Introduction to Pesticides:
Understanding Performance Characteristics of Insecticides
Insect
Plant Chemistry
John C. Wise, Ph.D.
MSU Department of Entomology
Trevor Nichols Research Center
Toxicology 101
• Toxicology: The science of dealing with the dose and
antidotes of poisons
• Paracelsus (1492-1541) is the father of toxicology
– Formulated revolutionary views on toxicology
– Realized that poisons were chemicals, not “spirits”
• Toxicon = toxic agent = chemical agent
• Determined there were dose-response relationships
What makes something a poison?
"All substances are poisons; there
is none which is not a poison. The
right dose differentiates a
poison…."
Paracelsus
(1493-1541)
Which is a true example of a poisoning?
Woman Dies from 44 Toxic Chemicals
Drinking Water. Pollute Blood of
SACRAMENTO, California Canadians
(AP) — A woman in a radio Ottawa , Ontario - A cocktail of
station’s contest to see how harmful toxic chemicals has
much water she could drink been found inside every person
without going to the tested in a Canada-wide study,
bathroom died of water released today by
intoxication, the coroner’s Environmental Defense.
office said Saturday.
What is a Pesticide?
Historical definition:
“all inclusive word meaning killer of pests.”
- The ending “cide” comes from the latin “cida”
meaning killer.
Modern legal definition:
“any substance used for controlling, preventing,
destroying, repelling, or mitigating any pest.”
Pest Management
• To the degree that pest population
management and crop protection goals
are met, a compound’s performance
should be deemed acceptable.
• Crop protection does not necessitate
pest mortality!
The Only Good
Bug is a
Dead Bug !!!
What is Effective
Pest Management Performance?
“Any pest control tool (or combination
of tools) employed in an IPM program
must ultimately provide sufficient fruit
protection to meet minimum grade
standards for the targeted market.”
Insecticides Registered in Fruit Crops - 1996
Conventional Insecticides New Insecticides
• Chlorinated Hydrocarbons (1) • Insect Growth Regulators (1)
• Organophosphates (6) • Avermectins (1)
• Carbamates (2) • Neonicotinoids (1)
• Synthetic Pyrethroids (6)
Insecticides Registered in Fruit Crops - 2014
20th Century Insecticides 21st Century Insecticides
• Chlorinated Hydrocarbons (1) • Insect Growth Regulators (5)
• Organophosphates (2) • Spinosyns (2)
• Carbamates (2) • Avermectins (2)
• Synthetic Pyrethroids (6) • Neonicotinoids (5)
• Oxadiazines (1)
• Diamides (3)
• Microbials/Botanicals (6+)
• Particle Film (1)
• Pyrizoles (1)
• Pyridine Carboxamides (1)
• Pre-mixes (4)
How are Pesticides Classified?
Pesticides are generally classified in 3 ways:
1. Based on chemical structures
2. According to their mode of action
3. According to their mode of entry
i.e.; ingestion, inhalation, contact absorption
“mode of action” refers to the mechanism by which an
insecticide controls the target organism.
Modes of Action of Major Synthetic Commercial Insecticides
Glutamate Receptor Uncouplers of Ecdysone
Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors agonists
Antagonists Mitochondrial Respiration
Acetylcholine Sodium Channel Chitin synthesis
Receptor Agonists GABA Receptor Pyrroles inhibitors
Agonists Antagonists
Pyrazoles
Avermectins
Carbamates Benzoylureas
Organophosphates Pyridazinones
dibenzoylhydrazines
DDT
Hydramethylnon
Spinosyns
Indoxacarb
Neo-nicotinoids
Cyclodienes Phenylpyrazoles
Pyrethroids
Mode of Activity
“mode of activity” is the field-assessable symptoms of an
insecticide’s action on an organism that are responsible for control.
