What is spinosad and how does it work?
Spinosad is not particularly new, having been granted organic status by the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) in 2003. However few home gardeners are aware of its potential uses. Spinosad is especially effective on caterpillars and thrips.
Is Spinosad safe to use on plants?
Spinosad is a relatively new insect killer, having been approved by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1997. In 2003, it was officially given organic status by the USDA National Organic Program (NOP). With these seals of approval, you can safely use them in vegetable gardens and on your ornamental plants.
What are the different types of Spinosad?
These products are commonly sprays, dusts, granules, and pellets. Some of these products are approved for use in organic agriculture. Spinosad is also found in some drugs regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration.
Is Spinosad soluble in water?
Spinosad is relatively nonpolar and not easily dissolved in water. Spinosad is a novel mode-of-action insecticide derived from a family of natural products obtained by fermentation of S. spinosa. Spinosyns occur in over 20 natural forms, and over 200 synthetic forms (spinosoids) have been produced in the lab.
Is spinosad allowed in organic farming?
It is used to control a wide variety of pests. These include thrips, leafminers, spider mites, mosquitoes, ants, fruit flies and others. Many products containing spinosad are used on crops and ornamental plants. Some of these products are approved for use in organic agriculture.
Is spinosad safe to eat?
Q: Is it safe to eat fruits and vegetables from my garden after spinosad-bait has been sprayed on them? A: Yes. The U.S. EPA allows farmers to apply spinosad to a number of food crops, and washing your produce should be sufficient to provide you with safe food.
Is spinosad safe for the environment?
Can spinosad affect birds, fish, or other wildlife? Spinosad is practically non-toxic to moderately toxic to fish depending on the species. It is slightly to moderately toxic to aquatic invertebrates. However, spinosad is very highly toxic to eastern oysters.
Is spinosad soap organic?
Spinosad is not particularly new, having been granted organic status by the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) in 2003. However few home gardeners are aware of its potential uses. Spinosad is especially effective on caterpillars and thrips. If you're a flower gardener, your ears should prick up on this one.
Is spinosad a neurotoxin?
Spinosad 0.9% Suspension (Natroba). Spinosad topical suspension is a novel neurotoxin indicated for the treatment of head lice in children 6 months and older. It contains a mixture of spinosyn A and spinosyn D in a ratio of approximately 5 : 1.
Is spinosad banned in Canada?
The active ingredient in Entrust is spinosad, a fermented by-product from a soil-dwelling bacterium Saccharpolyspora spinosa. The first Spinosad product was registered in Canada several years ago but, unfortunately, organic producers in Canada were not allowed to use the original formulation.
Does rain wash off spinosad?
Diamide and spinosyn-type insecticides (e.g., Spinosad) are also very rainfast.
Can spinosad harm plants?
Spinosad products will not hurt your plants unless you use huge amounts of it.
Is spinosad toxic to bees?
Semi-field cage studies have also demonstrated that spinosad was safe to bees when applied to flowering crops during periods of bee activity. The majority of studies conducted have indicated that spinosad does not adversely affect honeybee behaviour, brood or queen.
How many times can you use spinosad?
Spinosad is recommended to be used at the rate of 4 Tablespoonfuls per gallon of water but not more than six times during the growing season. Spinosad can be used up to one day before harvest.
How often can you use spinosad?
For head lice: Adults and children 6 months of age and older—Apply directly to dry hair and scalp one time only. If you need a second treatment, it should be spaced 1 week apart. Children younger than 6 months of age—Use is not recommended.
Is neem oil a pyrethrin?
Some neem oil products also contain the botanical insecticide pyrethrin.
Can spinosad be used on vegetables?
Spinosad is labeled for use on vegetables, fruits, citrus, trees, shrubs, ornamentals and lawns. On vegetable, fruits and citrus it controls coddling moths on apples, caterpillars, asparagus beetles, thrips, leaf miners, Colorado potato beetle, listed borers and other listed pests.
Is Monterey Garden Insect Spray Safe?
Organic gardening - the active ingredient in our bug Killer spray is a natural bacteria called spinosad, which is the newest agricultural chemistry to be introduced. Approved For organic gardening, our product is safe for use around people and pets.
Is spinosad safe for chickens?
SPINOSAD for veterinary use in DOGS, SHEEP, GOATS and POULTRY against external parasites: fleas, mites, lice, flies. Spinosad is a natural active ingredient of microbial origin used in veterinary medicine in dogs and livestock against some external parasites (lice, fleas, flies, etc.).
