Recommended dosage and environmental risk assessment of insecticides registered on main pyralid borers in China

Abstract This study aims to provide data support for pesticide risk management and scientific use on main pyralid borers. Based on the data registered for controlling nine key borers, active ingredients with high dosages were identified and analyzed according to their formulations and target pests, and environmental risk of pesticides on the typical non‐target organism honeybee was assessed. The entries of insecticides registered for controlling the rice leaf folder and rice stem borer were significantly higher than those for other borers. The top four insecticides, top four crops, and top five borers associated with the highest dosage, median dose, and dosage range of single insecticides were selected for further study. Significant issues were noted, including wide variations in recommended dosages for three combinations (carbosulfan–sugarcane–sugarcane borer, bisultap–sugarcane borer, and phoxim–sugarcane–sugarcane borer) and unusually high dosage points in the chlorpyrifos–rice–rice stem borer combination, likely because of differences in formulations and manufacturers. Environmental risk assessment indicated that risk levels varied by pesticide category and application method. Bisultap, cartap, monosultap, dimethoate, and phoxim exhibited lower risk in soil or seed treatment scenarios compared to spraying scenarios. To reduce use and curb resistance development, high‐efficiency low‐risk insecticides at the minimum effective dose are recommended.