Worst First:
High-Risk Insecticide Uses, Children's Foods and Safer Alternatives

Prepared by Consumers Union Washington, D.C.
September, 1998
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Information on current uses of organophosphate and carbamate insecticides and alternatives was compiled from several sources and experts.

Pesticide use data were obtained from the U.S. Department of Agriculture via the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). It is accessible in electronic format via a site maintained at Cornell University's Mann Library. For a list of NASS chemical use survey documents available over the Internet, go to: http://jan.mannlib.cornell.edu/reports/nassr/other/pcu-bb/

Data on the acres planted to various crops and production are reported in another NASS data series. Information on fruit acreage, for example, was obtained from Noncitrus Fruits and Nuts: 1997 Preliminary Summary. To access this and similar reports on other crops, go to: http://usda2.mannlib.cornell.edu/ reports/nassr/fruit/pnf-bb/noncitrus_fruits_and_nuts_preliminary_01.22.98

Through a contract with the EPA, Leonard Gianessi, National Center for Food and Agricultural Policy, Washington, D.C., compiled an Access database on organophosphate and carbamate uses entitled "The Use of OP Insecticides in U.S. Crop Production." The database covers most major food uses of OP insecticides and provides details on use patterns, extent of use, and alternatives. Information in the database is from a number of experts in academia, commodity organizations and pesticide manufacturers. A preliminary version was used as a source of information on several of the crops studied.

New and Recently Registered Alternatives

A presentation entitled "New Generation of Insecticides with Novel Chemistry: Looking Toward an Exciting Future" by Dr. Larry Larson, Insect Management Discovery Research, Dow AgroSciences was helpful in identifying possible uses of new and emerging insecticides. Dr. Larson provided further information in a series of phone conversations.

The "Reduced Risk Rationale Document" accompanying the Novartis petition to establish tolerances for food uses of the new aphicide pymetrozine, dated October 1997, contains extensive information on the use and benefits of this chemical, including several tables comparing pymetrozine uses to currently registered OPs, carbamates and synthetic pyrethroids.

Information on spinosad was obtained from several sources including the "Reduced Risk Rational" submission dated February 15, 1995, as well as the document "Reduced-Risk Rational for Spinosad, a Fermentation-Based Product for the Control of Insects on Cotton," by Robert Bischoff, Dow AgroSciences (RFB 112294, dated September 28, 1994).

An excellent review of the importance of three new insecticides on emerging apple IPM alternatives in the West has been compiled by Dr. Jay Brunner, WSU Treefruit Research and Extension Center, Wenatchee, Washington. "Codling Moth and Leafroller Control with New Insecticide Chemistry" is accessible at: http://www.tfrec.wsu.edu/staff/jfb/growerarticles/newchems/newchems.pdf

Extensive information on pheromone and Bt-based IPM alternatives for use in managing major pests in California fruit crops is available on the website of Sierra Ag, based in Fresno, California: http://www.sierraag.com/

The role and uses of beneficial insects, including rates of releases and pricing information, is at: http://www.sierraag.com/insects/insects.htm

Detailed information on pheromone traps, lures and mating disruption in pears, peaches, apples, almonds, grapes and other crops can be found at: http://www.sierraag.com/lure/lure.htm

The "Frequently Asked Questions" provide helpful, general guidance for growers working to lessen reliance on broad-spectrum products, and offers much practical advice on the transition: http://www.sierraag.com/faq/faq.htm

