UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20460 

MAR 112015 

MEMORANDUM 

OFFICE OF CHEMICAL SAFETY 

AND POLLUTION PREVENTION 

SUBJECT: BEAD Chemical Profile (BCP) for Registration Review: Novaluron (124002) 

FROM: 

THRU: 

TO: 

Colwell Cook, Entomologist~ 

Biological Analysis Branch 

Rafael A. Prieto, Environmental Protection :¥ d ().. Science Information and Analysis Branch v~ v 

Elizabeth Hill, Economist 

Economic Analysis Branch 

Biological and Economic Analysis Division (7503P) 

Arnet Jones, Chief 

Biological Analysis Branch 

Diann Sims, Chief M~~L...c-.,~­ Science Information and Analysis Branch 

Timothy 

Economic 

Kiely, 

Analysis 

Chief 

Branch g):, vV\i \~, \! 

Biological and Economic Analy is Division (7 0 ) 

Margaret Hathaway, Chemical Review Manager 

Risk Management and Implementation Branch 2 

Pesticide Re-evaluation Division (7508P) 

Peer Review Panel date: February 12, 2015 

1 
SUMMARY 

Novaluron was first registered in 2001. For novaluron, according to the most recent Screening 

Level Usage Analysis (SLUA), the crops with the highest pounds a.i. applied are apples (9,000 

pounds a.i. applied) and cotton (20,000 pounds a.i. applied). In terms of average percent crop 

treated (PCT), the top crops are strawberries, pears, and apples. 

INTRODUCTION 

The Biological and Economic Analysis Division (BEAD) Chemical Profile (BCP) provides an 

overview of the pest management roles and quantitative usage information for novaluron. The 

BCP includes summaries of previous BEAD products and available public and/or private use and 

usage data for novaluron to describe the role of this chemical in pest management. Additional 

information on use is available in the novaluron Label Data Report. Information provided in ¢.is 

BEAD Chemical Profile (BCP) may be used by stakeholders (e.g., users and registrants), OPP 

risk assessors, and OPP risk managers, and the general public during the Registration Review 

process of this pesticide. 

USE SITES 

Agricultural uses: Novaluron is registered for use on alfalfa, beans, Brassica (head and stem) 

vegetables, carrots, Swiss chard, corn, cotton, cranberry, cucurbit vegetables, fruiting vegetables, 

leafy greens, peanuts, pome fruits, potatoes, small fruits, sorghum, soybeans, stone fruits, 

sugarcane, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, and turnip greens. 

Non-agricultural uses: Novaluron is registered for use on drainage and sewage systems; 

agricultural and non-agricultural uncultivated areas; aquatic, flooded and intermittently flooded 

areas; automobiles; animal housing; barns and feedlots; canines; commercial/institutional/ 

industrial premises and equipment; eating establishments; food processing plants; domestic 

dwellings; nonagricultural uncultivated areas; ornamental pond and swimming pools; wide area 

outdoor treatments; and wood protection treatments. 

FORMULATIONS AND APPLICATION METHODS 

Novaluron is formulated as granular, soluble concentrate, emulsifiable concentrate, dry flowable, 

pelleted/tableted, and ready-to-use solution. Novaluron is applied as a bait application, band 

treatment, broadcast, chemigation, crack and crevice treatment, foliar treatment, perimeter 

treatment, spot treatment, spray, surface treatment, and as a water treatment. 

HISTORY OF NOV ALURON AND BEAD PRODUCTS 

Novaluron was conditionally registered in 2001. Full registrations for stone fruits and mustard 

greens were granted in 2009 and for snap beans, peppers, and strawberries in 2010. 

