6/12/2014 1 “Bee Informed” –Pesticides, Bees and Bcas

6/12/2014

“Bee Informed” –Pesticides, Bees and BCAs Compatibility

Joanne Lutz GGSPro Technical Specialist [email protected] NJNLA Greenhouse Conference June 18th, 2014

Why Do We Consider “BCA’s”?

“Green-growing” and sustainability.

Reduce resistance pressure on traditional pesticides

Part of ICM (Integrated Crop Management) where no one pest management tactic works in isolation

Why the Need for BCA Compatible Pesticides?

Abrupt weather changes from cool to warm increases pest Ex- aphids, mites, thrips in the typical spring greenhouse.

Shortages and transportation difficulties from BCA suppliers.

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Why the Need for BCA Compatible Pesticides?

Incoming plant material has unexpected pests.

Overlapping pests that it is difficult to control all with only BCA’s.

An unanticipated pest arrives. Ex- European Pepper Moth

Stuff happens!

Choosing Pesticides Compatible with BCA’s Considerations: Time to identify compatible pesticides is during production planning stage. Need ability to react quickly to save the BCA program. Determine acute toxicity to BCA’s & length of residual. Don’t forget fungicides and PGR’s.

Compatible Pesticides- Where are the Resources?

Biocontrol companies

University and extension researchers

Pesticide Companies

Grower anecdotes- careful with this…….

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What are the Challenges? So many BCA/pesticide combos to test. Needed data often lacking.

Difference in testing techniques can cause apparent contradictions. Greenhouse vs petri dish? Was it tested as a spray, drench or both?

BCA “Hit List”

Synthetic pyrethroids: 8 wk or longer residual- Ex: Decathlon (cyfluthrin), Talstar (bifenthrin), Tame (fenpropathrin)

Organo-phosphates: avg 4-8 week residual- Ex: Acephate/Orthene, Dursban/Duraguard (chlorpyrifos)

Carbamates: 8 wk or longer residual-

Ex©- 2014Mesurol Griffin Greenhouse Supplies,(methiocarb), Inc. Sevin (carbaryl)

What is a Biorational Pesticide? EPA identifies biorational pesticides as having “fundamentally different modes of action” and “lower risks of adverse effects” than conventional (i.e. neurotoxin) pesticides.

Ex- IGRs, insecticidal soaps, horticultural oils, microbial insecticides.

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Examples of Biorational Pesticides

Fungicides Insecticides

Actinovate SP Aria/Endeavor Affirm Azatin/Azaguard Botanigard/Mycotrol Cease Conserve Companion Dipel Milstop Essential oils Oxidate IGR’s Rootshield M-Pede

Examples of Biorational Pesticides

Fungicides Insecticides

Actinovate SP Aria/Endeavor Affirm Azatin/Azaguard Botanigard/Mycotrol Cease Conserve Companion Dipel Milstop Essential oils Oxidate IGR’s Rootshield M-Pede

Red Font= Known BCA Toxicities

Biopesticides- Always BCA Safe? Direct contact: directed sprays may kill natural enemies or in the case of parasitoids they may be killed while in developing hosts.

Host elimination: May kill hosts, which may lead to natural enemies dying or leaving because they are unable to locate additional hosts.

Adapted from: “Compatibility Conflict: Is the Use of Biological Control Agents with Pesticides a Viable Management Strategy?”-© R.2014 Cloyd, Griffin Greenhouse Kansas Supplies, State Inc. University

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Biopesticides- Always BCA Safe? Residual activity: Residues on a potential host may make them unacceptable to a parasitoid or predator.

Sub-lethal effects: May affect reproduction such as sterilizing females, reducing egg laying or impact the ratio of females vs. males.

Biorational = BCA safe? Conserve is a biorational pesticide that is safe for most mites but toxic to Aphidius spp., Encarsia formosa, Eretmocerus spp., and Orius.

Pyganic (natural pyrethrin plus PBO) is toxic to nearly all BCA’s with an average one week residual effect.

Caution is needed… Beware: PGR’s??- Cycocel reduced spider mites for up to 6 months on hibiscus.*

“Inert” ingredients and formulations matter. Example: Beauvaria bassiana products.

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Caution is needed… Beware: Milstop fungicide- labeled in NY to control: aphids, spider mites, mealybugs, whiteflies. BCA’s??

