Spinosyn A

Spinosyn A	Last updated: 01/05/2025
(Not known by any other names)

Data alerts

The following alerts are based on the data in the tables below. An absence of an alert does not imply the substance has no implications for human health, biodiversity or the environment but just that we do not have the data to form a judgement.

Environmental fate	Ecotoxicity	Human health
Environmental fate Moderate alert: Drainflow: Slightly mobile; Potential for particle bound transport: Medium	Ecotoxicity Low alert: Birds acute ecotoxicity: Low Warning: Significant data are missing	Human health Moderate alert: Reproduction/development effects

GENERAL INFORMATION

Description

An insecticide derived from naturally occurring soil fungi (naturalyte) used to control Lepidoptera. Usually supplied in combination with spinosyn D as spinosad.

Example pests controlled

Thrips; Gypsy moth; Leaf beetles; Tent and other caterpillars, Leaf miners, Lice

Example applications

Onions & Leeks; Corn; Sweetcorn; Maize; Lettuce; Leafy vegetables; Potato; Aubergine; Pepper; Tomato; Celery; Fruit including grapes, cane fruits, berries, apples, currants; Herbs & edible flowers

Efficacy & activity

Efficacy has been proven through extensive use and long term approvals

Appearance and life cycle

Availability status

Introduction & key dates

1982, first identified; 1997, commercially introduced

Taxonomic classification

GB regulatory status

GB COPR regulatory status

Approved

Date COPR inclusion expires

30/04/2029

GB LERAP status

Check label - may vary with formulation

EC Regulation 1107/2009 (repealing 91/414)

EC Regulation 1107/2009 status

Approved

Dossier rapporteur/co-rapporteur

Netherlands/France

Date EC 1107/2009 inclusion expires

15/03/2025

EU Candidate for substitution (CfS)

Listed in EU database

Yes

Approved for use (✓) under EC 1107/2009 in the following EU Member States

ATAustria	BEBelgium	BGBulgaria	CYCyprus	CZCzech Republic	DEGermany	DKDenmark	EEEstonia	ELGreece
	✓	✓	✓					✓
ESSpain	FIFinland	FRFrance	HRCroatia	HUHungary	IEIreland	ITItaly	LTLithuania	LULuxembourg
✓		✓	✓	✓		✓		✓
LVLatvia	MTMalta	NLNetherlands	PLPoland	PTPortugal	RORomania	SESweden	SISlovenia	SKSlovakia
		✓	✓	✓	✓		✓

Approved for use (✓) under EC 1107/2009 by Mutual Recognition of Authorisation and/or national regulations in the following EEA countries

ISIceland	NONorway

Additional information

Known to be also used in the following countries

Mexico, Australia

Chemical structure

Isomerism

Spinosyn A is one of the components of spinosad. It is a chiral molecule.

Chemical formula

C₄₁H₆₅NO₁₀

Canonical SMILES

Isomeric SMILES

International Chemical Identifier key (InChIKey)

International Chemical Identifier (InChI)

2D structure diagram/image available?

Yes

Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre diagrams

Common Name	Relationship	Link
spinosyn A	-

General status

Biopesticide type

Insecticide

Substance groups

Micro-organism derived substance

Minimum active substance purity

Known relevant impurities

Substance origin

Natural

Mode of action

Contact and stomach action. Acts by exciting the insect nervous system, leading to involuntary muscle contractions and paralysis. Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) channel blocker - site I

Substance source

Secondary metabolites of the Gram-positive soil bacterium Saccharoployspora spinosa

Substance production

Fermentation of the organism is followed by whole broth extraction

Uses

Crop protection

Target pests

Thrips; Gypsy moth; Leaf beetles; Tent and other caterpillars, Leaf miners, Lice

Target host

Onions & Leeks; Corn; Sweetcorn; Maize; Lettuce; Leafy vegetables; Potato; Aubergine; Pepper; Tomato; Celery; Fruit including grapes, cane fruits, berries, apples, currants; Herbs & edible flowers

Farming system suitability

Suitable for use in all farming systems where approved for use in that country

CAS RN

131929-60-7

EC number

CIPAC number

US EPA chemical code

PubChem CID

Molecular mass

731.98

PIN (Preferred Identification Name)

IUPAC name

(2R,3aS,5aR,5bS,9S,13S,14R,16aS,16bR)-2-(6-deoxy-2,3,4-tri-O-methyl-α-L-mannopyranosyloxy)-etradeoxy-β-D-erythropyranosyloxy)-9-ethyl-2,3,3a,5a,5b,6,7,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16a,16b-hexadecahydro-14-methyl-1H-as-indaceno[3,2-d]oxacyclododecine-7,15-dione

