UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY WASHINGTON , D
.C
. 20460 

## DEC 15 2011

MEMORANDUM OFFICE OF CHEMICAL SAFETY AND POLLUTION PREVENTION

SUBJECT: BEAD Chemical Profile for Registration Review: Buprofezin (275100) FROM:

THRU:

TO: Monisha Kaul, Biologist Biological Analysis Branch j 

### C\ I CynthiaDoucoure, Environmental Protection Specialist 

## G**~** Science Information and Analysis Branch / Andrew Lee, Economist

# i C·

# ~ Economic Analysis Branch Biological and Economic Analysis D ision (7503P) Arnet Jones, Chief Biological Analysis Branch 

# §:

Diann Sims, Chief

# ~ Science Infonnation

# s s Branch Timothy Kiely, Chief

# ~ \ 1

# .~ , Economic Analysis Branch V\A..; Biological and Economic Analysis ivision (75 James Parker, Chemical Review Manager Risk Management and Implementation Branch 1 Pesticide Re-evaluation Division (7508P) 

### Product Review Panel date: November 2, 2011
INTRODUCTION The purpose ofthis document is to convey usage information and a broad overview ofthe pest management roles ofpesticides that are beginningto undergo registrationreview. The anticipated audience consists ofthe team ofEPA staffcurrently evaluating the registration status ofbuprofezin, and eventually the general public. This document builds upon the data already Page 

### 1 of6provided in the "Usage and Label Use DataPackages" that are also provided to Registration Review teams by BEAD. The document is based oninfonnation and data available to BEAD as ofSeptember 2011. Buprofezin is an insect growthregulator and is classified as a Group 16 chemical (chitin biosynthesis inhibitor) byIRAC (2011). Buprofezin is available in multiple products either as the only active ingredient orin combinationwithflubendiamide. These products control pests such as whiteflies, mealy bugs, leafhoppers, planthoppers, and scales in a variety ofcrops.
USE SITES Agricultural Use Sites Buprofezin is an insecticide labeled for use onthe following agricultural crops: beans (succulent), bellpeppers, bushberries, grapes, strawberries, citrus, tree nuts, pome fruit, stone fruit, coffee, Brassicacole crops, cucurbits, fruiting vegetables, leafy and stem vegetables, cotton (fiber crop), specialized field crop (sapodilla), avocado, olives, tropical and subtropical fruit, flavoring and spice crop (cress), cotton (non-fiber crop), and'ornamental plants in greenhouses, lath and shade houses, and nurseries; landscape ornamentals, ground covers, field and container grown ornamentals, non-bearing fruit and nut trees innurseries, and Christmastrees.
COMMON FORMULATIONS AND APPLICATION METHODS Buprofezin is fonnulated as a wettable powder and a soluble and emulsifiable concentrate. Buprofezin is applied as a foliar application using the following methods: broadcast applications using ground or aerial equipment or as a high volume dilute/low volume concentrate/ultralow volume spray using ground/airblast sprayers. USAGE Agricultural Use Trend, 1998-2010 , Based onprivate marketpesticide usage data from 1998-2010, agricultural usage ofbuprofezin inthe u.S. averaged approximately 53,000 pounds annually and was applied onaverage to 85,000 acres atan overall average a.i. rate ofO.62Ibs/acre. Buprofezin use remained relatively lowbetween 1998 and 2005, after which overall use increased from 2006-2010. Even withthe slight decrease inuse during the latter period, usage levels remained relatively high compared to the earlierperiod as shownin Figure 1below. Similar results were found intenns oftotal acres treated.

Page 2 of6Figure 1.**Buprofe~in** Use Trends: Pounds AI Applied, 1998-iolO
'a 160,000 .!! A. CL <C ci ." 'a C :::s 0 CL 0

Years Source: Proprietary Data, 1998-2010

When compared withthe earlier period (1998-2005), the data showthat the increased use of buprofezinbetween 2006 and 2010 is attributed to increased use on wine and raisin grapes, pears, and other crops as shown inFigure 2. Conversely, the data showthatthe decrease inuse between 2008 and 2009 appears to be attributed to the decreased use ofbuprofeziIi on oranges primarily, along with raisin and table grapes. However, the increases in use during this period offset the slight decreases, resulting in an overall increase inuse ofbuprofezin for the period. Figure 2. Comparison ofBuprofezin Top Crops for Pounds A.I Applied: 1998-2005 and 2006- 2010 Grapes, Grapes, Raisin Table 6%

