Note that the values provided here are generalisations and there may be exceptions (e.g. relating to specific species or time of application).
Pest resurgence is included as there may be an increase in non-targeted pests following application of insecticides. This is mainly due to the demise of beneficials that may keep pests in check.
|
Insecticide group* |
Persistence |
Overall ranking |
Impact on beneficial insects |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Predatory beetles |
Predatory bugs |
Parasitic wasps |
Spiders |
Bees |
|||
| FOLIAR-APPLIED | |||||||
| Bio-pesticides | |||||||
| Bt |
Short |
Low |
L |
L |
L |
L |
L |
| Helicoverpa NPV |
Short |
Low |
L |
L |
L |
L |
L |
| Metarhizium |
Short |
Low |
L |
L |
L |
L |
L |
| Petroleum spray oils |
Short |
Low |
L |
L |
L |
L |
L |
| Organophosphates | |||||||
| omethoate |
Medium |
Moderate |
M |
M |
M |
L |
H |
| dimethoate (low rate) |
Short |
Moderate |
M |
M |
M |
L |
H |
| dimethoate (high rate) |
Short |
High |
M |
M |
H |
M |
H |
| methidathion |
Short |
High |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
| Indoxacarb |
Medium |
Low |
L |
L |
L |
L |
no data |
| Phenyl pyrazoles (fipronil) |
Medium |
Low |
L |
L |
L |
M |
H |
| Carbamates | |||||||
| pirimicarb |
Short |
Low |
L |
L |
L |
L |
L |
| thiodicarb |
Long |
High |
H |
M |
M |
M |
M |
| methomyl |
Short |
High |
H |
M |
M |
M |
H |
| Avermectins (emamectin benzoate) |
Medium |
Moderate |
L |
H |
M |
M |
H |
| Synthetic pyrethroids |
Long |
High |
H |
H |
H |
H |
H |
| SEED DRESSINGS | |||||||
| fipronil |
Medium |
Low |
Limited data available. Seed dresings generally less disruptive than foliar-applied formulations. | ||||
| imidacloprid |
Medium |
Low |
|||||
| imidacloprid + thiomethoxam |
Medium |
Low |
|||||
Symbols used in the table:
| L – Low toxicity | – nil or low impact on beneficials |
| M — Moderate toxicity | – activity is significantly reduced but beneficial populations are able to recover in a week or so |
| H — High toxicity | – high proportion of beneficial population killed and re-establishment will not occur for several weeks |
Persistence of pest control:
- Foliar applications: short = <3 days, medium = 3–7 days, long = >10 days
- Seed treatments: short = 2–3 weeks, medium 3–4 weeks, long = 4–6 weeks
*Insecticides and the groups they belong to can be found in the insecticide groups table.
Information in this table has been derived from the Cotton Pest Management Guide (2014-15).
