UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20460 

NOV. 30 2011 

OFFICE OF CHEMICAL SAFETY 

AND POLLUTION PREVENTION 

MEMORANDUM 

SUBJECT: 

FROM: 

THRU: 

TO: 

BEAD Chemical Profile for Registration Review: Tebufenozide (129026) 

Don Atwood, Entomologist d/-J IJr, ~/ Biological Analysis Branch 

Cynthia 

Science Information 

Doucoure, Environmental 

and Analysis Branch 

Protection Specialist (J ~ 

Economic 

Andrew Lee, 

Analysis 

Economist 

Branch 

ulZoc . ~ Biological and Economic Analysis Divisio 503P) 

Arnet Jones, Chief "/':) d.... "&--

Biological Analysis Branch ~ 

Diann 

Science 

Sims, 

Information 

Chief 

and 

~ Analysis Branch 

Timothy 

Economic Kiely, Analysis 

Chief 

Branch ~' v 

1\ 

V\ ~ 

Biological and Economic Analy ' Division ( P) 

Kaitlin Keller, Chemical Review Manager 

Risk Management and Implementation Branch 3 

Pesticide Re-evaluation Division (7508P) 

Product Review Panel date: November 23, 2011 

INTRODUCTION 

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

management roles of tebufenozide, and additional tebufenozide data to support endangered 

species and drinking water assessments for registration review. The additional data used to 

support these assessments are considered a special request that goes beyond the normal scope of 

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a BCP. The anticipated audience consists of the team of EPA staff currently evaluating the 

registration status of tebufenozide, and eventually the general public. This document builds upon 

the 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 infonnation and data available 

to BEAD as of October 24,2011. 

Tebufenozide was first registered as a pesticide product with the EPA in 1994 and is classified as 

a hydrazine insecticide. Besides its action as a stomach and contact insecticide, tebufenozide 

specifically targets lepidopteran pests by disrupting the molting process by antagonizing 

ecdysone, the molting honnone. This specific mode of action facilitates the control of 

lepidopteran pests without adversely impacting natural populations of beneficial insect predators 

and parasites. 

The primary lepidopteran pests targeted for control using tebufenozide include: cane borer, 

armywonns, pecan nut casebearer, loopers, codling moth, and hickory shuckwonn. 

USE SITES 

Agricultural Uses 

Tebufenozide is labeled for use on root and tuber vegetables, leafy vegetables, fruit vegetables, 

citrus fruit, pome fruit, berries and small fruit, nut trees, animal feed, herbs and spices, oilseed 

crops, mint, and sugarcane (Table 1). 

T a bI e 1 R . eglstere d U se S· Ites fi or T b e u fi enOZI ·d e b )y EPAG S· roup Ite. 

EPA Crop Group Site (Group) Crops 

ROOT AND TUBER VEGETABLE (1) Turnips 

LEAFY VEGETABLE-EXCEPT Celery, Corn salad, Dandelion, Endive, Fennel, Garden cress, Lettuce, 

BRASSICA (4) Mustard, Parsley, Rhubarb, Spinach, Swiss chard, Turnips (greens), 

Cardoon, Chinese spinach, Leafy amaranth, Rapeseed (greens), Upland 

cress, New Zealand spinach, Chervil, Arrugula, Celtuce, 

Chrysanthemum, Dock, Orach, Garden purslane, Winter purslane 

BRAS SICA LEAFY VEGETABLE (5) Brussels sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Collards, Chinese ca~bage, 

Kale, Kohlrabi, Broccoli raab, Chinese Broccoli, Chinese mustard 

FRUITING VEGETABLES (8) Eggplant, Peppers, Pimentos, Tomatoes, Pepinos, Tomatillo, Ground 

cherry 

CITRUS FRUIT (10) Citron, Grapefruit, Kumquat, Lemons, Limes, Tangelos, Satsum 

mandarin, Mandarin, Tangerines, Calamondin, Tangor, Chironja, 

Oranges, Pummelo 

POME FRUIT (11) Apples, Crabapples, Pears, Oriental Pear, Quinces, Loquat 

BERRY AND SMALL FRUIT (13) Caneberries, Blueberries, Cranberries, Currants, Elderberry, 

Goosberries, Huckleberries 

NUT TREE (14) Almonds, Brazil nut, Cashews, Chestnuts, Filberts, Hickory nuts, 

Macadamia nuts, Pecans, Walnuts, Butternuts, Beach nut 

GRASS, FORAGE, FODDER AND Pastures, Rangeland 

HAY (17) 

NONGRASS ANIMAL FEED (18) Alfalfa 

HERBS AND SPICES (19) Celery 

OILSEED CROP (20) Canola, Cotton 

NO GROUP NAME (99) Mint, Sugarcane 

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Non-Agricultural Uses 

Tebuf~nozide is also labeled for use on trees, shrubs, foliage plants and flowers grown in outdoor 

landscape areas such as parks, recreational areas, institutional grounds, residential property, 

nurseries, and in interior plantscapes. 

