Recently, several commonly-used insecticides for the control of insects on woody landscape plants 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 available 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.
Tree and shrub 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.
Aphids
- Acephate (Orthene, Isotox)
- Azadirachtin (Safer’s Brand Neem)
- Cyfluthrin (Bayer Power Force Multi-Insect Killer)
- Dimethoate (Cygon, Hi-Yield Cygon)
- Disulfoton (Bonide Systemic, Hi-Yield Di-Syston)
- Dormant oil (Ortho, Fertilome)
- Endosulfan (Hi-Yield Thiodan)
- Esfenvalerate (Ortho Bug-B-Gone Multipurpose Spray)
- Imidacloprid (Bayer Advanced Tree & Shrub Insect Control)
- Insecticidal soap (Safer’s, Concern)
- Pyrethrin (several products)
- Ultra-fine oil
Borers (ash, birch, Eastern pine, lilac, linden, peachtree, shothole, twolined)
- Endosulfan (Hi-Yield Thiodan)
- Imidacloprid (Bayer Advanced Tree & Shrub Insect Control)
- Lindane
- Permethrin (several products)
Galls
- Acephate (Orthene, Isotox)
- Endosulfan (Hi-Yield Thiodan)
- Imidacloprid (Bayer Advanced Tree & Shrub Insect Control)
- Insecticidal soap (Safer’s, Concern)
Caterpillars (cankerworms, Eastern tent, euonymus, European pine shoot moth, fall webworm, gypsy moth, spiny elm, walnut, white-market tussock moth)
- Bacillus thuringiensis (Thuricide, Dipel)
- Carbaryl (Sevin)
- Cyfluthrin (Bayer Power Force Multi-Insect Killer)
- Dimethoate (Cygon, Hi-Yield Cygon)
- Esfenvalerate (Ortho Bug-B-Gone Multipurpose Spray)
- Imidacloprid (Bayer Advanced Tree & Shrub Insect Control)
- Insecticidal soap (Safer’s, Concern)
- Permethrin (several products)
- Pyrethrin (several products)
Leaf beetles (elm, imported willow, Japanese)
- Acephate (Orthene, Isotox)
- Azadirachtin (Safer’s Brand Neem)
- Carbaryl (Sevin)
- Cyfluthrin (Bayer Power Force Multi-Insect Killer)
- Disulfoton (Bonide Systemic, Hi-Yield Di-Syston)
- Esfenvalerate (Ortho Bug-B-Gone Multipurpose Spray)
- Imidacloprid (Bayer Advanced Tree & Shrub Insect Control)
For more information on insecticides: See University of Wisconsin Garden Facts X1095, X1097, X1098, 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 Chris Williamson, Phil Pellitteri, Lis Friemoth, and Kristin Kleeberger 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.