Surfactants- CapSil gave 53% mealybug mortality in one study*, better than Azatin and Organocide (sesame oil).

BCA “Friendly” Pesticides

Pesticide Pests Controlled Comments Adept Fungus gnat & shorefly larvae Aria Aphids, mealybugs, thrips, whiteflies Azatin/Molt-X Thrips, whiteflies, others Dipel Caterpillars Endeavor Aphids, whiteflies Mod toxic to Orius, 1 wk. Aphidoletes also. Enstar AQ Aphids, whiteflies, thrips Toxic to Eretmocerus sp, Orius nymphs Floramite Mites Toxic to P. persimilis, swirskii<1 wk residual Pedestal Thrips, whiteflies Toxic to Orius nymphs Shuttle Mites Somewhat toxic to P. persimilis Talus Leafhoppers, mealybugs, scale, whiteflies © 2014 Griffin Greenhouse Supplies, Inc.

Short Residual-”Clean Up” Pesticides

Pesticide Pests Controlled Comments Avid Leafminers, thrips, Residual 1 week or less mites Conserve Beetles, caterpillars, Toxic to many BCA’s, thrips short residual Horticultural oils Mites, scale, mealybugs, A. californicus 2-4 wk whiteflies residual, others ~1 wk Insecticidal soaps Aphids, mites, others Toxic to many BCA’s but 1 wk or less residual Pyganic Flying insects, beetles, Toxic to many BCA’s caterpillars but 1 wk or less residual

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Timing of BCA Releases

Neonicotinoid soil treatments (Marathon, Flagship, Safari) very toxic to Rove beetles when applied before releasing them onto treated soil. However after 96 hours survivability greatly improved.

Effect of Pesticides on Adult Rove Beetle Atheta coriaria (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) Survival in Growing Medium Raymond A. Cloyd,1,2 Nicholas R. Timmons,1 Jessica M. Goebel,1 and Kenneth E. Kemp3 1 Department© 2014 of Griffin Entomology, Greenhouse Supplies, Kansas Inc. State University, 123 Waters Hall, Manhattan, KS 66506-4004. abdominalis Amblyseius californicus Amblyseius Amblyseius Amblyseius cucumeris Aphelinus

BCA Compatibility Chart andersoni swirskii

Imm Adlt Imm Adlt Imm Adlt Imm Adlt Imm Adlt abamectin Abamectin SPC EC Ardent EC 2 2 2 2 3 Avid abamectin & Sirocco 2 2 2 2 3 bifenazate acephate Acephate 97UP 4 12 12 12 Orthene TR acephate & Tame/Orthene TR 4 12 12 12 fenpropathrin acequinocyl Shuttle O acetamiprid TriStar 30 SG 1 1 3 3 azadirachtin AzaGuard Azatin Molt-X azoxystrobin Heritage Bacillus subtilis Companion Liquid © 2014 Griffin Greenhouse Supplies, Inc.

BCA Pesticide Compatibility

Toxicity Legend Toxic >75% mortality Moderately Toxic 50-75% mortality Aphidius ervi Imm Ad Slightly Toxic 25-50% mortality Sirocco 2 Safe < 25% mortality Shuttle O Expected residual toxicity is noted as number Floramite SC 1 of weeks and appears within the color coded box.

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Pest Specific Compatible Pesticides

Key: H,T,O H= Harvest, Edible Crops grown to T= Transplants of edible crops for re-sale O= Ornamentals

Compatible Pesticides- Aphids Pesticide Aphidius Aphidius Aphidioletes Lacewing H,T,O OMRI colemani ervi aphidimyza C. carnea Aria ? ? ? S O No Azatin, S S S S H,T,O Except Azaguard, Azatin Molt-X Endeavor Slightly* Slightly* Slightly Toxic 1 S O No Toxic 1 wk Toxic 1 wk wk Grandevo S ? S ? O Yes PTO

* Mummies safe

Compatible Pesticides- Aphids Pesticide Aphidius Aphidius Aphidioletes Lacewing H,T,O OMRI colemani ervi aphidimyza C. carnea Kontos- S S S S T,O No drench only Marathon- S S S S T,O No drench only NoFly S S S S O Yes Preferal S S S S H,T,O Yes Safari- S ? S ? O No drench only

