Spinosad
Encyclopedia
Spinosad is a new chemical class of insecticides that are registered by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to control a variety of insects. The active ingredient is derived from a naturally occurring soil dwelling microorganism called Saccharopolyspora spinosa, a rare actinomycete reportedly collected from soil in an abandoned rum distillery on a Caribbean Island in 1982 by a scientist on vacation.
It has not been found in nature since that time, and was subsequently described as a new species. The bacteria produce compounds (metabolites) while in a fermentation broth. The first fermentation-derived compound was formulated in 1988. Spinosad has since been formulated into insecticides that combine the efficacy of a synthetic insecticide with the benefits of a biological pest control
organism.
Spinosad topical suspension, 0.9%, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on 2011-01-18 for the topical treatment of head lice infestation in patients four (4) years of age and older. It is marketed as the trade name Natroba in the US by ParaPRO Pharmaceuticals. Spinosad is a mixture of spinosyn A and spinosyn D in a ratio of approximately 5 to 1 (spinosyn A to spinosyn D).
Spinosad (spinosyn A and spinosyn D) is a new chemical class of insecticides that are registered by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to control a variety of insects. The active ingredient is derived from a naturally occurring soil dwelling microorganism called Saccharopolyspora spinosa, a rare actinomycete reportedly collected from soil in an abandoned rum distillery on a Caribbean Island in 1982 by a scientist on vacation.http://www.dowagro.com/PublishedLiterature/dh_005f/0901b8038005f580.pdf
It has not been found in nature since that time, and was subsequently described as a new species. The bacteria produce compounds (metabolites) while in a fermentation broth. The first fermentation-derived compound was formulated in 1988. Spinosad has since been formulated into insecticides that combine the efficacy of a synthetic insecticide with the benefits of a biological pest control
organism.
Spinosad topical suspension, 0.9%, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on 2011-01-18 for the topical treatment of head lice infestation in patients four (4) years of age and older. It is marketed as the trade name Natroba in the US by ParaPRO Pharmaceuticals. Spinosad is a mixture of spinosyn A and spinosyn D in a ratio of approximately 5 to 1 (spinosyn A to spinosyn D).
Spinosad (spinosyn A and spinosyn D) is a new chemical class of insecticides that are registered by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to control a variety of insects. The active ingredient is derived from a naturally occurring soil dwelling microorganism called Saccharopolyspora spinosa, a rare actinomycete reportedly collected from soil in an abandoned rum distillery on a Caribbean Island in 1982 by a scientist on vacation.http://www.dowagro.com/PublishedLiterature/dh_005f/0901b8038005f580.pdf
It has not been found in nature since that time, and was subsequently described as a new species. The bacteria produce compounds (metabolites) while in a fermentation broth. The first fermentation-derived compound was formulated in 1988. Spinosad has since been formulated into insecticides that combine the efficacy of a synthetic insecticide with the benefits of a biological pest control
organism.
Spinosad topical suspension, 0.9%, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on 2011-01-18 for the topical treatment of head lice infestation in patients four (4) years of age and older. It is marketed as the trade name Natroba in the US by ParaPRO Pharmaceuticals. Spinosad is a mixture of spinosyn A and spinosyn D in a ratio of approximately 5 to 1 (spinosyn A to spinosyn D).Natroba full prescribing information label. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
. Due to this unique mode of action, Spinosad is valued in resistance management programs. Spinosad must be ingested by the insect, therefore it has little effect on non-target predatory insects. It is highly effective used as an oral anti-flea medication for dogs, and apparently has the potential for killing any blood-sucking insect.
Spinosad is relatively fast acting. The insect dies within one to two days after ingesting the active ingredient. There appears to be 100% mortality.
, caterpillars, leafminers, thrips
, sawflies, spider mites, fire ants, and leaf beetle
larvae. Spinosad is recommended for use in an Integrated Pest Management
program for commercial greenhouses since it will not harm most beneficial insects or predatory mites. Spinosad does not significantly affect beneficial organism
s including ladybugs, green lacewings, minute pirate bugs, and predatory mites
. It has also been tested, with promising results, as a mosquito-control agent in West Africa and Israel.