2 
In 2006, Louisiana requested an emergency exemption for the use of novaluron on sugarcane for 

the control of sugarcane borer due to weather related events. BEAD was unable to conclude if 

these weather conditions constituted an emergency. In 2008, an emergency exemption request 

was submitted by Florida for the use of novaluron for controlling sap beetles in strawberries 

given pest pressures that rose after the cancellation of methomyl. BEAD's analysis supported 

this emergency claim. This emergency request was recertified in 2009 and 2010. In 2009, 

California also requested and was granted an emergency exemption for the control of lygus bugs 

on strawberries in the absence of methomyl. Given these consistent findings, benefits likely 

exist for the use of novaluron as an emergency option for controlling strawberry pests in the 

absence of methomyl, although it has not been registered for this crop to date. 

In 2011, an extension for exclusive use for novaluron was granted because novaluron was found 

to play a role in resistance management for each minor crop considered (i.e. less than 300,000 

acres grown). 

USAGE 

Usage Trends 

For years 2004-2012, novaluron annual usage averaged 35 thousand pounds of active ingredient 

(A.I.) treating an annual average of 587 thousand acres, and an overall average application rate of 

0.065 pounds A. I. per acre on the agricultural crops surveyed. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, usage, 

both in terms of pounds A. I. and in terms of total area treated {TAT), peaked in 2011. 

Usage increases over time are due to the fact that new uses (besides the original uses of potatoes, 

pears, apples and cotton) have been registered for novaluron use. These new registrations are driving 

usage upward, rather than increased usage across the board. 

(Proprietary Data, 2004-2012) 

FIGURE 1. Novaluron Total Pounds A. I. Applied (2004-2012) 

80,000 

<C 

-c "' 

c: 

::I 

0 

c.. 

0 

2004 2005 2006 2007 '2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 

Year 

Source: Proprietary Data, 2004-2012 

3 
FIGURE 2. Novaluron Total Area Treat (TAT) in Acres (2004-2012) 

VI 

Q) 

.... 

u 

<( 

£ 

"O 

Q) 

+-' 

"' Q) 

.... 

I-

"' Q) 

.... 

<( 

"iii 

+-' 

0 

I1,600,000 

0 

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 

Year 

Source: Proprietary Data, 2004-2012 

As seen on Table 1 below, cotton is the main crop for this chemical, with 67 percent of total 

pounds applied. Georgia and Louisiana are the states with the highest usage of novaluron (Table 

2). 

Table 1. Crops with H" 1g h t es U se o fN ova l uron - p ercen t o f T t l oa Lb s. Applied 

2008-2012 

Crop %Lbs 

Cotton 67 

Aooles 14 

Pears 8 

Strawberries 5 

Source: Proprietary Data, 2008-2012 

Table 2. States with Hi ~ h t es U se o f N l ova uron- p ercen t o f T t l oa Lbs. Applied 

2008-2012 

State %Lbs 

Georgia 25 

Louisiana 19 

Washington 15 

Arkansas 11 

Mississippi 10 

California 8 

Source: Proprietary Data, 2008-2012 

4 
Application Rates 

In Table 3 (below), the average application rate for novaluron ranges from 0.043 to 0.207. The 

highest application rate is for pears, with 0.207 lbs. AI per acre. 

T a e bl 3 N . ova I uron u seon T C op rops: A vera2e A I .. Ra te, 2008 -2012 

Crop Pounds A. I. Total Acres Treated* Avg. A. I. Rate 

(lbs a.i./acres) 

Cotton 141,000 3,240,000 0.043 

Apples 31,000 198,000 0.155 

Pears 17,000 82,000 0.207 

Strawberries 11,000 142,000 0.075 

*Total Acres Treated sums all acres treated for a crop, mcludmg those acres that receive multiple treatments. 

Source: EPA Proprietary Data, 2008-2012 

5 
Geographic Distribution ofNovaluron Use 

Figure 3 provides a very broad geographical view of the average annual amount (in pounds) of 

novaluron applied per 1,000 acres of crop acres grown. The calculated values presented in the 

map are not equivalent to an application rate (lb a.i./ A), therefore, the map may show areas of 

high use intensity that do not correspond to the states listed in Table 2 above since those are the 

states with the highest use of triticonazole based on pounds active ingredient applied. Louisiana 

and Georgia are shown to be the states with the highest use intensity of novaluron in terms of 

application rates in the United States. 

