CHEMICAL CONTROL:

Biorational Insecticides

Pesticides are available that “Biorational” has only recently been proposed to describe those insecticides
are effective against most of that are efficacious against the target pest but are less detrimental to natural
enemies. The term at times has been used to describe only those products
the life stages of most of the derived from natural sources, i.e. plant extracts, insect pathogens, etc.
important insect pests of However, we choose to define a biorational pesticide as “any type of
tomatoes and other insecticide active against pest populations, but relatively innocuous to non-
target organisms and therefore, non-disruptive to biological control.” An
vegetables; these pesticides
insecticide can be “innocuous” by having low or no direct toxicity, or by
can be less detrimental to having systemic or rapid translaminar activity or short field residual, thereby
certain natural enemies of minimizing exposure of natural enemies to the insecticide.
these pests.

OIL, SOAP AND NEEM

• Oil was also repellent to whitefly adults but reduced yields of tomato in
the field when applied at a concentration higher than 2%. Studies showed
that soap, neem and oil were all toxic to silverleaf whitefly nymphs,
although coverage was particularly important for oil. Oil was relatively
non-toxic to adults of two species of lacewings (Chrysoperla rufilabris
and Ceraochrysa cubana ) and to adults of a small lady beetle species
(Nephaspis oculatus ), and was moderately toxic to larvae of a major
whitefly parasite species (Encarsia pergandiella) and to larvae of a non-
trash bearing species of lacewing (C. rufilabris) ). Oil was highly toxic to
adults of the parasite species, to eggs of both lacewing species and, to
a lesser extent, lady beetle eggs. Toxicity was again mitigated by coverage.

Figure 1. Coverage is important • Soap was highly toxic to whitefly adults but only when wet. Soap caused
when using oil on whitefly nymphs.
only slight effects on the parasite species and was moderately toxic to
Photograph by: James Castner.
adults of both lacewing species and to larvae of the non-trash bearing
lacewing species. Conversely, soap was highly toxic to young lady beetle
larvae.

• Neem is reportedly an antifeedant to whitefly adults and is practically

non-toxic to both species of lacewings and to the parasite. In general,
trash bearing lacewing larvae were less susceptible to all three biorational
pesticides than non-trash bearing larvae, even when considering the
broad-spectrum pyrethroid bifenthrin.

• The potential of a liquid dish detergent and a parafinnic oil

(Ultrafine Oil™) to cause phytotoxicity on tomato also was investigated.
It was found that applications of 0.5% or more detergent applied twice
weekly delayed production. Weekly applications were less damaging.
On the other hand, no phytotoxic effect was seen on pepper from
weekly applications of concentrations of oil up to 2% applied with or
without mancozeb/maneb plus copper.

Figure 2. Soap is a highly effective

agent to whitefly adults when wet.
Photograph by: James Castner.

Prepared by: Drs. David Schuster and Phillip Stansly

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CHEMICAL CONTROL:
Biorational Insecticides

T he non- or low toxic BACILLUS THURINGIENSIS (Bt) PRODUCTS:

effects of products based Products for control of lepidopterous larvae are based upon two subspecies
of B. thuringiensis var. kurstaki (i.e. Dipel™, Javelin™) and aizawai (i.e.
upon the bacterium, XenTari™) or a combination of the two (i.e. Agree™).
Bacillus thuringiensis, are As with insecticidal products, there is a time line of product evolution.
documented for numerous
species of natural enemies • First generation products: Based on wild-type isolates collected directly
from nature (i.e. Dipel, Javelin, XenTari).
of numerous pests.
• Second generation products: Based upon conjugation of the two sub-
species (i.e. Agree).
• Third generation products: Based upon the so-called Psuedomonas-
based delivery system (insertion of B. thuringiensis genes into
Psuedomonas bacteria for the purpose of increasing field persistence,
i.e. Mattch™).
• Fourth generation products: Based upon new B. thuringiensis strains
constructed using recombinant DNA technology (i.e. Crymax™,
Lepinox™).

Figure 3. Products containing Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki kill

the caterpillar stage of a wide array of butterflies and moths. Diagram
by: UF/IFAS.

Table 1. Relative toxicity of Bacillus thuringiensis endotoxins to larvae

of selected species of Lepidoptera.

WHAT IS Bt?
• Bt is a bacterium that is pathogenic to larvae
of certain insects, particularly lepidopterous
insects, inducing mortality through infection.
• The resting stage, or endospore, of the
bacterium contains endotoxins which are
capable of paralyzing and lysing the insect
gut, thereby causing mortality through
starvation (Figure 3).
• The endotoxins are not equally toxic to all
species of Lepidoptera (Table 1); therefore,
wild strain selection, conjugation or
recombinant DNA techniques have been Table 2. Relative amounts (increasing number of “+s”) of endotoxins
used to develop B. thuringiensis products present in selected Bacillus thuringiensis products. A “-” indicates the
that have different arrays of endotoxins to endotoxin was not present.
alter or broaden the spectrum of activity of
the product (Table 2).
• In general, the products are effective against
armyworm and fruitworm larvae.
• From the standpoint of resistance
management, products with different arrays
of endotoxins should be alternated;
however, many products contain endotoxins
in common (Table 2).
• Rotate wild-type B. thuringiensis var. kurstaki
products (i.e. Dipel, Javelin) with either wild-
type B. thuringiensis var. aizawai products
(i.e. XenTari) or with genetically modified B.
thuringiensis products (i.e. Agree, Crymax,
Lepinox, Mattch).

