Pesticide Compatibility

Balancing pesticide compatibility with the use of beneficial insects can at times feel overwhelming, for the most straight forward insights, check out our digital tool compatability tool at Koppert One. This digital compatibility checker allows you to search by brand name, chemical, and predator, allowing for a quick check of chemical compatability.  Once you've entered the chemical and beneficial, simply hover over the icons or click on the legend in the top right corner to see the compatability info. On this page we've summarized key insights from Koppert One's compatability database and common household products so you can understand how organic sprays, natural insect sprays for plants, and other treatments interact with beneficials such as predatory mites, parasitoids, and nematodes. Below we've also included some quick reference charts for compatability ' at-a-glance.'

Household and Garden Sprays
Many growers turn to familiar products for managing pests like spider mites, aphids, and fungus gnats. Captain Jack’s Dead Bug Spray, which contains spinosad, is a common choice for spider mite control in both houseplants and gardens. While spinosad is harmful to predatory mites such as Spical and Spidex if they are present during spraying, it can be used effectively as a knockdown treatment before beneficials are released. Monterey Garden Insect Spray, also based on spinosad, functions in the same way, providing strong knockdown against thrips and spider mites when applied prior to beneficial introductions.

Garden Tech Sevin Insect Killer, formulated with zeta‑Cypermethrin and bifenthrin, delivers broad knockdown power but leaves residues that are highly toxic to beneficials. For this reason, it should only be used before beneficial release, never during. Garden Safe Houseplant and Garden Insect Killer, which combines pyrethrins with canola oil, offers quick knockdown of aphids and mites. Beneficials can be released after the spray has dried, making it useful in between biological applications. Garden Safe Insecticidal Soap, made with potassium salts of fatty acids, is another natural insect spray for plants that works well against soft‑bodied pests like aphids. Once dry, beneficials can be safely introduced.

Bonide All Seasons Horticultural Oil, based on mineral oil, suffocates pests on contact. Oils can be disruptive if predators are present, but they are suitable as knockdowns before beneficial release. Bonide Insecticidal Super Soap behaves similarly to other soaps, providing effective knockdown and allowing beneficials to be introduced after drying.

Sprays That Require Extended Waiting Periods
Not all sprays fit the knockdown‑then‑beneficial strategy. Some products remain active in plant tissue or soil long after application, meaning beneficials cannot be applied for weeks. BioAdvanced Complete Insect Killer for Soil and Turf is one example. Because it is systemic, its active ingredients persist in plant tissue and soil, continuing to affect insects well beyond the initial spray. In these cases, beneficials should not be introduced until the chemical has fully broken down, which may take several weeks depending on conditions. Similarly, acephate‑based products are known to leave residues that remain harmful to parasitoids and predatory mites long after spraying, making them unsuitable for quick knockdown followed by biological release.

Compatibility Insights From Koppert Chart
The Koppert compatibility chart highlights how beneficials respond to common chemicals. Predatory mites such as Spical, Spidex, and Swirski Mite are very sensitive to spinosad, pyrethrins, and acephate, which means these chemicals should only be used as knockdowns before beneficial release. Parasitoids including Aphipar, Ervipar, and En‑Strip are highly vulnerable to pyrethrins and acephate, so knockdown use is possible but overlap must be avoided. Nematodes such as Entonem and Capsanem are generally tolerant of soaps and oils, though acephate can cause moderate harm. Pollinators like Natupol bumblebees must always be covered or removed before spraying, as many chemicals are incompatible.

Practical Guidance for Growers
The key is to view sprays and beneficials as complementary tools rather than conflicting ones. Sprays can be used as knockdowns when pest pressure is high, reducing populations quickly before beneficials are introduced. They can also be applied in between beneficial releases, provided residues are allowed to dry and predators are not present during spraying. However, growers should be aware that some systemic or long‑lasting sprays require extended waiting periods before beneficials can be safely applied. This distinction ensures that immediate suppression from sprays does not undermine the long‑term control provided by beneficials.

For spider mite pest control, biologicals such as Spidex Vital and Spical provide lasting control and work well with once knockdown sprays have reduced infestations. For aphid insect control, microbial products like Bacillus thuringiensis are generally safe and can be used alongside beneficials. When comparing root aphid vs fungus gnat issues, BT products remain safe for beneficials, while soaps and oils should be reserved for knockdown use. Growers looking for tomato plant insect repellents, red spider mite insecticides, or organic sprays for aphids should always check compatibility first to ensure beneficials can thrive after treatment.

Quick Reference Chart #1

The below chart rates the active ingredient in some of the most common pesticides for home growers. Some chemicals have a low or no mortality rate of commonly used beneficial insects. Other chemicals have a high mortality rate. These should be used with caution or not at all.