The label is the law. Rates and restrictions below are taken from the product labels listed under Sources. Your product's own label governs; read it before you mix or apply. Mixing calculator · Disclaimer
- Active ingredient
- Spiromesifen
- Chemical class
- Tetronic acid derivative; IRAC Group 23 inhibitor of acetyl-CoA carboxylase, a lipid synthesis and growth regulation target shared with spirotetramat and spirodiclofen.[2]
- Mode of action
- IRAC Group 23: Inhibitors of acetyl-CoA carboxylase: tetronic and tetramic acid derivatives[2][1]
- Signal word
- Forbid 4F Ornamental Insecticide/Miticide: Caution[1]
Plants to skip and places it can't go
The label doesn't recommend it on ferns, English ivy, Alstroemeria, Dracaena, Peperomia, croton, Cordyline, Mexican heather, fuchsia, geraniums, Schefflera or impatiens. Test a few plants before wider use.[1]
It isn't for vegetable gardens, feed or forage plants, fruit or nut trees, commercial greenhouses or nurseries, or plants grown for sale.[1]
Group 23 rotation
IRAC Group 23 actives block acetyl-CoA carboxylase, an enzyme needed to build lipids. The label says to rotate Forbid with other groups that control the same pests rather than spraying Group 23 back to back.[2][1]
Where it is used
Start spraying as mite or whitefly numbers begin to climb, before a damaging population sets in. Young mites are often more susceptible than adults.[1]
Wet both the upper and lower leaf surfaces without letting spray run off. Judge results 4 to 10 days after treatment.[1]
Against whiteflies it targets eggs and nymphs and also hits the hard-to-kill pupal stage, so time sprays for those life stages.[1]
Apply no more than three times a season, never through irrigation, and avoid spraying when rain or irrigation is expected within 48 hours.[1]
Products and registrations
| Product | Registrant | EPA Reg. No. | Active % | Formulation | Signal word |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forbid 4F Ornamental Insecticide/Miticide[1] | Environmental Science U.S., LLC | 101563-55 | 45.2% | flowable suspension concentrate | Caution |
Label rates
| Product | Use | Pests | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forbid 4F Ornamental Insecticide/Miticide | Shrubs and trees, including non-bearing fruit and nut trees, in outdoor landscapes and interior plantscapes | Spider mites (twospotted, southern red, spruce, honeylocust, boxwood and others), false spider mites, rust and blister mites, broad and cyclamen mites; whiteflies | 1–4 fl oz product per 100 gallons of spray solution[1] Mites take 1 to 4 fl oz and whiteflies 2 to 4 fl oz per 100 gallons, or 1.5 to 6 mL per 5 gallons. Use 4 fl oz for adult whiteflies. No more than 0.35 lb spiromesifen per acre per year. |
| Forbid 4F Ornamental Insecticide/Miticide | Flowers and foliage plants in outdoor landscapes | The same mites and whiteflies | 1–2 fl oz product per 100 gallons of spray solution[1] Mites take 1 to 2 fl oz and whiteflies 2 fl oz per 100 gallons, or 1.5 to 3 mL per 5 gallons. No more than 0.188 lb spiromesifen per acre per year. |
Safety and environmental hazards
People
Signal word CAUTION: harmful if swallowed, inhaled or absorbed through skin. Mixers and loaders wear chemical-resistant gloves, and everyone handling it wears long sleeves, long pants, shoes and socks.[1]
Pets
Its hazard statement for people and domestic animals reads the same: harmful if swallowed, inhaled or absorbed through skin. The label also says to avoid breathing spray mist.[1]
Bees and pollinators
The Forbid 4F label carries no bee or pollinator warning.[1]
Fish and water
Toxic to fish and aquatic invertebrates. It is rated as having a high potential to wash into surface water for months, and its breakdown products may leach to shallow groundwater.[1]
Common questions
- Does spiromesifen kill spider mite eggs?
- The label says it works on all mite development stages and is highly effective against egg and nymph stages, with young mites often more susceptible than adults.[1]
- How much Forbid 4F per gallon?
- The label gives small-batch rates of 1.5 to 6 mL per 5 gallons of spray for shrubs and trees, and 1.5 to 3 mL per 5 gallons for flowers and foliage.[1]
- Can homeowners buy Forbid 4F?
- It is labeled for professional use only, on landscape and interior plants around homes, parks, golf courses and other buildings.[1]
Sources
- U.S. EPA Pesticide Product Label System, “Forbid 4F Ornamental Insecticide/Miticide label, EPA Reg. No. 101563-55 (EPA-stamped, July 1, 2024).” www3.epa.gov/pesticides/chem_search/ppls/101563-00055-20240701.pdf (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Insecticide Resistance Action Committee, “IRAC Mode of Action Classification Scheme, Version 11.5 (Feb. 2026).” irac-online.org/documents/moa-classification/ (accessed 2026-10-06)