire Pro and generics)
narrow (aphids, glassy-winged sharpshooters, Asian citrus psyllid, citrus leafminer, weevils, whiteflies)
long
predatory beetles and parasites
intermediate
resistance in some glassy-winged sharpshooter populations
imidacloprid/beta-cyfluthrin (Leverage)
broad (many insects)
intermediate
most natural enemies
long
resistance to the beta-cyfluthrin in some citrus thrips populations
iron phosphate (Sluggo)
narrow (snails)
short
beneficial snails
short
no
malathion
broad (many insects)
intermediate
most natural enemies
intermediate
no
mating disruption
(Checkmate CRS)
narrow (California red scale)
long
none
none
no
metaflumizone (Altrevin)
narrow (ants)
intermediate
other ants
intermediate
no
metaldehyde (Deadline)
narrow (snails)
short
beneficial snails
short
no
Metaphycus helvolus
narrow (soft scales)
long, unless broad-spectrum pesticides used
none
none
no
methomyl (Lannate)
broad (many insects)
short
most natural enemies
intermediate
no
methoxyfenozide (Intrepid)
narrow (caterpillars)
intermediate
few
short
no
micronized sulfur
broad (mites, citrus thrips)
intermediate
most natural enemies
intermediate
no
naled (Dibrom)
broad (many insects)
short
most natural enemies
intermediate
no
neem oil (Trilogy)
broad (softbodied insects)
short
few
short
no
oil (dilute application)
broad (unprotected stages of insects and mites)
short
most natural enemies
short
no
oil (low-volume)
narrow (citrus red mite)
short
predatory mites
short
no
phosmet (Imidan)
broad (many insects, mites)
intermediate
most natural enemies
short
no
pyrethrin (PyGanic)
broad (insects)
short
most
short
no
pyrethrins/piperonyl butoxide (Pyrenone Crop Spray)
broad (many insects)
short
most natural enemies
short
no
pyridaben (Nexter)
narrow (mites)
intermediate
predatory mites
intermediate
no, but stimulates citrus thrips
pyriproxyfen (Esteem)
narrow (armored scale insects)
long
predatory beetles
long
some California red scale populations
pyriproxyfen, bait (Esteem Ant Bait)
narrow (fire ants)
intermediate
none
none
no
rosemary oil/peppermint oil (Ecotrol)
broad (unprotected stages of insects and mites)
short
most
short
no
Rumina decollata
narrow (brown garden snail)
long, unless snail bait used
none
none
no
sabadilla (Veratran-D)
narrow (citrus thrips)
short
predatory thrips
short
no
smethoprene (Tango)
narrow (sugar-feeding ants)
as long as the bait station is filled
none
none
no
spinetoram (Delegate)
narrow (thrips, Asian citrus psyllid, katydids)
intermediate
predatory thrips
intermediate
resistance in some citrus thrips populations
spinosad (Success, Entrust)
narrow (thrips, Asian citrus psyllid, orangeworms, katydids)
intermediate
predatory thrips
intermediate
resistance in some citrus thrips populations
spirodiclofen (Envidor)
narrow (mites)
intermediate
predatory mites
intermediate
no
spirotetramat (Movento)
broad (mites, thrips, Asian citrus psyllid, leafminer, aphids, armored scales)
long
predatory mites
short
no
sodium ferric edta (Ferroxx)
narrow (snails)
short
predatory snails
short
no
sticky materials
narrow (trunk climbers)
long
few, if any
long
no
thiamethoxam, foliar (Actara)
broad (many insects)
long
most
long
no
thiamethoxam, systemic (Platinum)
narrow (sucking insects)
long
predatory beetles and parasitic wasps
intermediate
no
thiamethoxam/abamectin (Agri-flex)
broad (many insects)
long
most
long
no
thiamethoxam/chlorantraniliprole (Voliam flexi)
broad (many insects)
long
most
long
no
vedalia beetle
narrow (cottony cushion scale)
long
none
none
no
wettable sulfur
narrow (mites and citrus thrips)
intermediate
most natural enemies
intermediate
no
zeta-cypermethrin (Mustang Maxx)
broad (many insects and mites)
intermediate
most natural enemies
intermediate
no