Individuals Providing Information on Pests and Control Alternatives

Individuals providing information included Dr. Neal Anderson, Office of Pesticide Programs, U.S. EPA, Washington, D.C.; Dr. Edward Bechinski, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho; Mr. Tom Branson, Sierra Ag, Fresno, California; Dr. Robert Brown, Troy Biosciences, Phoenix, Arizona; Dr. William Chaney, University of California; Dr. Harold Coble, USDA IPM Coordinator, Washington, D.C.; Ms. Jennifer Curtis, consultant to NRDC, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Mr. Kert Davies, Environmental Working Group, Washington, D.C.; Dr. Jeff Dlott, U.S. EPA Region 9; Mr. Brian Flood, Del Monte Research, Wisconsin; Dr. Pete Goodell, IPM Entomologist, University of California, Parlier, California; Mr. David Granatstein, Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources, Washington State University; Dr. Patrick Greany, USDA-ARS Insect Attractants, Behavior and Basic Biology Research Laboratory, Gainesville, Florida; Dr. Larry Gut, Michigan State University; Dr. Michael Hansen, Consumers Union, Yonkers, New York; Dr. Paul Jepson, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon; Dr. Philip Kirsch, IPM Technologies, Inc., Portland, Oregon; Dr. Jamie Liebman, U.S. EPA Region 9; Mr. Mark Lipson, Organic Farming Research Foundation, Santa Cruz, California; Dr. Pam Marrone, AgraQuest, Davis, California; Dr. Charles Mellinger, Glades Crop Care, Jupiter, Florida; Dr. Cliff Ohmart, Lodi-Woodbridge Wine Grape Commission; Dr. Ed Rajotte, University of Pennsylvania; Dr. Ann Sorensen, Center for Agriculture and the Environment, Dekalb, Illinois; Mr. Don Thomson, consultant to 3M Company, Seattle, WA; Mr. Randy van Haren, Pest Pros, Plainfield, Wisconsin; Mr. Pat Weddle, Placerville, California; Dr. Jeff Wyman, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Mr. Dean Zuleger, Heartland Farms, Antigo, Wisconsin.

Internet and Academic Information on Pests and Control Alternatives

The University of California Statewide IPM Project Home Page is an excellent and comprehensive source of information on insect pest biology, current control measures, and emerging alternatives. Resources on this page were used in several case studies, and are accessible at: http://axp.ipm.ucdavis.edu/ Click on Pest Management and Identification to go to: http://axp.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/uc_pmg.html and then to Pests of Agricultural Crops: http://axp.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/crops-agriculture.html

This site has an extensive list of crops with links to major types and sources of information. This site was a major source of background information in identifying alternatives in California case studies.

Comparable information on many crops and insects is accessible on the University of Florida's branch of the National IPM Network: http://hammock.ifas.ufl.edu/ Or visit: http://WWW.IFAS.UFL.EDU/~FAIRSWEB/IPM/index.htm

The IFAS site has useful, comprehensive lists of all registered and currently used insecticides and biocontrol products organized by crop and pest. Additional information is available through many links built into the site.

The New York State IPM home page provides extensive information on insect pest management challenges in the Northeast: http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/ipmnet/ny/ It contains information on vegetables, fruits, and field crops.

The University of Michigan IPM site offers helpful fact sheets for a number of insect pests: http://www.msue.msu.edu/vanburen/generali.htm

The University of Minnesota Extension Service IPM home page has extensive information on a variety of crops and IPM system components: http://www.extension.umn.edu/~vegipm/

The National Integrated Pest Management Information System has been developed by the Washington State University College of Agriculture and Home Economics: http://IPM.wsu.edu/ This site has links to information by crop and pest. Extensive information on apple IPM alternatives is presented on the WSUóTree Fruit Research and Extension Center's website: http://www.tfrec.wsu.edu/

Apples

California insects and alternatives:

Coddling moth http://axp.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/r4300111.html

Apple maggot http://axp.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/r4300511.html

Fruittree leafroller http://axp.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/r4300811.html

Obliquebanded leafroller http://axp.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/r4301011.html

Omnivorous leafroller http://axp.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/r4300911.html

Lygus http://axp.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/r4300411.html

 

Michigan insect pest assessments:

Rosy apple aphid http://www.msue.msu.edu/vanburen/fraa.htm

Plum curculio http://www.msue.msu.edu/vanburen/plumcurc.htm

White apple leafhopper http://www.msue.msu.edu/vanburen/walh.htm 

Apple maggot http://www.msue.msu.edu/vanburen/fappmag.htm 

Codling moth http://www.msue.msu.edu/vanburen/fcodmoth.htm

 

Grapes

Grape Crop Guide, California-Arizona Farm Press, Fresno, California.