What is spinosad used for?
Spinosad suspension is used to treat head lice (small insects that attach themselves to the scalp) in adults and children 6 months of age and older. It is also used to treat scabies (mites that attach themselves to the skin) in adults and children 4 years of age and older.
What is Spinosad based on?
Chemical compound. Spinosad is an insecticide based on chemical compounds found in the bacterial species Saccharopolyspora spinosa. The genus Saccharopolyspora was discovered in 1985 in isolates from crushed sugarcane. The bacteria produce yellowish-pink aerial hyphae, with bead-like chains of spores enclosed in a characteristic hairy sheath.
What is Spinosad sold under?
Spinosad is sold under the trade names, Comfortis, Trifexis, and Natroba. Trifexis also includes milbemycin oxime. Comfortis and Trifexis brands treat adult fleas on pets; the latter also prevents heartworm disease. Natroba is sold for treatment of human head lice. Spinosad is also commonly used to kill thrips.
How many forms of spinosyn are there?
Spinosyns occur in over 20 natural forms, and over 200 synthetic forms (spinosoids) have been produced in the lab. Spinosad contains a mix of two spinosoids, spinosyn A, the major component, and spinosyn D (the minor component), in a roughly 17:3 ratio.
What is the mechanism of action of spinosoid insecticides?
The mode of action of spinosoid insecticides is by a neural mechanism . The spinosyns and spinosoids have a novel mode of action, primarily targeting binding sites on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) of the insect nervous system that are distinct from those at which other insecticides have their activity.
How long does spinosad stay in the bin?
Spinosad residues are highly stable on grains stored in bins, with protection ranging from 6 months to 2 years. Ecotoxicology parameters have been reported for spinosad, and are:
How does Spinosad work?
Mode of action. Spinosad is highly active, by both contact and ingestion, in numerous insect species. Its overall protective effect varies with insect species and life stage. It affects certain species only in the adult stage, but can affect other species at more than one life stage.
Does Spinosyn A interact with insecticidal receptors?
Spinosyn A does not appear to interact directly with known insecticidal-relevant target sites, but rather acts via a novel mechanism. Spinosyn A resembles a GABA antagonist and is comparable to the effect of avermectin on insect neurons. Spinosyn A is highly active against neonate larvae of the tobacco budworm, Heliothis virescens, and is slightly more biologically active than spinosyn D. In general, spinosyns possessing a methyl group at C6 (spinosyn D-related analogs) tend to be more active and less affected by changes in the rest of the molecule. Spinosyn A is slow to penetrate to the internal fluids of larvae; it is also poorly metabolized once it enters the insect. The apparent lack of spinosyn A metabolism may contribute to its high level of activity, and may compensate for the slow rate of penetration.
What is spinosad?
Spinosad is a natural substance made by a soil bacterium that can be toxic to insects. It is a mixture of two chemicals called spinosyn A and spinosyn D. It is used to control a wide variety of pests. These include thrips, leafminers, spider mites, mosquitoes, ants, fruit flies and others.
What are some products that contain spinosad?
Others are used in and around buildings, in aquatic settings, and as seed treatments. These products are commonly sprays, dusts, granules, and pellets. Some of these products are approved for use in organic agriculture.
How does spinosad work?
Spinosad affects the nervous system of insects that eat or touch it. It causes their muscles to flex uncontrollably. This leads to paralysis and ultimately their death, typically within 1-2 days.
What happens to spinosad when it enters the body?
When eaten, spinosad is readily absorbed. Once inside it moves to many areas of the body and is broken down. The majority leaves the body in feces or urine within 1-2 days. Spinosad is absorbed poorly through skin contact.
Are children more sensitive to spinosad than adults?
Children may be especially sensitive to pesticides compared to adults. However, there are currently no data showing that children have increased sensitivity specifically to spinosad.
Can spinosad affect birds, fish, or other wildlife?
However, spinosad is very highly toxic to eastern oysters. Spinosad is practically non-toxic to slightly toxic to birds, based on studies with bobwhite quail and mallard ducks. It is moderately toxic to earthworms. Spinosad is very highly toxic to bees. However, evidence suggests that spinosad has little or no effect on honey bees and other beneficial insects after sprays have dried.
How long does spinosad stay on the leaves?