Please see Appendix I for a more detailed explanation of the information presented on the map. 

Figure 3. Novaluron Usage by Crop Reporting District (2008-2012) 

Pounds Active Ingredient 

per 1,000 Crop Acres Grown 

- <0.2 

- 02-03 

- 04-0.7 

- 0.8-1-0 

- >10 

LJNOData 

More information about this map is presented in Appendix A. 

6 
CHEMICAL AND USE CHARACTERISTICS 

Novaluron is an insect growth regulator (IGR). It is a benzoylphenyl urea compound which 

inhibits the biosynthesis of chitin during molt. This places it in Group 15 of the IRAC Mode of 

Action Classification (http://www.irac-online.org/). Similar to other IGRs, novaluron is most 

effective on immature insects. It tends to be slow acting because it kills insects over a period of 

few days by disrupting their normal growth and development. Novaluron works better when 

ingested by insects, but it does have some contact activity. It is effective on many different 

insect pests, including mosquitoes, flies, lepidopterans, beetles, and heteropterans. Since IGRs 

have non-neurotoxic modes of action and a narrow range of activity, they are often very 

compatible with the strategies of integrated pest management. 

ROLE OF NOV ALURON IN PEST MANAGEMENT 

Novaluron is recommended by several states to be used in rotation with insecticides with 

different modes of action for several crop groups to manage resistance. These include pome 

fruits, sweet potato, and cole crops. Novaluron is used to control codling moth, Oriental fruit 

moth, white apple leafhopper, and several species of leafrollers in pome fruit integrated pest 

management. North Carolina Agricultural Chemicals Manual (2011) and the Pacific Northwest 

Insect Management Handbook (2011) include novaluron as part of their recommendations for 

apple pests. New York State Integrated Pest Management (undated) for some apple insect pests 

recommends using biorationals (i.e. IGRs, viruses, botariicals) early in the season as part of their 

strategies. For instance, for codling moth control the state encourages the use of degree-days as 

well as flight trap information to determine when best to use IGRs and other biorational 

products. Novaluron is an IGR that fits well into this strategy. 

Novaluron is also important in strawberry production, replacing methomyl to control 

heteropterans, such as Lygus bugs, and beetles, such as sap beetles. Timing of applications is 

critical so that early instar nymphs are exposed (Bolda and Zalom, 2011 ). 

While cotton has a low percent crop treated, it is treated with the bulk of novaluron by weight. 

Novaluron is used in rotation and/or combination with neonicotinoids and pyrethroids to manage 

tarnished plant bugs, especially in the Mississippi delta states (Mississippi State University, 

2015). Novaluron also confers control against some lepidopteran pests, such as the bollworm 

and tobacco bud worm, for growers that are not using the Bt cotton (Martin, et al., 2010). 

DATA NEEDS 

The Agency currently does not have important information on novaluron. Obtaining the 

following information may improve future assessments conducted by the Agency related to the 

use and importance of novaluron. 

Since novaluron is registered for many minor crops as well as many non-agricultural uses, the 

following information would be helpful for future impact analyses: 

7 
1. Site/crop specific information on the target pests, damage, economic thresholds, best time to 

treat, as well as alternatives to novaluron. 

2. Site/crop specific information on the formulation, application method, application rates, 

frequency of application, and timing of applications. 

3. Site/crop specific information on barriers of adopting chemical and non-chemical alternatives 

to novaluron (e.g. price, efficacy, application methods, use restrictions, etc.). 

4. Usage on non-agricultural sites. 

REFERENCES 

Bolda, M and F Zalom. 2011. The use of rimon (novaluron) for early season management of 

Lygus bugs in strawberries. Available at: 

http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum":'4448. Accessed: February 19, 2015. 