There are several home garden products manufactured for use in the United States including Monterey Garden Insect Spray manufactured by Lawn and Garden Products, Inc. and 'Borer, Bagworm, Tent Caterpillar & Leafminer Spray' manufactured by Ferti-Lome. Bonide Products has introduced spinosad in its Captain Jacks Dead Bug Brew insect control product line, and offers another product, "Colorado Potato Beetle Beater", with spinosad as its active ingredient.
The products have practically no odor. Its soil absorption is moderately strong and it degrades rapidly in the environment primarily through photolysis.
Spinosad is also the active ingredient in Comfortis, a chewable flea medication for dogs.
Spinosad shows low toxicity when ingested by mammals (male rat = 3738 mg/kg) and no additional adverse effects from chronic exposure. Studies on spinosad show slight toxicity to birds, moderate toxicity to fish, and slight to moderate toxicity to aquatic invertebrates. However, it is highly toxic to bees (honey bee LC50 = 11.5 ppm) and is highly toxic to oysters and other marine mollusks. Applications to areas where bees are actively foraging should be avoided. After the residues have dried, it is much less toxic to bees.
It is important to note that toxicity is based on the active ingredient tested; formulations of spinosad in common use today have a very small amount of spinosad active ingredient. In addition, non-target sensitivity is mitigated by the environmental characteristics of spinosad, including rapid dissipation in the water column, sorption and binding of residues with sediment and lack of bioaccumulation in living tissues.
Beneficial Trichogramma
and Braconid wasps are harmed by the chemical, but it has much less effect on such insects as lacewings and beetles like the ladybug
and spares predatory bugs such as damsel bugs
and the big-eyed bug
.USDA fact sheet
Spinosad does not have any phytotoxicity
on ornamentals and is non-phytotoxic for most crops. It has a 4-hour Worker Protection Standard
reentry interval (REI).
Do not apply Spinosad more than 10 times in a 12-month period inside a greenhouse
to prevent possible insect pesticide resistance
.
It has not been found in nature since that time, and was subsequently described as a new species. The bacteria produce compounds (metabolites) while in a fermentation broth. The first fermentation-derived compound was formulated in 1988. Spinosad has since been formulated into insecticides that combine the efficacy of a synthetic insecticide with the benefits of a biological pest control
Biological pest control
Biological control of pests in agriculture is a method of controlling pests that relies on predation, parasitism, herbivory, or other natural mechanisms...
organism.
Spinosad topical suspension, 0.9%, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on 2011-01-18 for the topical treatment of head lice infestation in patients four (4) years of age and older. It is marketed as the trade name Natroba in the US by ParaPRO Pharmaceuticals. Spinosad is a mixture of spinosyn A and spinosyn D in a ratio of approximately 5 to 1 (spinosyn A to spinosyn D).
Spinosad (spinosyn A and spinosyn D) is a new chemical class of insecticides that are registered by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to control a variety of insects. The active ingredient is derived from a naturally occurring soil dwelling microorganism called Saccharopolyspora spinosa, a rare actinomycete reportedly collected from soil in an abandoned rum distillery on a Caribbean Island in 1982 by a scientist on vacation.http://www.dowagro.com/PublishedLiterature/dh_005f/0901b8038005f580.pdf
It has not been found in nature since that time, and was subsequently described as a new species. The bacteria produce compounds (metabolites) while in a fermentation broth. The first fermentation-derived compound was formulated in 1988. Spinosad has since been formulated into insecticides that combine the efficacy of a synthetic insecticide with the benefits of a biological pest control
Biological pest control
Biological control of pests in agriculture is a method of controlling pests that relies on predation, parasitism, herbivory, or other natural mechanisms...
organism.
Spinosad topical suspension, 0.9%, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on 2011-01-18 for the topical treatment of head lice infestation in patients four (4) years of age and older. It is marketed as the trade name Natroba in the US by ParaPRO Pharmaceuticals. Spinosad is a mixture of spinosyn A and spinosyn D in a ratio of approximately 5 to 1 (spinosyn A to spinosyn D).