COMMON FORMULATIONS AND APPLICATION METHODS 

Tebufenozide is formulated as a wettable powder and emulsifiable, flowable and soluble 

concentrates, and can be applied using the application methods listed in Table 2. 

T a e bi 2 T b e u fi enOZI ·d e A .pPJ r IcatlOn M h d et 0 S 

Crop Application Method Type Application Equipment Application Timing 

Orchard Crops Spray Aircraft; Ground Foliar; Bloom thru Foliar; Hull Split; Pink 

thru Petal Fall 

Berry Plantings Spray Aircraft; Ground; Boom Bloom thru Foliar; Foliar 

Sprayer; Airblast 

Field Crops Spray Aircraft; Ground Foliar 

Ornamentals & Spray; Chemigation Aircraft; Airblast; Hand Foliar 

Forest Trees Held Sprayer; Mist 

Blower; Hyraulic Sprayer; 

Sprinkler Irrigation 

Fruiting Spray Aircraft; Ground Foliar 

Vegetables 

Other Crops Spray Aircraft; Ground Foliar 

Source: EPA Tebufenozide Label Use InformatIon System (LUIS) Report, Apnl2008 

USAGE 

Agricultural Use Trends 

Tebufenozide use in the U.S., as reported in proprietary market research surveys, decreased 

substantially between 1998 and 2010. Tebufenozide use increased up to 2000, held steady till 

2003, after which use declined through 2010. During this period, reported use oftebufenozide 

averaged approximately 61,705 pounds of active ingredient annually and was applied on average 

to approximately 447,685 treated acres at an overall average rate ofO.137Ibs per acre. 

Figure 2 below shows usage trends, in terms of pounds a.i. applied, for tebufenozide's leading 

agricultural markets. From 1998-2010, the crops with the most pounds a.i. applied were 

sugarcane (28%), tomatoes (12%), pecans (11 %), cotton (9%), and walnuts (8%). These crops 

ranked similarly with regard to total acres treated except lettuce (8%) ranked higher than walnuts 

(4%). To determine the current use patterns oftebufenozide, usage during the 2006-2010 time 

frame is examined below. 

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Figure 1. Tebufenozide Pounds A.1. Applied, 1998-2010 

140,000 

120,000 

"tJ 

.!!:! 100,000 . Q. 

a. 

c( 80,000 

ci. 

VI 60,000 "tJ 

C 

::s 40,000 0 

a. 

20,000 

PJ~ PJo, s::>'> s::>"), s::>'" s::>'" s::>1>< s::><-' s::>~ ~ s::>~ s::>o, ~'> 

~ ~ ~ "'~ ~ "'~ ~ ~ ~ ~ "'~ ~ 'fl 

Years 

Source: Proprietary Data, 1998-2010 

Figure 2. Tebufenozide Use Trend: Pounds A.I. Applied, 1998-2010 

, 

140,000 

o +-----,-

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 

Year 

Source: Proprietary Data, 1998-2010 

• Other 

• Walnuts 

• Tomatoes 

• Sugarcane 

• Pecans 

• Cotton 

"Other" crops, ranked from highest to lowest pounds a.i. applied, include lettuce, almonds, apples, wine grapes, 

peppers, raisin grapes, broccoli, cabbage, celery, pears, pistachios, caneberries, cauliflower, table grapes, hazelnuts, 

onions, oranges, rice, spinach, squash, and strawberries. 

Agricultural Use, 2006-2010 

Based on private market pesticide usage data from 2006-2010, the annual total agricultural usage 

averaged approximately 23, 140pounds active ingredient for 184,291 treated acres for an overall 

average application rate ofO.126lbs per acre. The crops with the most pounds a.i. applied were 

sugarcane (59%), walnuts (12%), almonds (7%), pecans (7%), and tomatoes (6%) as shown in 

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Figure 3. During this period, overall use of tebufenozide continued to decline, especially on 

cotton, while use on almonds increased. 

Figure 3. Tebufenozide: Top Crops for Pounds A.I. Applied, 2006-2010 

Tomatoes 

6% 

Source: Proprietary Data, 2006-2010 

Other Almonds 

Pecans 

7% 

On average, the states with the most agricultural usage in tenns of pounds a.i. applied were 

Louisiana (59%) on sugarcane, and California (29%) and Texas (5%) on walnuts and almonds 

among others, as shown in Figure 4. The states ranked similarly with regard to total acres 

treated. 

