Recently, several commonly-used insecticides for the control of insects in home fruit trees and berries have been taken off the market. As a result, it’s becoming ever more challenging for home gardeners to find suitable insecticide products at garden centers, discount stores, and hardware stores. This listing will help identify some of the suitable products that may replace products that are no longer available. Please be sure to note the product names carefully as several products have similar names, and make sure you check that the active ingredient on the product label is what you’re looking for.
Fruit insecticides that have lost their registration include diazinon and chlorpyrifos (Dursban). The following products are still available and effective for the control of the insects listed. Control recommendations for pests such as aphids, leafrollers, and plum curculio that are common to several tree fruits are listed under apple only.
Apples
Aphids
- Carbaryl, Malathion, Methoxychlor (Bonide Fruit Tree Spray)
- Dimethoate (Hi-Yield Cygon)
- Endosulfan (Hi-Yield Thiodan)
- Esfenvalerate (Ortho Bug-B-Gone)
- Malathion/Methoxychlor
(Fertilome Triple Action, Ortho Home Orchard Spray) - Permethrin (several products)
- Phosmet (Bonide Imidan WP)
- Apple Maggot
- Carbaryl (Sevin)
- Esfenvalerate (Ortho Bug-B-Gone)
- Malathion/Methoxychlor
(Fertilome Triple Action, Ortho Home Orchard Spray) - Phosmet (Bonide Imidan WP)
Codling Moth
- Carbaryl (Sevin)
- Carbaryl, Malathion, Methoxychlor
(Bonide Fruit Tree Spray) - Esfenvalerate (Ortho Bug-B-Gone)
- Malathion/Methoxychlor
(Fertilome Triple Action, Ortho Home Orchard Spray) - Permethrin (several products)
- Phosmet (Bonide Imidan WP)
Leafrollers
- Bacillus thuringiensis (Dipel, Thuricide, Others)
- Carbaryl (Sevin)
- Carbaryl, Malathion, Methoxychlor (Bonide Fruit Tree Spray)
Leafrollers (Continued)
- Esfenvalerate (Ortho Bug-B-Gone)
- Malathion/Methoxychlor
(Fertilome Triple Action, Ortho Home Orchard Spray) - Permethrin (several products)
- Phosmet (Bonide Imidan WP)
Mites (Includes Pear Rust Mite)
- Dormant Oil
- Insecticidal Soaps
Plum Curculio
- Carbaryl (Sevin)
- Carbaryl, Malathion, Methoxychlor (Bonide Fruit Tree Spray)
- Esfenvalerate (Ortho Bug-B-Gone)
- Malathion/Methoxychlor
(Fertilome Triple Action, Ortho Home Orchard Spray) - Permethrin (several products)
- Phosmet (Bonide Imidan WP)
Scales
- Esfenvalerate (Ortho Bug-B-Gone)
- Insecticidal soap (Safer’s, Concern)
- Dormant oil
Pears
Pear Psylla
- Esfenvalerate (Ortho Bug-B-Gone)
- Permethrin (several formulations)
Raspberries
Aphids
- Insecticidal Soap (Safer’s, Concern)
- Malathion
Cane Borer
- Carbaryl (Sevin)
- Rotenone
Fruitworm
- Carbaryl (Sevin)
- Rotenone
Leafrollers
- Carbaryl (Sevin)
Picnic Beetles
- Carbaryl (Sevin)
- Malathion
- Rotenone
Sawfly
- Carbaryl (Sevin)
- Malathion
- Rotenone
Stone Fruits
(Apricots, Cherries, Peaches, Plums)
Cherry Fruit Fly
- Carbaryl (Sevin)
- Carbaryl, Malathion, Methoxychlor (Bonide Fruit Tree Spray)
- Phosmet (Bonide Imidan WP)
- Rotenone
Cherry Fruitworm
- Carbaryl (Sevin)
- Phosmet (Bonide Imidan WP)
Peachtree & Lesser Peachtree Borers
- Endosulfan (Hi-Yield Thiodan)
- Esfenvalerate (Ortho Bug-B-Gone)
- Permethrin (several products)
Tarnished Plant Bug & Stink Bug
- Carbaryl (Sevin)
- Endosulfan (Hi-Yield Thiodan)
- Esfenvalerate (Ortho Bug-B-Gone)
- Permethrin (several products)
Strawberries
Aphids
- Endosulfan (Hi-Yield Thiodan)
- Insecticidal Soap (Safer’s, Concern)
- Malathion/Methoxychlor
(Fertilome Triple Action, Ortho Home Orchard Spray)
Cyclamen Mites
- Endosulfan (Hi-Yield Thiodan)
- Malathion
Leafhoppers
- Endosulfan (Hi-Yield Thiodan)
- Malathion
- Rotenone
Picnic Beetles
- NONE
Plant Bugs
- Carbaryl (Sevin)
- Endosulfan (Hi-Yield Thiodan)
- Malathion/Methoxychlor
(Fertilome Triple Action, Ortho Home Orchard Spray)
Slugs
- Iron Phosphate (Escar-Go, Sluggo)
- Metaldehyde bait (several products)
Spittlebugs
- Carbaryl (Sevin)
- Endosulfan (Hi-Yield Thiodan)
- Malathion/Methoxychlor
(Fertilome Triple Action, Ortho Home Orchard Spray)
Strawberry Leafroller
- Bacillus thuringiensis (Dipel, Thuricide, Others)
- Carbaryl (Sevin)
- Endosulfan (Hi-Yield Thiodan)
- Malathion/Methoxychlor
(Fertilome Triple Action, Ortho Home Orchard Spray) - Rotenone
Strawberry Bud Weevil
- Malathion/Methoxychlor
(Fertilome Triple Action, Ortho Home Orchard Spray)
White Grubs
- NONE
For more information on insecticides: See University of Wisconsin Garden Facts X1095, X1096, X1097, or contact your county Extension agent.
© 2002 the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System doing business as University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension.
An EEO/Affirmative Action employer, University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming, including Title IX and ADA requirements. This document can be provided in an alternative format by calling Brian Hudelson at (608) 262-2863 (711 for Wisconsin Relay).
References to pesticide products in this publication are for your convenience and are not an endorsement or criticism of one product over similar products. You are responsible for using pesticides according to the manufacturer’s current label directions. Follow directions exactly to protect the environment and people from pesticide exposure. Failure to do so violates the law.
Thanks to Dan Mahr and Phil Pellitteri for reviewing this document.
A complete inventory of UW Plant Disease Facts is available at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Plant Disease Diagnostics Clinic website: https://pddc.wisc.edu.