Martin, DE, JD Lopez, Jr., Y Lan, BK Fritz, WC Hoffmann, and SE Duke. 2010. Novaluron 

as an ovicide for bollworm on cotton: deposition and efficacy of field-scale aerial applications. 

Journal of Cotton Science 14:99-106. 

Mississippi State University. 2015. Insect Control Guide for Agronomic Crops: Cotton. 

Extension Publication24 71. Available at: http://msucares.com/pubs/publications/p24 71.pdf. 

Accessed: February 19, 2015. 

New York State Integrated Pest Management. Undated. Codling Moth Fact Sheet. Located at: 

http://www.nysipm.cornell.edu/factsheets/treefruit/pests/cm/cm.asp Accessed on March 30, 

2011. 

North Carolina Agricultural Chemicals Manual. 2011. Insect and Disease Control on Fruits. 

Located at: http://ipm.ncsu.edu/agchem/7-toc.pdf. Accessed on March 9, 2011. 

Pacific Northwest Insect Management Handbook. 2011. Apple Pest. Located at: 

http://uspest.org/pnw/insects. Accessed on March 21, 2011. 

Proprietary Data, 2004-2012. 

Screening Level Usage Analysis, June 2014. 

APPENDIX A 

The map included herein is primarily for the use of the risk assessors in the Environmental Fate 

and E(fects Division. The map provides a very broad geographical view of the amount (in 

pounds) of the active ingredient applied per 1,000 acres of"land in farms". These data are 

included in the maps because risk assessors are interested in the amount of a pesticide used 

8 
across fannland. Because of the definition of Land in Fanns, as discussed below, the calculated 

values presented in the map are not equivalent to an application rate (lbs a. i./A). 

The data used to make these maps have many limitations. Any interpretation of the maps should 

consider the underlying data and the associated limitations carefully. 

The smallest areas shown on the maps within each state are Crop Reporting Districts (CRD). 

CRDs are defined by USDA and each consists of multiple counties that have similar soils, 

growing conditions, and fanning practices. The CRDs within many states have roughly the same 

area. Because it is not feasible to conduct an agricultural survey that samples every county in the 

United States, the use of CRDs allow for a sample to be collected that represent a much larger 

area with relatively homogeneous agricultural characteristics. 

The numerator (annual average pounds applied) is based on private market surveys of pesticide 

use in agriculture averaged over the last five years (Proprietary Data, 2007-2011). These surveys 

cover about 60 crops and are targeted in states that produce the majority of the crop. Although 

the surveys capture most of the use of a particular active ingredient in agriculture, there are 

several limitations to these surveys. 

• States with minor production of a surveyed crop are not sampled 

• Not all types of pesticides are surveyed in every crop in every year 

• Many specialty crops with very small acreages are not included in the survey 

The result of these limitations is that CRDs that show no usage may actually have a small 

amount of the active ingredient being used. 

The denominator (1,000 Acres ofland in fanns) was selected from the Census of Agriculture 

(USDA, 2007) to represent agricultural acreage that is actively managed and includes most of the 

areas treated with pesticides. The category "Land in Fanns" is defined by the Census of 

Agriculture as being made up of four components: 

• Total cropland 

• Permanent pasture 

• Total woodland 

• Land in fannsteads, buildings, livestock facilities, ponds, roads, wasteland, etc. 

This category includes land in the various USDA conservation programs. It should be noted that 

the Census of Agriculture does not include grazing land rented (on a per-animal basis) from the 

Bureau of Land Management or Forest Service, thus it is an underestimate of the land being 

managed for agricultural purposes. 

The reader should pay particular attention to the figure legends and realize that a map prepared 

for a particular chemical is not directly comparable to a map prepared for a different chemical. 

Scale and units of measurement do matter and may be different between maps. 

9