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Compatible Pesticides- Fungus Gnats

Pesticide Atheta Hypoaspis Steinernema H,T,O OMRI coriaria miles* feltiae Adept Toxic larvae 2 S S O No wks Azatin, Azaguard, ? S S H,T,O Azaguard Molt-X Molt-X Citation Toxic larvae 2 S S O No wks Distance ? S S H,T,O No Flagship- drench Toxic, 1 wk Toxic S O No Gnatrol S S S H,T,O Yes Safari- drench Toxic, 1 wk ? S O No

Compatible Pesticides- Spider Mites

Pesticide Amblyseius Amblyseius Amblyseius Phytoselius H,T,O OMRI andersoni californicas cucumeris persimilis Floramite ? S S Moderate H,T,O No Toxic 1 week tomato Hexygon S S S S O No Kontos- S S S S* T,O No drench Ovation S S S S O No Preferal ? S S S P,T,O Yes Shuttle ? S S Slightly Toxic H,T,O No 1 week tomato

* One study indicated slight toxicity but did not specify spray or drench

Compatible Pesticides- Thrips Pesticide Amblyseius Amblyseius Orius Steinernema H,T,O OMRI cucumeris swirskii feltiae Aria S Slightly Toxic S S O No 2 wks Azatin, S Slightly Toxic Nymphs S H,T,O Except Azaguard, 1 wks Slightly Azatin Molt-X Toxic 2 wks Botanigard S S Slightly S H,T,O Myco- Toxic 2 trol wks Yes Flagship- S S Toxic 4 S O No drench only weeks Grandevo ?** ?** S ? O Yes PTO

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Compatible Pesticides- Thrips

Pesticide Amblyseius Amblyseius Orius Steinernema H,T,O OMRI cucumeris swirskii feltiae Kontos S S Slightly* ? T,O No drench only Toxic 4 weeks NoFly** S S S S O Yes Overture ?*** ?*** S S O No Pedestal S ? S ? O No Preferal S S S S H,T,O Yes Safari – S Toxic 2 wks ? S O No drench only

Compatible Pesticides- Whiteflies

Pesticide Amblyseius Encarsia Eretmocerus H,T,O OMRI swirskii formosa spp Aria SlightlyToxic S S O No 2 weeks Azatin, Azaguard, Slightly Toxic Slightly S H,T,O Except Molt-X 1 wk Toxic 2 wks, Azatin Larvae Safe Botanigard S Slightly S H,T,O Mycotro Toxic 1 wk l Yes Kontos- S S ? T,O No drench only NoFly S S S O Yes Pedestal S S S O No Preferal ? S S H,T,O Yes Safari- Toxic Slightly S O No drench only Toxic 4 wks © 2014 Griffin Greenhouse Supplies, Inc. Talus Slightly Toxic Slightly S H,T,O No 1 wk Toxic 1 wk, Tomato

Microbial Insecticides and Miticides Active Major Edible Crops- Omri REI ingredient Greenhouse Pests Greenhouse Listed®? hours Labeled Botanigard ES, Beauveria Aphid, mealybug, Herbs and No 4 Botanigard WP bassianastrain plant bugs, thrips, vegetables GHA -11.3% weevils, whitefly Met 52 EC Metarhizium Aphid, mealybug Onions, celery, No 4, 0 for anisopliaestrain thrips, whitefly lettuce, spinach, soil F52 -11% peppers, tomatoes, incorp berry crops Mycotrol Beauveria Aphid, mealybug, Herbs and Yes 4 bassianastrain plant bugs, thrips, vegetables GHA -10.9% weevils, whitefly NoFly Paecifomyces Aphid, thrips, No food crops Yes 4 fumosoroseus whitefly strain FE 9901, blastospores - 18% Preferal Isaria Aphid, leafminer, Herbs, spices, Yes 4 fumosorosea mealybug, plant strawberry, Apopka Strain 97 bugs, spider mite, vegetables © 2014 Griffin Greenhouse-20% Supplies, Inc. thrips, whitefly ** ** soil treatments control: soil-borne caterpillars, grubs, thrips pupae, rootworms, weevils

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Summary of Minimizing Pesticide Risks to Natural Enemies

Pesticide records available for incoming plant material

Follow label and use lowest rate that will give effective control.

