Beneficials Chemical Toxicity Table
Impact of insecticides on beneficial insects in Australian grain crops
Produced by Cesar Australia, The Beneficials Chemical Toxicity Table summarises the toxicity of foliar chemical sprays on key beneficial species relevant to the grains industry. AgPest is home to the Interactive Edition - click on the toxicity ratings to learn more about each beneficial species and chemical.
| Active ingredient | Mode of Action | Aphid parasitoids | Lepidopteran egg parasitoids | Lacewings | Ladybird beetles | Lepidopteran larval parasitoids | Predatory bugs | Predatory mites | Rove beetles | Hoverflies | Spiders |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nucleopolyhedrovirus | 31 | L | L | L | L | L | L | L | L | L | L |
Bacillus thuringiensis | 11A | L | L | L | L | L | L | L | L | M | L |
Chlorantraniliprole | 28 | L | L | L | L | M | L | L | L | L | L |
Flonicamid | 29 | L | M | L | L | L | L | L | L | L | L |
Afidopyropen | 9D | L | L | L | L - M | L | L | L - M | L | L | L |
Paraffinic oil | NA | L - VH | L | L | M | L | L - M | L | L | L | L |
Cyantraniliprole | 28 | M - H | L - M | L | M | M | M | L | L | L | L |
Pirimicarb low | 1A | M - VH | VH | L | L | L | L | L - M | L | L | L |
Indoxacarb | 22A | L - VH | L | L | M - H | VH | L | L | L | L | L |
Emamectin benzoate | 6 | M - H | VH | L | L | VH | M | M | L | L | L |
Pirimicarb high | 1A | M - VH | VH | L | L - M | M | M | M | L | L | M |
Abamectin | 6 | M - H | VH | M | M | L | M | M | L | H | L |
Sulfoxaflor | 4C | H - VH | VH | L | L | VH | VH | L | L | L | L |
Spinetoram | 5 | H - VH | H | M | M | VH | M | L - H | L | M | L |
Gamma-cyhalothrin | 3A | L - M | VH | VH | VH | VH | VH | L - VH | L | L | L |
Diafenthiuron | 12A | M - VH | L | L | M - VH | VH | VH | M - VH | L | L | L |
Thiodicarb | 1A | M - VH | VH | L | H - VH | M | M | H | M | VH | L |
Synthetic pyrethroids | 3A | L - VH | VH | VH | VH | VH | VH | L - VH | M | H | VH |
Methomyl | 1A | VH | VH | VH | VH | M | H | VH | VH | H | VH |
Organophosphates | 1B | VH | VH | M - VH | VH | VH | VH | VH | VH | H - VH | H |
Ratings for toxicity are based on International Organisation for Biological Control (IOBC) protocols for laboratory studies and reflect percent mortality of insects within a particular beneficial group exposed to each chemical. A rating of L represents <30% mortality, M 30- 79%, H 80-99% and VH >99% mortality. These values represent mortality under controlled laboratory conditions – impacts may vary in the field, especially if multiple applications of a chemical occur.
Where a range in toxicity ratings is presented, this represents varying results among species or chemicals within a group. Combinations of chemicals and insects with a wide range of ratings are shown in cells with a diagonal slash. Click on each toxicity rating for species-specific information and the percent mortality associated with this chemical.
Where growers are able to monitor and identify important local beneficial species, targeted spray decisions can be made so as to minimise harm to key beneficial groups that are present. In situations where monitoring for beneficial insects is not feasible, and knowledge of the beneficial species present in the local environment is limited, growers may select the overall least toxic chemical from the list that is effective against the target pest.
The Beneficials Chemical Toxicity Table is also available as a PDF via the Cesar Australia website.
Version: 3.0
Published: April 2024