UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20460 

SiP 07 2DU 

MEMORANDUM 

OFFICE OF CHEMICAL SAFETY 

AND POLLUTION PREVENTION 

SUBJECT: BEAD Chemical Profile for Registration Review: Spinetoram (110008 and 

110009) 

FROM: 

THRU: 

TO: 

David Brassard, Entomologist 

Biological Analysis Branch 

Jihad Alsadek, Economist J--~ k A-UJ..ek 

Science Information and Analysis Branch ". 

Derek Berwald, ~onomist ~ I(J ~ \ J. 

EconoInlc AnalYSIS Branch ~~ Biological and Economic Analysis Division (7503P) 

Arnet 

Biological 

Jones, 

Analysis 

Chief 

Branch ~.' 

/.7 ""-., 

v U ~ 

Diann 

Science 

Sims, 

Information 

Chief ~ and Analysis Branch 

Timothy 

Economic 

Kiely, 

Analysis 

Chief 

Branch ~ ~ Biological and Economic Analysi Division ( ) 

Wilhelmena Livingston, Chemical Review Manager 

Anne Overstreet, Team Leader 

Risk Management and Implementation Branch 3 

Pesticide Reevaluation Division (7508P) 

Product Review Panel date: August 31, 2011 

INTRODUCTION 

The purpose of this document is to convey usage information and a broad overview of the pest 

management roles of pesticides that are beginning to undergo registration review. The 

anticipated audience consists of the team of EPA staff currently evaluating the registration status 

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of Spinetoram (110008 and 110009), and eventually the general public. This document builds 

upon t~e data already provided in the "Usage and Label Use Data Packages" that are also 

provided to Registration Review teams by BEAD. The document is based on information and 

data available to BEAD as of August 24, 2011. 

Spinetoram is a fermentation byproduct of Saccharopolyspora spinosa and an analogue of 

spinosad. Spinetoram is a mixture of two closely related active ingredients, spinetoram-Jand 

spinetoram-L, present in an approximate 3: 1 ratio. Manufacture of spinetoram occurs in two 

major steps. The first step involves fermentation production of spinosyn J and spinosyn L. In the 

second step, these fermentation products are chemically modified to yield spinetoram-J and 

spinetoram-L. These chemical alterations to the spinosyn structure are believed to broaden the 

spectrum of pests controlled and extend the period of residual activity of spinetoram relative to 

spino sad (Racke et al., 2011). 

Spinetoram was first registered in the U.S. in 2007. Spinetoram is a broad-spectrum insecticide 

that kills insects via contact with the insect cuticle and/or dietary exposure. Insecticides 

exhibiting these routes of exposure leading to lethality were historically described as contact and 

stomach poisons. Spinetoram's insecticidal mode of action is attributed to allosteric modulation 

of the insect's nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. This interaction generates an acetylcholineinduced inward current that causes widespread neuronal excitation resulting in involuntary 

muscle contractions, tremors, and eventually death. (EPA 2009, Racke et aI., 2011) 

Spinetoram is effective in controlling lepidopterous pests, Colorado potato beetles, serpentine 

leafminers, fleas, fruit flies, fire ants, sawfly larvae, and thrips (EPA, 2009; NPIRS, 2011). 

Spinetoram is not permitted for use in organic agricultural production because its molecular 

structure has been synthetically altered. 

USE SITES 

Agricultural Use Sites 

Spinetoram is registered for use on asparagus, banana and plantain, brassica crops, bulb 

vegetables, cereal grains (barley, oats, rice, rye, sorghum, triticale, and wheat ), citrus, com 

(field, sweet, popcorn, and seed com), cotton, cucurbits, dates, fig, fruiting vegetables (tomato, 

peppers, and eggplant), globe artichoke, grain amaranth, herbs, hops, leafy vegetables, leaves of 

legume vegetables, leaves of root and tuber vegetables, legume vegetables (succulent and dried 

beans and peas), okra, peanut, peppermint, pineapple, pistachios, pome fruits, pomegranate, root 

and tuber vegetables, root vegetables, small fruits (bushberries, caneberries, cranberry, grapes, 

strawberry) soybean, spearmint, spice crops (except black pepper), stone fruits, teosinte, tree 

nuts, tropical tree fruits, turnip greens and watercress. 

Non-Agricultural Use Sites 

Spinetoram is registered for use on ornamentals (herbaceous plants, lawns and turf, shrubs, 

vines, and trees), and cats (spot on treatment). 

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COMMON FORMULATIONS AND APPLICATION METHODS 

Spinetoram is formulated as ready-to-use solution, dispersible granules and as soluble and 

emulsifiable concentrates. 