Integrated Pest Management Field Handbook For Napa County, 1^st Edition 7/23/97. By The Napa Sustainable Winegrowing Group.

California pests and alternatives:

Leafhoppers http://axp.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/r302300111.html

Omnivorous leafroller http://axp.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/r302300311.html

Grape mealybug http://axp.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/r302300711.html

Thrips http://axp.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/r302300911.html

 

Michigan pests and management systems:

Grape berry moth http://www.msue.msu.edu/vanburen/grpmth.htm

Washington pests and management options:

Grape mealybug http://www.tfrec.wsu.edu/InsectRef/GMBug/GMBug.html

Oranges 

California pests and management systems:

Ants http://axp.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/r107300211.html

Red and yellow scale http://axp.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/r107301111.html

Purple scale http://axp.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/r107301211.html

Brown soft scale http://axp.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/r107301311.html

Thrips http://axp.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/r107301711.html

Florida pests and management options:

1998 Florida Citrus Pest Management Guide: Other Insect Pests http://hammock.ifas.ufl.edu/txt/fairs/19319

1998 Florida Citrus Pest Management Guide: Scale Insects http://hammock.ifas.ufl.edu/txt/fairs/19318

 

Pears 

"Guthion use in pear crop all but ends". Trees & Vines EXTRA, California-Arizona Farm Press, Saturday June 29, 1998.

California insects and options:

Fruittree leafroller http://axp.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/r603300411.html

Obliquebanded leafroller http://axp.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/r603300511.html

Omnivorous leafroller http://axp.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/r603300611.html

Codling moth http://axp.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/r603300111.html

Mealybugs http://axp.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/r603301211.html

San Jose scale http://axp.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/r603301311.html

Washington insects and alternatives:

Pesticide resistance management in pear IPM systems http://www.tfrec.wsu.edu/summary/JED.html

Peaches 

California insects and management systems:

Lygus http://axp.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/r602300511.html

Oriental fruit moth http://axp.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/r602300211.html

Peach twig borer http://axp.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/r602300611.html

Snap Beans

 Chapter Three, "Beans," by Brian Flood, Gary Hein, and Rick Weinzierl, in Vegetable Insect Management. Edited by Rick Foster and Brian Flood, Meister Publishing, Willoughby, Ohio.

Florida insects and management options: http://hammock.ifas.ufl.edu/txt/fairs/ig/8239.html

Peas 

Minnesota insects and management systems:

Cabbage aphids http://www.mes.umn.edu/~vegipm/vegpest/colecrop/aphid.htm

Potatoes 

Minnesota insects and options:

Aster leafhoppers http://www.mes.umn.edu/~vegipm/vegpest/colecrop/aster.htm

Washington insects and management systems:

Colorado potato beetle http://coopext.cahe.wsu.edu/infopub/eb0919/eb0919.html

Insect Pest Management, Where are we now?

http://IPM.wsu.edu/SpudBugs/IPMwherenow.html

Integration of Biological and Chemical Controls in Potato

http://IPM.wsu.edu/SpudBugs/IPPC.html

Colorado Potato Beetle Report 1997 Season

http://ipm.wsu.edu/SpudBugs/Repts97/CPB97Report.html

Tomatoes 

California insects and diseases:

Potato aphid http://axp.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/r78330171l.html

Green Peach Aphid and Other Early Season Aphids http://axp.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/r783300711.html

Tomato fruitworm http://axp.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/r783300111.html

Hornworms http://axp.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/r783301111.html

Florida insects and alternatives:

Insect Management in Tomatoes, see FL IPM home page at http://hammock.ifas.ufl.edu

New York insects and options:

Control of Insect Pests of Tomatoes http://pmep.cce.cornell.edu/recommends/vegrecommends-lib/tom.ins.veg96.html