5% Grapes,

Wine

6% 1998-2005

Cotton 39%

Source: Proprietary Data, 1998-2010 2006-2010 Cotton Grapes, Raisin 11%

6%

"Other" crops include almonds, apples, cabbage, cauliflower, cucurbits, cherries, citrus, pistachios, potatoes, and tomatoes. Page 3 of6Agricultural Use 2006-2010 Based onprivate marketpesticide usage data from 2006-2010, agricultural usage ofbuprofezin averaged approximately 102,656 pounds annually and was applied on average to approximately 151,422 acres at an overall average application rate of0.68 lbs a.i
. per acre. The crops withthe mostpounds a.i
. applied were pears (20%), wine grapes (19%), oranges (18%), raisin grapes (n%), cotton (7%), and table grapes (6%) as shown inFigure 2. On average, the states withthe most agricultural usage ofbuprofezin in terms ofpounds a.i. applied were California (70%), Washington (15%), Georgia (3%) and Arizona (3%), as shown in Figure 4 below
. The states ranked similarly with regard to total acres treated (TAT) with slight percentage increases for all top states except Washington. Figure 4
. Buprofezin: Top States for Pounds ofAIApplied, 2006-2010

WASHINGTON 15%

- - Source: Proprietary Data, 2006-2010 CALIFORNIA 70%

"Other" states include FL, KS, NC, OR, TN, and VA. Agricultural Use: Nurseries and Floriculture According to the2007 and 20 11 USDANASS Agricultural Chemical Usage, Nursery 

### & Floriculture reports, buprofezinwas reportedto be applied innurseries and floriculture. As shown in Table 1below, use increased considerably from 2006 to 2009.
T bl 1 B



### a e fi
. U . N upro ezm. sem . & FI
. ltur ursenes OrICU e Year Sector 

### Pounds orAl Average Rate or**~** Applied Amilicatjon 2006 Nursery & Floriculture 200 0.526 2009 3,700 0.807 Source: USDA NASS (2007,2011), Agrwultural ChemIcal Usage, Nursery & Flonculture Report.
Page 4 of6BIOLOGICAL ASPECTS RELEVANT TO BUPROFEZIN Products containing buprofezin alone are insect growth regulators but those products containing flubendiamide, IRAC Group 16, are insecticides that act by modulating ryandine receptors. The initial use ofinsect growth regulators, such as buprofezin, in the mid-1990's allowed for successful resistance managementprograms in crops where insecticide resistance had become a problem (e.g. whiteflies in cotton). Recently, the Q biotype whitefly (Bemisia tabaci), found in 25 states and mostly isolated to nurseries, has shownresistance to insect growth regulators as well as other insecticides (Dennehy et al., 2008; Leibee et aI., 2011). Resistance has been an ongoing problem with whiteflies, and resistance management programs are needed for successful whitefly management (Dennehy et al., 2008; Leibee et aI., 2011). The usefulness ofbuprofezin in the future will depend onmany factors, including the development ofinsect resistance.
HISTORY OF BEAD ASSESSMENTS FOR BUPROFEZIN There are no BEAD assessments onbuptofezin that are relevant to registration review.
CONCLUSION The increased use ofbuprofezin inthe U.S. suggests relatively high benefits in the U.S, particularly for some crops such as wine grapes, pears, or.anges, and raisin grapes. In addition, buprofezin appears to be a useful pesticide used in resistance management programs. REFERENCES Alsadek, J. and D. Brassard. 2006. Amendment ofMarch 30,2005 Usage Report in Support of HED Chapter for Buprofezin Final Rule, an Insecticide Growth Regulator. October 18, 2006. Dennehy, T.J., B. A. DeGain, and V.S. Harpold, 2008. Biotyp designations and 'insecticide susceptibility ofSouthwestern Bemisia tabaci. Vegetable Report (P-152). University ofArizona. Online: http://ag.arizona.edulpubs/crops/az1438/az14382a.pdf
. Verified: October 11,2011. IRAC (2011). Mode ofAction Classification. Insecticide Resistance Action Committee. Online: http://www.irac-online.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/091M0A Classification.pdf Verified: October 6, 2011. Leibee, G.L., L.S. Osborne, C.L. McKenzi, and M.L. Kok-Yokomi, 2011. Toxicity of Imidacloprid to Bemisia tabaci Type Q collected from Florida. Mid-Florida Research and Education Center. University ofFlorida. Online: http://mrec.ifas.ufl.eduiLSOlbemisiaibemisia.htm
. Verified: October 11,2011.
Page 5 of6Proprietary Data (1998-2010) USDANASS (2007, 2009), Agricultural Chemical Usage, Nursery & Floriculture Report.

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