Figure 4. Tebufenozide: Top States for Pounds A.1. Applied, 2006-2010 

OTHER 

Source: Proprietary Data, 2006-2010 

Page 5 of7 
Agricultural Use: Nurseries and Floriculture 

During 2006, less than 50 pounds oftebufenozide was reported to be applied in nurseries and 

floriculture at an average rate of 0.072 lbs/acre according to the 2007 USDA NASS Agricultural 

Chemical Usage, Nursery & Floriculture report. 

Additional Data 

At the first team meeting for risk assessment purposes, BEAD received a request for average 

application rates for the endangered species and drinking water assessments. Table 3 below 

contains typical rates of surveyed usage data, the results of which vary by crop, state, and 

application method. In addition, the percentage of the total acres treated by state and application 

method is presented in Table 4 below. 

T a e bl 3 T . I "yplca U se Rat es 0 fT e u b fi enOZl ·d e fi or SI e ec tdC e rops, 20062010 -

Avg. AI Rate 

Crop State Application Method (Ibs per acre) 

Almonds CALIFORNIA Aerial 0.25 

Almonds CALIFORNIA Ground 0.25 

Apples CALIFORNIA Ground 0.31 

Apples MICHIGAN Ground 0.19 

Cabbage FLORIDA Ground 0.13 

Cabbage WISCONSIN Aerial 0.13 

Caneberries OREGON Ground 0.25 

Celery CALIFORNIA Aerial 0.13 

Celery CALIFORNIA Ground 0.13 

Cotton ARKANSAS Broadcast 0.25 

Cotton CALIFORNIA Broadcast 0.18 

Lettuce CALIFORNIA Ground 0.11 

Pecans ALABAMA Ground 0.22 

Pecans GEORGIA Ground 0.09 

Pecans NEW MEXICO Aerial 0.18 

Pecans NEW MEXICO Ground 0.15 

Pecans TEXAS Aerial 0.12 

Pecans TEXAS Ground 0.14 

Peppers CALIFORNIA Ground 0.08 

Peppers FLORIDA Ground 0.22 

Peppers OHIO Ground 0.08 

Peppers TEXAS Aerial 0.12 

Spinach NEW JERSEY Ground 0.13 

Squash OHIO Ground 0.13 

Strawberries MICHIGAN Ground 0.25 

Sugarcane LOUISIANA Banded 0.09 

Sugarcane LOUISIANA Broadcast 0.10 

Tomatoes CALIFORNIA Aerial 0.20 

Tomatoes CALIFORNIA Ground 0.16 

Walnuts CALIFORNIA Aerial 0.13 

Walnuts CALIFORNIA Ground 0.27 

Source: Propnetary Data, 2006-2010 

Page 6 of7 
Table 4. Top Crops: Proportion of the Total Acres Treated with Tebufenozide by Application Method, 

2006-2010 

Crop State Percent of Total Acres Treated by Application Method 

Ground Aerial Broadcast Banded 

Sugarcane Louisiana 99.6 0.4 

Walnuts California 97 3 

Almonds California 76 24 

Pecans Alabama 100 

Pecans Georgia 100 II 

Pecans New Mexico 73 27 

Pecans Texas 97 3 

Tomatoes California 61 39 

Source: Propnetary Data, 2006-2010 

BIOLOGICAL ASPECTS RELEVANT TO TEBUFENOZIDE 

There are documented cases of insect resistance to tebufenozide including codling moth 

diamond-back moth, greenheaded leafroller, and beet army worm (Arthropod Resistance 

Management Database, 2011). In addition, leaf rollers have demonstrated cross-resistance 

between azinphos methyl and tebufenozide in Washington apple production (Dunley et aI., 

2006). 

HISTORY OF BEAD ASSESSMENTS FOR TEBUFENOZIDE 

There have been no BEAD assessments related to the use of tebufenozide since 2003. 

INFORMATION THAT MAY BE USEFUL FOR BEAD'S FUTURE WORK ON 

TEBUFENOZIDE 

Obtaining additional information on the following items would improve future BEAD 

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

review of this pesticide. 

Tebufenozide usage data for ornamentals (outdoor landscapes and interior plantscapes) 

REFERENCES 

Arthropod Pesticide Resistance Database. 2011. Michigan State University. Available at: 

http://www.pesticideresistance.org/searchl22/304/ 

Dunley, J E., J F Brunner, M D Doerr, and E H Beers. 2006. Resistance and cross-resistance in 

populations of the leafrollers, Choristoneura rosaceana and Pandemis pyrusana, in Washington 

apples. Available at: http://www.insectscience.org/6.14/ 

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