Spinosad (spinosyn A and spinosyn D) is a new chemical class of insecticides that are registered by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to control a variety of insects. The active ingredient is derived from a naturally occurring soil dwelling microorganism called Saccharopolyspora spinosa, a rare actinomycete reportedly collected from soil in an abandoned rum distillery on a Caribbean Island in 1982 by a scientist on vacation.http://www.dowagro.com/PublishedLiterature/dh_005f/0901b8038005f580.pdf
It has not been found in nature since that time, and was subsequently described as a new species. The bacteria produce compounds (metabolites) while in a fermentation broth. The first fermentation-derived compound was formulated in 1988. Spinosad has since been formulated into insecticides that combine the efficacy of a synthetic insecticide with the benefits of a biological pest control
Biological pest control
Biological control of pests in agriculture is a method of controlling pests that relies on predation, parasitism, herbivory, or other natural mechanisms...
organism.
Spinosad topical suspension, 0.9%, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on 2011-01-18 for the topical treatment of head lice infestation in patients four (4) years of age and older. It is marketed as the trade name Natroba in the US by ParaPRO Pharmaceuticals. Spinosad is a mixture of spinosyn A and spinosyn D in a ratio of approximately 5 to 1 (spinosyn A to spinosyn D).Natroba full prescribing information label. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Mode of action
Spinosad kills susceptible species by causing rapid excitation of the insect nervous systemNervous system
The nervous system is an organ system containing a network of specialized cells called neurons that coordinate the actions of an animal and transmit signals between different parts of its body. In most animals the nervous system consists of two parts, central and peripheral. The central nervous...
. Due to this unique mode of action, Spinosad is valued in resistance management programs. Spinosad must be ingested by the insect, therefore it has little effect on non-target predatory insects. It is highly effective used as an oral anti-flea medication for dogs, and apparently has the potential for killing any blood-sucking insect.
Spinosad is relatively fast acting. The insect dies within one to two days after ingesting the active ingredient. There appears to be 100% mortality.
Use
It is used to control a variety of insect pests, including fruit fliesDrosophila melanogaster
Drosophila melanogaster is a species of Diptera, or the order of flies, in the family Drosophilidae. The species is known generally as the common fruit fly or vinegar fly. Starting from Charles W...
, caterpillars, leafminers, thrips
Thrips
Thrips are tiny, slender insects with fringed wings . Other common names for thrips include thunderflies, thunderbugs, storm flies, thunderblights, and corn lice...
, sawflies, spider mites, fire ants, and leaf beetle
Leaf beetle
Beetles in the family Chrysomelidae are commonly known as leaf beetles. This is a family of over 35,000 species in more than 2,500 genera, one of the largest and most commonly encountered of all beetle families....
larvae. Spinosad is recommended for use in an Integrated Pest Management
Integrated Pest Management
Integrated pest management is an ecological approach to agricultural pest control that integrates pesticides/herbicides into a management system incorporating a range of practices for economic control of a pest...
program for commercial greenhouses since it will not harm most beneficial insects or predatory mites. Spinosad does not significantly affect beneficial organism
Beneficial organism
In agriculture and gardening, a beneficial organism is any organism that benefits the growing process, including insects, arachnids, other animals, plants, bacteria, fungi, viruses, and nematodes. Benefits include pest control, pollination, and maintenance of soil health...
s including ladybugs, green lacewings, minute pirate bugs, and predatory mites
MITES
MITES, or Minority Introduction to Engineering and Science, is a highly selective six-week summer program for rising high school seniors held at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Its purpose is to expose students from minority, or otherwise disadvantaged backgrounds, to the fields of...
. It has also been tested, with promising results, as a mosquito-control agent in West Africa and Israel.
Products
Spinosad has been formulated into two commercial products registered for use in commercial agriculture, including DowAgros' Conserve SC, and Entrust. Entrust is approved for use on USDA certified organic produce.There are several home garden products manufactured for use in the United States including Monterey Garden Insect Spray manufactured by Lawn and Garden Products, Inc. and 'Borer, Bagworm, Tent Caterpillar & Leafminer Spray' manufactured by Ferti-Lome. Bonide Products has introduced spinosad in its Captain Jacks Dead Bug Brew insect control product line, and offers another product, "Colorado Potato Beetle Beater", with spinosad as its active ingredient.