• Insecticide Activity on Target Pest :
– Lethal activity
– Sub-lethal activity
– Repellency
– Anti-feedance and oviposition deterrence
– Curative activity
Lethal activity results in direct mortality of the pest
Adulticides:
Contact w/ adults
Larvacides:
Ovicides:
Residue over eggs (ovi-larvicidal)
Residue under eggs Ingestion/contact w/ larva
Leaf or Fruit
Spray Deposition
CM Cumulative Life-Stage Activity Bioassays
Life Stage Activity of Insecticides on Codling Moth
% Live Adults % Egg Hatch # Larval Entries
100
75
50
25
0
Proclaim
Calypso
Altacor
Rimon
Guthion
Delegate
Control
MSU Trevor Nichols Research Center
Insecticidal Activity on Codling Moth
Compound Life-stage Activity Mode of Exposure
Organophosphates Eggs, Larvae, Adults Contact / Ingestion
Pyrethroids Eggs, Larvae, Adults Contact / Ingestion
Rimon Eggs Under / over egg contact
Larvae Ingestion
Adult Contact – sublethal effects
Delegate Eggs, Larvae Ingestion / egg contact
CM Virus Larvae Ingestion
Neonicotinoids Eggs, Larvae, Adults Ingestion / contact
Proclaim Eggs, Larvae Ingestion / over egg contact
Altacor/Belt Eggs, Larvae Ingestion / over egg contact
Optimal Timing for Codling Moth Control
Adults Eggs Larvae
175-200 DD b50
100
Petal Fall 250 DD b50
80 Bio+100 DD Altacor/Belt
C M em ergence
Neonics Proclaim
60 Delegate
Rimon CM virus
Organophosphates
40
20
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Time
Sub-lethal activity affects
the subsequent generation of the pest
Reduced fecundity or
Nonviable eggs
Leaf or Fruit
Spray Deposition
Sublethal Activity of Novaluron on Codling Moth
100.00%
90.00%
80.00%
70.00%
Egg Hatching Rate(%)
60.00%
Control
50.00%
Novaluron
40.00%
30.00%
20.00%
10.00%
0.00%
Ingestion Residual Contact Direct Spray
Treatment Method
Esteem IGR Reduces Overwintering Survival
in Plum Curculio (Whalon et al.)
Eggs in
Esteem
Treated PC
Fall
Fall Migration?
Migration?
Repellents cause the pest to
actively avoid the treated substrate
Antifeedants and Oviposition Deterrants
reduce the desirability of the crop
as a food source or egg laying host for the pest
No Feeding or Egg Laying
Fruit
Residue Profile on Apple Leaves
10
-5
-10
Neonicotinoids
Curative activity is lethal action on a pest
post-infestation resulting from the transitory penetration
of the insecticide into plant tissue.
Spray
Fruit
Curative Activity of Insecticides on Plum Curculio Larvae
Untreated Check A
Intrepid A
Esteem A
Rimon A
Avaunt A
Calypso ABC
Assail BCD
Actara D
CD
Guthion
0 0.5 1 1.5 2
Mean larvae per fruit
Insecticide Penetration Profiles in Early Season Apples
Curative Activity of Insecticides on Apple Maggot Larvae
Insecticide Penetration Profiles in Apple Subsections
100%
Proportion of active ingredient
90%
5mm+ inside to core
80%
70% 5mm center flesh
60%
2mm outside flesh
50%
40% Skin
30%
20%
10%
0%
Imidan Calypso Actara Delegate
Chemical Activity Properties
Compound Mode of Action Mode of Insecticidal Activity Speed of
Entry Activity
Organophosphates Nerve Poison Contact/Ingest Lethal, Curative Fast
Carbamates Nerve Poison Contact/Ingest Lethal Moderate
Pyrethroids Nerve Poison Contact/Ingest Lethal / Repellent Fast
Insect Growth Hormonal Ingestion / Lethal / Sublethal Slow
Regulators egg contact
Spinosyns Nerve Poison Ingestion Lethal Fast
Oxadiazines Nerve Poison Ingest/contact Lethal Slow
Neonicotinoids Nerve Poison Contact/Ingest Lethal / Antifeedant Moderate
Ovipos deterrence
Curative
Diamides Ryanodine Ingestion Lethal Moderate
Receptor
Modulators
Optimal Timing for Apple Maggot Control
Adults Eggs Larvae
100 Preoviposition Egg Laying
Curative
Period Adult targeted
Sprays
Cover spray
A M em ergence
80 Imidan
Imidan
Neonics
Neonics
Delegate
60 SpinTor
GF-120
40 Diamides
20
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Time
Optimal Timing for Plum Curculio in Stone Fruits
Adult activity Eggs Larvae
100
Petal Fall Shuck-Off Curative
80
N u m b er of P C
Actara
Imidan Actara
60
Avaunt
40 Rimon
Delegate
20
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Week
Identifying Modes of Insecticidal Activity
a) Oviposition deterence
b) Antifeedant
c) Repellency
(drawing by Marlene Cameron)
d) Curative
e) Sub-lethal
For many of the RR insecticides “Lethal
(d)
and non-lethal modes of insecticidal
activity work in concert to achieve the
overall crop protection seen in the field.”
