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
