ALTERNATIVES TO NEONICOTINOID-BASED SYSTEMIC INSECTICIDES

Prepared By:

Dr. Raymond A. Cloyd

The neonicotinoid-based systemic insecticides are widely-used in greenhouse production systems to suppress populations of insect pests including aphids, whiteflies, and mealybugs. These include imidaclopird (Marathon), thiamethoxam (Flagship), dinotefuran (Safari), and acetamiprid (TriStar). However, due to issues associated with their potential direct and indirect effects on honey bees and bumble bees, there is a movement to ban the use of neonicotinoid-based systemic insecticides, and prohibit the sale of ornamental plants in garden centers and retail chain stores including Home Depot and Lowe’s that have been treated with these materials. As such, greenhouse producers may want consider using alternative insecticides. Ok, then what can greenhouse producers use? Below is a listing of the insect pests in which neonicotinoid-based systemic insecticides are primarily used against (aphids, whiteflies, and mealybugs) and alternative insecticides along with their modes of action so that appropriate rotation programs can be developed.

Aphids

1. Pymetrozine (Endeavor): selective feeding blocker.

2. Spirotetramat (Kontos): lipid biosynthesis inhibitor

3. Tolfenpyrad (Hachi-Hachi): mitochondria electron transport inhibitor

4. Potassium salts of fatty acids (M-Pede): desiccation or membrane disruptor

5. Petroleum oil (Ultra-Pure Oil/SuffOil-X): suffocation or membrane disruptor

6. Clarified hydrophobic extract of neem oil (Triact): suffocation or membrane disruptor

7. Acephate (Orthene): acetylcholine esterase inhibitor

8. Bifenthrin (Attain/Talstar): prolong opening of sodium channels

Whiteflies

1. Pymetrozine (Endeavor): selective feeding blocker

2. Flonicamid (Aria): selective feeding blocker

3. Spiromesifen (Judo): lipid biosynthesis inhibitor

4. Spirotetramat (Kontos): lipid biosynthesis inhibitor

5. Pyriproxyfen (Distance): juvenile hormone mimic

6. Kinoprene (Enstar): juvenile hormone mimic

7. Novaluron (Pedestal): chitin synthesis inhibitor

8. Buprofezin (Talus): chitin synthesis inhibitor

9. Potassium salts of fatty acids (M-Pede): desiccation or membrane disruptor

10. Petroleum oil (Ultra-Pure Oil/SuffOil-X): suffocation or membrane disruptor

11. Clarified hydrophobic extract of neem oil (Triact): suffocation or membrane disruptor

Mealybugs

1. Potassium salts of fatty acids (M-Pede): desiccation or membrane disruptor

2. Petroleum oil (Ultra-Pure Oil/SuffOil-X): suffocation or membrane disruptor

3. Clarified hydrophobic extract of neem oil (Triact): suffocation or membrane disruptor

4. Kinoprene (Enstar): juvenile hormone mimic

5. Buprofezin (Talus): chitin synthesis inhibitor

6. Acephate (Orthene): acetylcholine esterase inhibitor

7. Bifenthrin (Attain/Talstar): prolong opening of sodium channels

 

Raymond A. Cloyd

Professor and Extension Specialist in Horticultural Entomology and Plant Protection

Kansas State University

Department of Entomology

123 Waters Hall

Manhattan, KS 66506

Phone: 785-532-4750

Email: rcloyd@ksu.edu