Prepared by: Drs. David Schuster and Phillip Stansly

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 CHEMICAL CONTROL:
Biorational Insecticides

It is always necessary to consider the NEW INSECTICIDES:

A number of new insecticides in new chemical classes have recently
entire pest complex when designing become available or will likely become available in the near future
an IPM system for a particular crop (Table 3). Unfortunately, little or nothing is known about the relative
because actions taken to control one toxicity of these compounds to the natural enemies of interest to
Florida vegetable growers; however, the biorational nature of the
pest may impact another pest or its
compounds can be predicted by the spectrum of activity and other
natural enemies. characteristics of the compounds.

Nicotinoids: Table 3. New Insecticides in New Chemical Classes.

• Highly systemic (i.e. they are distributed through
the plant, primarily to new growth, when applied
to the roots) and translaminar (i.e. readily
absorbed into the leaf through the leaf surface).
• Soil-applied imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, and
dinotefuran have provided control of the
silverleaf whitefly for 8-12 weeks on tomato.
Foliar applications of imidacloprid, thiamethoxam
and dinotefuran controlled whitefly nymphs, but
not as well as soil applications. Foliar applications
of thiamethoxam and acetamiprid also controlled
whitefly adults.
• Not only are soil applications of the nicotinoids
more effective than foliar applications in
controlling whitefly nymphs, the impact of soil
applications on natural enemies would be
expected to be less than that of foliar applications
because most natural enemies would not be
exposed directly to the compounds.

Pymetrozine:
• Active against both nymphs and adults of aphids and whiteflies (Figure 4).
• Has long residual activity because it is absorbed translaminarly and apparently is translocated to new foliage.
• Because the compound is translaminar and systemic and because it is highly specific to Homoptera (aphids and
whiteflies), it should have minimal impact on natural enemies.

Pyriproxyfen and Buprofezin:

• Although both are insect growth regulators (IGRs) and both negatively impact development of immature life stages
of whiteflies, they are in different chemical classes and affect
whiteflies differently. Neither kills adults, but treated adults lay
infertile eggs. Furthermore, eggs treated with pyriproxyfen fail to
hatch while those treated with buprofezin tend to hatch normally.
Pyriproxyfen interferes with the final molt of the whitefly from
pupa to adult while buprofezin interferes with all nymphal molts.
• Both products are recommended for application to tomatoes as
the effects of soil-applied imidacloprid diminishes.
• A threshold of 5 nymphs or pupae/10 leaflets has been established
to time the applications.
• Because the IGRs affect development, control of whiteflies is not
rapid. Although both of the IGRs would be expected to have
minimal impact on natural enemies, pyriproxyfen has been shown
to be highly toxic to pupae and moderately toxic to larvae of the
whitefly parasite Eretmocerous formosa, but not to the whitefly
parasites E. pergandiella and E. transvena . Buprofezin was toxic to Figure 4. New insecticides, such as
larvae but not pupae of the whitefly parasite E. tejanus and was pymetrozine are active against aphids and
relatively non-toxic to larvae and adults of the parasite E. mundus. whiteflies. Photograph by: James Castner.
Prepared by: Drs. David Schuster and Phillip Stansly

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CHEMICAL CONTROL:
Biorational Insecticides

The biorational nature of Tebufenozide, Methoxyfenozide and Novaluron:

• These IGRs affect development of the larval stages of the southern,
pesticides depends upon the beet and other species of armyworms. Novaluron also affects
development of immature life stages of whiteflies.
time, pest and crop upon
• The controlling affect of the IGRs is not rapid.
which they are used.
• The IGRs would be expected to have minimal impact on natural
enemies.

Other Miscellaneous Insecticides:

• Spinosad and spinetoram are in the same chemical class and provide
control of armyworms, the tomato pinworm, thrips and have activity
against leafminers.

• Indoxacarb, emamectin benzoate, rynaxypyr, metaflumizone,

flubendiamide and pyridalyl all provide excellent control of larvae of
several armyworm species (Figure 5). The former two also provide
control of the tomato pinworm. The activity of the remaining
products against the tomato pinworm is not known at this time.

• Rynaxypyr also is active against leafminers and provides control of

whitefly adults and nymphs when applied as either a soil drench or a
foliar spray.

• Pyridalyl also is active against thrips.

• All of these new products have demonstrated minimal to very low

toxicity to natural enemies.
Figure 5. Tebufenozide, indoxacarb,
spinosad and emamectin benzoate can
control southern armyworm.
Photograph by: Lyle Buss.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Dr. David Schuster
UF/IFAS GCREC
14625 CR 672
Wimauma, FL 33598
[email protected]
813-634-0001

Dr. Phillip Stansly

UF/IFAS SWFREC
2686 Hwy 29 N
Immokalee, FL 34142-9515
[email protected]
239-658-3400

Figure 6. Reflective mulch is being used together with the reduced-

risk insecticide, spinosad, that poses little threat to field workers or
the environment. Photograph by: Eric Zamora.

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