(Wise and Whalon 2009; Biorational Control of
Arthropod Pests: Application and Resistance
Management. In I. Ishaaya and A. Rami Horowitz (eds.),
Biorational Control of Arthropod Pests: Application and
Resistance Management: Springer Pub. Ltd. )
How Insect Populations Develop Resistance
THREE GENOTYPES
RR RS SS
Homozygous Heterozygous Homozygous
Resistant Susceptible
Seasonal Program Under Resistance Management
Apr May Jun Jul Aug
Delegate Delegate Altacor Altacor
adults
Bloom
PF
egg
laying
hatch
0 100 250 500 1000
Codling Moth Degree-days (base 50 F° post-biofix)
Seasonal Program Under Resistance Management
Apr May Jun Jul Aug
Voliam flexi Altacor Belt Assail
adults
Bloom
PF
egg
laying
hatch
0 100 250 500 1000
Codling Moth Degree-days (base 50 F° post-biofix)
MSU Resistance Management Incompatibility Chart
Factors that Influence Pesticide Wash-off
(image by Marlene Cameron)
• Rainfall Characteristics
• Penetrative & Translocative Properties of the Compound
• Insecticide Inherent Toxicity and Application Rate
• Drying time, Persistence, and Additives
Translocation and systemic mobility:
a. Translaminar ‐penetration of a foliar applied pesticide from the
adaxial cuticular surface of the leaf, through the epidermis layer
and distributing into the mesophyll on the abaxial side.
b. Acropetal ‐ horizontal mobility in the plant xylem from central leaf
tissue to the marginal ends.
c. Basipetal ‐ movement of the insecticide within the phloem from
the site of application in the downward direction.
Physical and Chemical Properties
Compound Class Residual (on Systemic Systemic
plant) Characteristics Characteristics
(foliar) (fruit)
Organophosphates Long Surface Surface
Pyrethroids Short Cuticle Penetration Cuticle Penetration
Neonicotinoids Medium Translaminar & Systemic
Acropetal
IGRs Medium - Long Translaminar Cuticle Penetration
Spinosyns Short - Medium Translaminar Cuticle Penetration
Diamides Medium - Long Translaminar Cuticle Penetration
Imidan Assail
Fruit Residues Fruit Residues
1
0.1
A m o u n t u g /g o f p h o s m e t
0.75
A m o u n t u g /g o f a c e t a m ip r id l
0.075
0.5 0.05
0.25 0.025
0 0
0 inch rain 1.0 in rain 2.0 in rain
0 inch rain 1.0 in rain 2.0 in rain
Leaf Residues Leaf Residues
20 5
4
A m o u n t u g /g o f a c e t a m ip rid
15
A m o u n t u g /g o f p h o s m e t
3
10
2
5
1
0 0
0 inch rain 1 in rain 2 in rain 0 inch rain 1 in rain 2 in rain
Delegate Altacor
Fruit Residues Fruit Residues
0.04
A m o u n t u g /g o f s p in e t o r a m
0.03
0.02
0.01
0
0 inch rain 1.0 in rain 2.0 in rain
Leaf Residues Leaf Residues
2.5
2
A m o u n t u g /g o f s p in e t o r a m
1.5
0.5
0
0 inch rain 1 in rain 2 in rain
Rainfastness Rating Chart
General Characteristics for Insecticide Chemical Classes
Insecticide Rainfastness ≤ 0.5 inch Rainfastness ≤ 1.0 inch Rainfastness ≤ 2.0 inch
Class
Fruit Leaves Fruit Leaves Fruit Leaves
Organophosphates L M L M L L
Pyrethroids M M/H L M L L
Carbamates M M L M L L
IGRs M H
Neonicotinoids M,S H,S L,S L,S L,S L,S
Spinosyns H H H M M L
Diamides H H H M M L
Avermectins M,S H,S L,S M,S L L
•H – highly rainfast (≤30% loss), M – moderate (≤50% loss), L – low (≤70% loss), S-systemic residues
•Michigan Fruit Management Guide E154 http://bookstore.msue.msu.edu/
Apple Insecticide Precipitation Wash-off
Re-application Decision Chart:
Expected codling moth control in apples, based on each compound’s inherent toxicity to CM
larvae, maximum residual, and wash-off potential from rainfall.
Insecticides Rainfall = 0.5 inch Rainfall = 1.0 inch Rainfall = 2.0 inches
*1 day *7 days *1 day *7 days *1 day *7 days
Imidan X X X X
Asana X X X X X
Calypso X X X X
Assail X X X X
Proclaim X X X X
Rimon X X X X
Delegate X X
Altacor X X
Belt X X
* Number of days after insecticide application that the precipitation event occurred.
X – Insufficient insecticide residue remains, thus re-application is recommended.
20th Century IPM 21st Century IPM
Industrial Age Information Age
“What optimal selection of IPM
tools will best exploit the pest’s
“Time for another poison” weaknesses, reduce total inputs,
minimize impacts on beneficials,
while protecting human and
environmental resources?”