CAS name

(2R,3aS,5aR,5bS,9S,13S,14R,16aS,16bR)--((6-deoxy-2,3,4-tri-O-methyl-α-L-mannopyranosyl)oxy)-13-(((2R,5S,6R)-5-(dimethylamino)tetrahydro-6-methyl-2H-pyran-2-yl)oxy)-9-ethyl-2,3,3a,5a,5b,6,9,10,11,12,13,14,16a,16b-16b-tetradecahydro-14-methyl-1H-as-indaceno[3,2-d]oxacyclododecin-7,15-dione-

Other status information

Relevant Environmental Water Quality Standards

Herbicide Resistance Class (HRAC MoA class)

Not applicable

Herbicide Resistance Class (WSSA MoA class)

Not applicable

Insecticide Resistance Class (IRAC MoA class)

Fungicide Resistance Class (FRAC MOA class)

Not applicable

Examples of recorded resistance

Deraeocoris brevis, Frankliniella occidentalis, Liriomyza trifolii, Plutella xylostella, Spodoptera exigua

Physical state

Technical substance is a white-grey crystalline solid

Related substances & organisms

spinosad

spinosyn D

Can be a metabolite of:

Parent

Formation medium

Estimated maximum occurrence fraction

1107/2009 relevancy

Saccharopolyspora spinosa

Soil

Formulations

Property

Product

Manufacturer

Example products

Spinoace 12SC

Dow AgroSciences

Entrust Naturalyte

Dow AgroSciences

Formulation and application details

Products containing spiniosyn A are often supplied as a soluble concentrate that is mixed with water and used as a foliar spray

ENVIRONMENTAL FATE

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Solubility - In water at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)

14.5

Moderate

Solubility - In organic solvents at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)

190000

Methanol

168000

Acetone

525000

1,2-Dichloroethane

448000

Hexane

Melting point (°C)

107.0

Boiling point (°C)

285.0

Degradation point (°C)

Flashpoint (°C)

Octanol-water partition coefficient at pH 7, 20 °C

7.94 X 10⁰³

Calculated

Log P

3.9

High

Fat solubility of residues

Solubility

Soluble

Data type

Regulatory data - observed in metabolism and farm animal feeding studies

Density (g ml⁻¹)

Dissociation constant pKa) at 25 °C

8.1

Protonated spinosyn A

Vapour pressure at 20 °C (mPa)

2.0 X 10^-02

Low volatility

Henry's law constant at 25 °C (Pa m³ mol⁻¹)

5.0 X 10^-04

Non-volatile

Volatilisation as max % of applied dose lost

From plant surface

1.6

Volatilisation is not considered critical for air pollution

From soil surface

Volatilisation is not considered critical for air pollution

Maximum UV-vis absorption L mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹

Neutral soln: 243.2nm=110000, 201nm=200.2
Acidic soln: 244.2nm=108000, 200.2nm=57300
Basic soln: 244.0nm=109000

Surface tension (mN m⁻¹)

41.5

Degradation

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

General biodegradability

Soil degradation (days) (aerobic)

DT₅₀ (typical)

21.0

Non-persistent

DT₅₀ (lab at 20 °C)

21.0

Non-persistent

DT₅₀ (field)

27.4

Non-persistent

DT₉₀ (lab at 20 °C)

100

Persistent

DT₉₀ (field)

37.2

DT₅₀ modelling endpoint

21.0

Note

EU 2025 dossier Lab studies DT₅₀ (normalised) range 7.3-51.5 days, DT₉₀ (measured) range 22.6-170.9 days, Soils=10; Field studies DT₅₀ (measured) range 0.77-100 days, Soils=8, DT₉₀ (measured) range 16.4-58.0 days, Soils=2

Dissipation rate RL₅₀ (days) on plant matrix

Value

Note

Dissipation rate RL₅₀ (days) on and in plant matrix

Value

Note

Aqueous photolysis DT₅₀ (days) at pH 7

Value

0.2

Fast

Note

Aqueous hydrolysis DT₅₀ (days) at 20 °C and pH 7

Value

Stable

Note

Stable at all relevant pH values

Water-sediment DT₅₀ (days)

126

Slow

Water phase only DT₅₀ (days)

Slow

Sediment phase only DT₅₀ (days)

Air degradation

As this parameter is not normally measured directly, a surrogate measure is used: ‘Photochemical oxidative DT₅₀’. Where data is available, this can be found in the Fate Indices section below.