Spinosad is broken down rapidly by sunlight. In the presence of sunlight, half-lives on leaves are 2 to 16 days and less than one day in water. When applied to leaves, some spinosad can be absorbed. However, it does not readily spread from leaves to the rest of the plant.
What Is Spinosad?
Applying spinosad spray will reduce pest pressures in your garden. Source: Oregon State University
Drawbacks Of Using Spinosad
The biggest drawback of spinosad that may deter home gardeners from using it is that it’s highly toxic to bees while the spray is wet. Timing is everything when it comes to spinosad. Bees are most active during the day, usually mid-morning to the late afternoon.
How To Use Spinosad
Spinosad in powder or dust form is less common than spray but just as effective.
Frequently Asked Questions
A: Spinosad will kill several kinds of pests, including caterpillars, fire ants, fleas, fruit flies, leafminers, lice, mites, mosquitoes, spider mites, and thrips. Be careful when you apply spinosad spray since it can be highly toxic to beneficial insects such as bees while it’s still wet.
Where does Spinosad come from?
The active ingredient spinosad comes from the fermentation juices of a common soil bacterium, Saccharopolyspora spinosa, accidentally discovered in a Caribbean rum still in 1982. Scientists studied the bacterium and found that it produces a neurotoxin that is effective against a wide variety of insects. In 1997 the US Environmental Protection ...
What is Spinosad spray?
One of the most popular Spinosad insecticide concentrates is the Monterey Garden Insect Spray with Spinosad. There are also some drugs, personal care and pet care products for dogs and cats that contain Spinosad. It is a common component in flea control products for cats and dogs, as well as head lice treatments for people.
What is a dust spray?
Dusts. This natural pesticidal substance is available as a wettable powder, a liquid spinoza spray and even as bait for fire ants. These products are labeled for use on a multitude of insect pests attacking organic veggies and fruits.
How long does Spinosad stay in soil?
Spinosad binds quickly and durably with sediment and soil and can remain effective for several months in low oxygen, dark environments. When used in soil, the bacterium binds very thoroughly, and unlike chemical pesticides, does not tend to move through the soil to contaminate groundwater.
What is the product that works by stimulating affected insect species until they become exhausted, cease eating and die?
Ants. This product is a neurotoxin which works by stimulating affected insect species until they become exhausted, cease eating and die. When insects come in contact with the substance or ingest it, their muscles begin to flex involuntarily. This causes paralysis and death in fairly short order.
Is Spinosad a pesticide?
Today, more than eighty registered pesticide products contain Spinosad designed for commercial use in buildings, and for use on home gardens and landscapes including use re products designed specifically for use in buildings and also in and around ponds and other water features. The bacterium is also useful as a seed treatment.
Is Spinosad safe for pets?
One of the best things about products containing Spinosad is the fact that they are safe for people, pets and beneficial insects. Spinosad does not harm adult butterflies, and it is also harmless to many beneficial parasites and insect predators. Even so, you should exercise caution when handling this substance.
What is Spinosad insecticide?
Spinosad Insecticides. Spinosad Insecticides (pronounced "spin-OH-sid") is derived through the fermentation of a naturally occurring organism. It uniquely combines the efficacy of synthetic products with the benefits of biological insect pest control products. Spinosad has several attractive features when compared to most synthetic insect pest ...
How long does spinosad last?
Natular T30 Larvicide Tablets release effective levels of spinosad for up to 30 days under typical environmental conditions.
What is the effect of Spinosad on the nervous system?
Spinosad causes excitation of the insect nervous system, leading to involuntary muscle contractions, prostration with tremors, and finally paralysis. These effects are consistent with the activation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors by a mechanism that is clearly novel and unique among known insecticidal compounds.
Is Spinosad a biological insecticide?
Spinosad has several attractive features when compared to most biological insect pest control products: It consistently demonstrates commercially acceptable control for labeled pests ; It is effective by both contact and ingestion; It has quicker speed of control; It provides longer residual control in the field;
Is Spinosad a synthetic pest control?
Spinosad has several attractive features when compared to most synthetic insect pest control products: It is derived through the fermentation of a naturally occurring organism; It is highly active at low use rates; It is active by ingestion and contact exposure; It has less impact on certain predatory beneficial insects; and.