The products have practically no odor. Its soil absorption is moderately strong and it degrades rapidly in the environment primarily through photolysis.
Spinosad is also the active ingredient in Comfortis, a chewable flea medication for dogs.
Safety
Its "Caution" signal word indicates a reduced risk to applicators and workers. There are no specific worker protection requirements, even though applicators and handlers should wear a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, shoes and socks.Spinosad shows low toxicity when ingested by mammals (male rat = 3738 mg/kg) and no additional adverse effects from chronic exposure. Studies on spinosad show slight toxicity to birds, moderate toxicity to fish, and slight to moderate toxicity to aquatic invertebrates. However, it is highly toxic to bees (honey bee LC50 = 11.5 ppm) and is highly toxic to oysters and other marine mollusks. Applications to areas where bees are actively foraging should be avoided. After the residues have dried, it is much less toxic to bees.
It is important to note that toxicity is based on the active ingredient tested; formulations of spinosad in common use today have a very small amount of spinosad active ingredient. In addition, non-target sensitivity is mitigated by the environmental characteristics of spinosad, including rapid dissipation in the water column, sorption and binding of residues with sediment and lack of bioaccumulation in living tissues.
Beneficial Trichogramma
Trichogramma
The wasps of genus Trichogramma, commonly known as "stingless wasps", are some of the most widely-studied agents of biological control in the field of entomology. Trichogramma wasps are tiny Hymenopteran insects, measuring 1 millimeter in length or less, that parasitize the eggs of many types of...
and Braconid wasps are harmed by the chemical, but it has much less effect on such insects as lacewings and beetles like the ladybug
Coccinellidae
Coccinellidae is a family of beetles, known variously as ladybirds , or ladybugs . Scientists increasingly prefer the names ladybird beetles or lady beetles as these insects are not true bugs...
and spares predatory bugs such as damsel bugs
Nabidae
The insect family Nabidae contains the damsel bugs. The terms damsel bug and nabid are synonymous. There are over 400 species. They are soft-bodied, elongate, winged terrestrial predators. Many damsel bugs catch and hold prey with their forelegs, similar to mantids...
and the big-eyed bug
Geocoris
Geocoris is a genus of insects in the family Lygaeidae . Commonly known as the big-eyed bug, Geocoris is a beneficial predator often confused with the true chinch bug, which is a pest.Big-eyed bugs are true bugs in the order Hemiptera...
.USDA fact sheet
Spinosad does not have any phytotoxicity
Phytotoxicity
Phytotoxicity is a term used to describe the degree of toxic effect by a compound on plant growth. Such damage may be caused by a wide variety of compounds, including trace metals, pesticides, salinity, phytotoxins or allelopathy.-Urea and urine:...
on ornamentals and is non-phytotoxic for most crops. It has a 4-hour Worker Protection Standard
Worker Protection Standard
The Worker Protection Standard is intended to protect employees on farms, forests, nurseries, and greenhouses that are occupational exposured to agricultural pesticides....
reentry interval (REI).
Do not apply Spinosad more than 10 times in a 12-month period inside a greenhouse
Greenhouse
A greenhouse is a building in which plants are grown. These structures range in size from small sheds to very large buildings...
to prevent possible insect pesticide resistance
Pesticide resistance
Pesticide resistance is the adaptation of pest population targeted by a pesticide resulting in decreased susceptibility to that chemical. In other words, pests develop a resistance to a chemical through natural selection: the most resistant organisms are the ones to survive and pass on their...
.
Sources
- Dow AgroSciences LLC. Conserve SC InfoSheet. Indianapolis IN.
- "A review of Spinosad" Tam Tran. University of California, Irvine.
- Extension Toxicology Network. Pesticide Information Profiles. EPA Pesticide Programs.
- Bio-Itegral Resource Center.