Decay in stored produce DT₅₀

[Pear homogenate: No observed residue decay @ <=20 DegC after 7 days; Lab study]

Soil adsorption and mobility

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Linear

K_d (mL g⁻¹)

K_oc (mL g⁻¹)

Notes and range

Freundlich

K_f (mL g⁻¹)

46.7

Slightly mobile

K_foc (mL g⁻¹)

3205

¹/_n

0.86

Notes and range

EU 2025 dossier K_f range 5.4-283 mL g⁻¹, K_foc range 647-165364 mL g⁻¹, ¹/_n range 0.81-1.02, Soils=10

pH sensitivity

Known soil metabolites

Metabolite

Major/Minor fraction

$Click here for further information on Major/Minor fraction$

Estimated maximum occurrence fraction

Notes

spinosyn B

Major fraction

0.670

Known groundwater metabolites

None

Other known metabolites

None

ECOTOXICOLOGY

Terrestrial ecotoxicology

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

> 2000

Rat

Low

Mammals - Short term dietary NOEL

(mg kg⁻¹)

(ppm diet)

Mammals - Chronic 21d NOAEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)

Birds - Acute LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

> 2000

Anas platyrhynchos

Low

Birds - Short term dietary (LC₅₀/LD₅₀)

Birds - Chronic 21d NOEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)

Earthworms - Acute 14 day LC₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

Earthworms - Chronic NOEC, reproduction (mg kg⁻¹)

Soil micro-organisms

Collembola

Acute LC₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

Chronic NOEC (mg kg⁻¹)

Non-target plants

Honeybees (Apis spp.)

Contact acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Oral acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Unknown mode acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Chronic

Notes

Bumblebees (Bombus spp.)

Contact acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Oral acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Mason bees (Osmia spp.)

Contact acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Oral acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Other bee species (1)

Acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg insect⁻¹)

Mode of exposure

Other bee species (2)

Acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg insect⁻¹)

Mode of exposure

Beneficial insects (Ladybirds)

Beneficial insects (Lacewings)

Beneficial insects (Parasitic wasps)

Beneficial insects (Predatory mites)

Beneficial insects (Ground beetles)

Aquatic ecotoxicology

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Temperate Freshwater Fish - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

Temperate Freshwater Fish - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l⁻¹)

Tropical Freshwater Fish - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

Temperate Freshwater Aquatic invertebrates - Acute 48 hour EC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

Temperate Freshwater Aquatic invertebrates - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l⁻¹)

Tropical Freshwater Aquatic invertebrates - Acute 48 hour EC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

Aquatic crustaceans - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

Sediment dwelling organisms - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

Sediment dwelling organisms - Chronic 28 day NOEC, static, water (mg l⁻¹)

Sediment dwelling organisms - Chronic 28 day NOEC, sediment (mg kg⁻¹)

Aquatic plants (free-floating, growth) - Acute 7 day EC₅₀, biomass (mg l⁻¹)

Aquatic plants (rooted, growth) - Acute 14 day EC₅₀, biomass (mg l⁻¹)

Algae - Acute 72 hour EC₅₀, growth (mg l⁻¹)

Algae - Chronic 96 hour NOEC, growth (mg l⁻¹)

Mesocosm study data

NOEAEC mg l⁻¹

Marine bivalves

HUMAN HEALTH AND PROTECTION

General

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Threshold of Toxicological Concern (Cramer Class)

Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

> 2000

Rat

Low

Mammals - Dermal LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹ body weight)

5000

Rabbit

Mammals - Inhalation LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

> 5.18

Rat 4 hr (nose only)

Other Mammal toxicity endpoints

ADI - Acceptable Daily Intake (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)

0.024

Rat SF=100

ARfD - Acute Reference Dose (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)

0.1

Rat SF=100

AAOEL - Acute Acceptable Operator Exposure Level (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)

AOEL - Acceptable Operator Exposure Level - Systemic (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)

0.013

Dermal penetration studies (%)

0.1-10.0

concentration dependent

Dangerous Substances Directive 76/464

Exposure Routes

Public

No unacceptable risks to bystanders identified

Occupational

No unacceptable risks to operators or other workers identified
May be absorbed into the body by ingestion

Mammalian dose elimination route and rate

Rapid excretion primarily via faeces

Health issues

Specific human health issues

Carcinogen

Genotoxic

Endocrine disruptor

; ; ; ;

Reproduction / development effects

Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor

Neurotoxicant

Respiratory tract irritant

Skin irritant

Skin sensitiser

Eye irritant

Phototoxicant

General human health issues

Possible thyroid toxicant
May cause inflammation of various organs

Handling issues

Property

Value and interpretation

General

Prevent generation of dust
Not explosive or oxidising
IMDG Transport Hazard Class 9
Not expected to auto-ignite; Not highly flammable

CLP classification 2013

Environment: H400, H410

WHO Classification

III (Slightly hazardous)

UN Number

UN3077

Waste disposal & packaging

Packaging Group III (minor danger)

Shelf-life, storage, stability and reactivity

TRANSLATIONS

Language

Name

English

spinosyn A

French

German

Danish

Italian

Spanish

Greek

Polish

Swedish

Hungarian

Dutch

Norwegian

Record last updated:	01/05/2025
Contact:	aeru@herts.ac.uk
Please cite as:	Lewis, K.A., Tzilivakis, J., Warner, D. and Green, A. (2016) An international database for pesticide risk assessments and management. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal, 22(4), 1050-1064. DOI: 10.1080/10807039.2015.1133242