Least toxic products to BCA that will give effective control.

Photo credit: Matt Libhart Pesticides and Bee Safety

Nature of Honeybees Facts Avg honeybee colony ~50,000 bees in midsummer One queen per hive 1 queen lays 1-2,000 eggs per day to maintain hives production of worker bees 500-1000 drones (males) Remainder worker bees (non-fertile females)

Information from Dennis Crum Ghs Grower March 2014 article and Matt Libhart, Apiarist

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Nature of Honeybees Facts cont’ Avg life span of worker bee is 4-6 wks spring/summer Take 2.5 million flower visits to produce 1 lb honey Avg commercial hive produces 50 lb harvestable honey per year Each bee produces 1/12 tsp honey Avg honey bee forage range in non- agriculture setting is 2 miles

Information from Dennis Crum Ghs Grower March 2014 article and Matt Libhart, Apiarist

How Bees Forage Most honey bees and bumble bees forage in a predictable, diurnal pattern. Bee foraging activity often commences just before or close to sunrise. Bees tend to visit plants more frequently during periods of peak pollen and nectar production. Bumble bees with longer forage period than honey bees (extend longer into afternoon).

Other Environmental Factors Beekeeping trade/extension pubs cite 55⁰F as minimum temp required for foraging. Foraging diminishes under high temp; 104⁰F likely high temp limit. Foraging decreases under windy conditions (10-15 mph). Foraging can occur in light rain and drizzle; bumble bees more tolerant

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Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD)

CCD is a syndrome in which a sudden loss of adult bees occurs in a mature colony.

The queen and brood generally survive but the colonies are drastically weakened by the loss of the adults.

CCD is diagnosed when colony loss is noted in the absence of dead bees, implying that the bees did not return to the hive.

Contributors to CCD Parasites – The Varroa destructor mite is found in association with lost hives. Serious threat.

Pathogens –Lost hives have greater numbers of pathogens present, including Nosema fungal infections. Viral infections(Israeli acute paralysis virus (IAPV) also have been found. Varroa/Nosema disease complex – Interactions between parasite and

Varroa Mites Weaken Colonies Varroa destructor considered to be “the most serious pest (parasite) of honey bee colonies worldwide” (NCSU Cooperative Extension)

Mite images courtesy of USDA-ARS

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Summary State Beekeepers

Loss rate is not sustainable, over-winter losses exceeded 30% since CCD first reported. Primary cause of current honey bee colony loss is not due to CCD. No smoking gun Most likely multi-factorial May not have even a single factor Loss rate has been building for over a decade © 2014 Griffin Greenhouse Supplies, Inc.

Contributors to Colony Loss Hive management- Reductions in genetic diversity, impact of long- distance transport of hives for pollination services.

Habitat loss– Changing agricultural practices: reduction in native and wild areas, which serve as rich sources of food for foraging bees.

Contributors to Colony Loss

Pesticide toxicity – In previous decades, concern focused on risks from the use of organophosphates and other highly toxic classes of pesticides. Recent concern has focused on the neonicotinoid class of chemicals.

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Communicating Bee Safety

This Environmental Hazard section appears on all labels:

Ex.- “This pesticide is highly toxic to bees exposed to direct treatment or residues on crops or weeds. Do not apply Decathlon 20 WP Greenhouse and Nursery Insecticide or allow it to drift onto crops or weeds on which bees are actively foraging.”

New Bee Advisory Box Required

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sent letters on 7-22 and 8-13-13 to pesticide companies taking immediate steps to change pesticide labels to be more clear and precise for outdoor foliar applications and limit applications to improve protection for bees. Clothianidin Dinotefuran Imidacloprid Thiamethoxam

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Bee Safety Survey Says…

Toxicity Exposure Risk HT HT T LT LT NT 1 2 3

Very Direct Highly Highly Potential Low Non and Product A.I. Toxic Toxic Toxic Pathogen Toxicity Toxic Residue Residual Direct Statement This product is highly toxic to bees exposed to direct treatment or residues on the foliage of blooming crops or weeds. Do not apply this product or allow it to Benefit 60WP imidacloprid drift to blooming crops or weeds if bees are visiting the treatment area.