Overview
Use
Spinosad has been used around the world for the control of a variety of insect pests, including Lepidoptera, Diptera, Thysanoptera, Coleoptera, Orthoptera, and Hymenoptera, and many others. It was first registered as a pesticide in the United States for use on crops in 1997. Its labeled use rate is set at 1 ppm (1 mg a.i./kg of grain) and its maximum residue limit (MRL) or tolerance is set at 1.5 ppm. Spinosad's widespread commercial launch was deferred, awaiting final MRL or toler…
Mode of action
Spinosad is highly active, by both contact and ingestion, in numerous insect species. Its overall protective effect varies with insect species and life stage. It affects certain species only in the adult stage, but can affect other species at more than one life stage. The species subject to very high rates of mortality as larvae, but not as adults, may gradually be controlled through sustained larval mortality. The mode of action of spinosoid insecticides is by a neural mechanism. The spi…
Spinosyn A
Spinosyn A does not appear to interact directly with known insecticidal-relevant target sites, but rather acts via a novel mechanism. Spinosyn A resembles a GABA antagonist and is comparable to the effect of avermectin on insect neurons. Spinosyn A is highly active against neonate larvae of the tobacco budworm, Heliothis virescens, and is slightly more biologically active than spinosyn D. In general, spinosyns possessing a methyl group at C6 (spinosyn D-related analogs) tend to be …
Resistance
Spinosad resistance has been found in Musca domestica by Liu & Yue 2000, in Plutella xylostella by Sayyed et al 2004, in Bactrocera dorsalis by Hsu & Feng 2006, in Frankliniella occidentalis by Bielza et al 2007, and in Cydia pomonella by Reyes et al 2007; see Insecticide Resistance Action Committee's Arthropod Pesticide Resistance Database for continued updates.
Safety and ecotoxicology
Spinosad has high efficacy, a broad insect pest spectrum, low mammalian toxicity, and a good environmental profile, a unique feature of the insecticide compared to others currently used for the protection of grain products. It is regarded as natural product-based, and approved for use in organic agriculture by numerous national and international certifications. Spinosad residues are highly stable on grains stored in bins, with protection ranging from 6 months to 2 years. Ecotoxic…
Further reading
• The non‐target impact of spinosyns on beneficial arthropods
• Spinosad toxicity to pollinators and associated risk
External links
• "Spinosad". Drug Information Portal. U.S. National Library of Medicine.
• Monograph
Overview
Environment
- Spinosad has been registered for use in pesticides by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) since 1997.
Products
- Currently, spinosad is found in over 80 registered pesticide products. Many of these are used on agricultural crops and ornamental plants. Others are used in and around buildings, in aquatic settings, and as seed treatments. These products are commonly sprays, dusts, granules, and pellets. Some of these products are approved for use in organic agri...
Other
- Spinosad is also found in some drugs regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration. These products are used to control head lice on people and fleas on dogs and cats.
Prevention
- Always follow label instructions and take steps to avoid exposure. If any exposures occur, be sure to follow the First Aid instructions on the product label carefully. For additional treatment advice, contact the Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222. If you wish to discuss a pesticide problem, please call 1-800-858-7378.
Toxicity
- Spinosad is low in toxicity to people and other mammals. However, if it gets on your skin or in your eyes it can cause irritation and redness. In one study, 28 dogs were fed low to moderate doses of spinosad. One dog that received a moderate dose vomited. No effects related to spinosad were observed in the other dogs. Spinosad is practically non-toxic to moderately toxic …
Research
- No. In multiple studies, animals were fed low to moderate amounts of spinosad in their diet for 1.5 to 2 years. No increased incidence of cancer was observed. Moreover, spinosad has not been found to alter or damage genes. As a result of these experiments, the EPA has classified spinosad as not likely to cause cancer. In one study, dogs were fed low doses of spinosad for one year. Ef…
Effects
- Scientists have also tested whether spinosad causes developmental or reproductive effects in rats and rabbits. In these studies, animals were fed low to moderate doses daily throughout their lives or during their pregnancies. Effects were only observed at the highest doses. These included lower body weights and effects to some organs. Abnormal vaginal bleeding, more difficult labor…
Risks
- The EPA limits the levels of pesticides, including spinosad, allowed on food. Due to this, it is unlikely that individuals would be exposed to spinosad at levels this high through their diet.
Durability
- Spinosad is broken down rapidly by sunlight. In the presence of sunlight, half-lives on leaves are 2 to 16 days and less than one day in water. When applied to leaves, some spinosad can be absorbed. However, it does not readily spread from leaves to the rest of the plant. In the absence of sunlight, spinosad breaks down very slowly in water. Half-lives of more than 30 days to 259 d…