USAGE 

Agricultural 

Based on private market pesticide usage data from 2007-2010, the annual total agricultural usage 

averaged approximately 46,000 pounds active ingredient for 700,000 acres for an overall average 

of 0.07 lbs. a.i. application rate per acre. In comparison to this rate, the average application rate 

in lbs. a.i. per acre is 0.09 for apples, 0.04 for lettuce, and 0.08 for oranges. 

From 2007-2010, the largest markets in terms of total pounds of active ingredient applied are: 

apples (29%), oranges (14%), and lettuce (13%). The crops with the highest total area treated 

(TAT) are apples (22%), lettuce (20%), and oranges (12%). The states with the most agricultural 

usage in terms of pounds a.i. applied are California (36%), Washington (22%), and Florida 

(17%) (Proprietary Data, 2007-2010). 

USE TRENDS 

Figure 1 provides usage trends, in terms of pounds applied, for spinetoram's largest agricultural 

markets. There was very little use of spinetoram in 2007. Use on apples and lettuce did not 

change much during 2008-2010. The use of spinet or am on oranges and other crops increased 

during this period. The data provided in this section is provided for preliminary scoping 

purposes only, because the data have not been analyzed. 

Figure 1. S inetoram Usa e Data 

80,000 "T"-------------

PoundsA.I. • Other Crops 

• Oranges 

• Lettuce 

• Apples 

o +----,--' 

2007 2008 2009 2010 

Years 

Other crops include: apricots, artichoke, asparagus, beans, broccoli, cabbage, caneberries, cantaloupes, carrots, cauliflower, 

celery, cherries, cotton, cucumbers, grapefruit, grapes, onions, peaches, pears, pecans, peppers, plums/prune, potatoes, pumpkin, 

soybeans, spinach, squash, strawberries, sweet com, tomatoes, walnuts, and watermelons. Source: Proprietary Data, 2007-2010 

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Dow anticipates that the use of spinetoram will continue to increase and displace spinosad uses due 

to its enhanced biological activity relative to spino sad (Racke et aI., 2011). 

BIOLOGICAL ASPECTS RELEVANT TO SPINETORAM 

According to the Arthropod Pesticide Resistance Database (APRD, 2011), there have been no 

reports of insect resistance to spinetoram. The Arthropod Pesticide Resistance Database does 

contain 14 reports of resistance on 6 insect pest species on 13 crops for spinosad, an analogue of 

spinetoram. Since the two active ingredients are in the same chemical class and are closely 

related structurally, there is a high probability that there is some cross-resistance between 

spino sad and spinetoram. The 6 insect pests involved have been reported to be resistant to many 

pesticides. These findings, coupled with spinetoram's unique mode of action, suggest that 

spinetoram may be an important componept in integrated resistance management programs. 

HISTORY OF BEAD ASSESSMENTS FOR SPINETORAM 

In 2006, the Canadian Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA), reviewed 27 efficacy 

studies submitted by Dow AgroSciences in support of new uses against 20 insect pests. BEAD 

concurred with the findings of the PMRA (Chiri, 2006). PMRA proposed acceptance of the 

proposed application rates with the exception of three cases. In two cases, (thrips on onions and 

spanworm on blueberries), a lower application rate was recommended, and one use (Cabbage 

looper, imported cabbageworm, and diamondback moth on leafy (non-Bras sica) vegetables) was 

not supported because it involved insects not generally found on the proposed crop. 

DATA NEEDS RELEVANT TO BEAD'S FUTURE WORK ON SPINETORAM 

Obtaining additional information on the following items would improve future BEAD 

assessments of the importance of Spinetoram and may be required as part of the registration 

review of this pesticide. 

• Usage information on animal treatment (cats) 

• Usage information on ornamental plants 

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REFERENCES 

APRD. 2011. Arthropod Pesticide Resistance Database. Michigan state University. 

http://www .pesticideresistance.org/ 

Chiri, Angel. Secondary review ofPMRA-reviewed efficacy data for XDE-175, a spinosad 

analog, April 26, 2006. 

Dow. 2011. Spinosad Overview. Dow AgroSciences LLC. 

http://www.dowagro.com/turf/prod/spinosad.htm 

EPA 2009. EPA fact Sheet for Spinetoram. 

http://www.epa.gov/ opprdOO 1/factsheets/spinetoram. pdf 

GfK Kynetec. 2007-2010. Proprietary Data. 

NPIRS. 2011. National Pesticide Infonnation and Retrieval System. http://npirs.ceris.purdue.edu 

Racke, K.D. et al. 2011. Spino sad and Spinetoram: Infonnation to Support EPA's Registration 

Review. Dow AgroSciences LLC 

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