This product is potentially pathogenic to honey bees. Avoid applying to areas where honey bees are actively foraging or around bee hives. Botanigard ES 11.3% Beauveria bassiana strain GHA

This product is highly toxic to bees exposed to direct treatment or residues on blooming crops or weeds. Do not apply this product or allow it to drift to Chlorpyrifos SPC chlorpyrifos blooming crops or weeds if bees are visiting the treatment area.

--- Citation cyromazine

This product is toxic to bees exposed to treatement during the 3 hours following treatment. Do not apply this pesticide to blooming, pollen-shedding or nectar- Conserve SC spinosad productiong parts of plants if bees may forage on the plants during this time period.

This product is higly toxic to bees exposed to direct treatment or residues on crops or weeds. Do not apply or allow it to drift onto crops or weeds on which Decathlon cyfluthrin bees are actively foraging.

--- Dipel Pro DF Bacillus thuringiensis k

This product is highly toxic to bees exposed to direct treatment or residues on blooming crops or weeds. Do not apply this product or allow it to drift to Discus N/G cyfluthrin and imidacloprid blooming crops or weeds if bees are visiting the treatment area.

--- Distance pyriproxyfen

Is suitable for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs as it has a low toxicity to beneficial insects (including honeybees and bumblebees) and mite Endeavor pymetrozine populations. TEXT NOT FROM ENVIRON HAZARDS SECTION OF LABEL; FROM IPM SECTION

--- Enstar AQ kinoprene

This product is highly toxic to bees exposed to direct treatment on blooming crops. Do not apply this product or allow it to drift to blooming crops while bees Flagship G thiamethoxam are foraging in/or adjacent to treatment area.

This product is toxic to bees exposed to direct treatment but residues on treated foliage are not toxic to bees. Do not apply this product while bees are actively Floramite SC bifenazate visiting the treatment area.

--- Judo spiromesifen

larvae adults larvae This product is potentially toxic to honey bee larvae through residues in pollen and nectar, but not to adult honey bees. Exposure of adult bees to direct Kontos SC spirotetramat treatment or residues on blooming crops can lead to effects on honey bee larvae. See the Directions for Use section of this label for specific crop application instructions that minimize risk to honey bee larvae. (for fruit and nut trees, notes apply after petal fall, avoidance 10 days prior to bloom, during bloom, after © 2014 Griffin Greenhouse Supplies, Inc. petal fall)

Introducing the GGSPro Bee Safety Codes

Convey EPA’s bee caution statements Help growers select products appropriate to their use Provides quick indicator for need to review label Emphasize wise and effective use 3

Bee Icon Color = Toxicity

Highly Toxic EPA describes as highly toxic or very highly toxic to bees Toxic EPA describes as toxic to bees

Low Toxicity EPA describes as having low toxicity to bees

Special Case Special use notes per label

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Bee Icon Number = Exposure

① Toxicity risk through direct exposure and residual exposure - avoid treatment when bees are visiting during both treatment and following treatment. ② Toxicity risk through residual exposure only - avoid treatment when bees are visiting the treatment area or after treatment.

③ Toxicity risk through direct exposure only - avoid treatment when bees are actively visiting or actively foraging the

Bee Safety Codes in Action 3 What you see: The red bee means this product is highly toxic to bees while the number 3 means the exposure risk comes from direct spray only. What you do: If planning an outdoor application, review the label. Avoid using this chemical when bees are actively visiting the area. This can be achieved by applying the product in the evening.

GGSPro Recommends Apply chemicals with direct exposure risk as late in the day as possible, preferably in the early evening. Alternatively, application could be made when temperatures will remain below 50⁰F for the duration of the application period. Select low toxicity risk products and avoid high residual risk application if crop will come into bloom within risk period.

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GGSPro Recommends A though visual check for visiting bees should be performed. Provide 48 hour courtesy notice to nearby beekeepers regarding applications. Avoid applications to flowering non- crop plants such as weeds.

Upcoming BEE SUMMIT The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will hold a summit this fall aimed at addressing the nutrition and forage needs of pollinators. The summit will take place in Washington D.C. on October 21-23, 2014 and will be attended by a consortium of public, private, and non-governmental organizations. Attendees will discuss the most recent research related to pollinator loss and work to identify solutions. http://pollinator.org/nappc/conference.htm