[Aim]  To investigate the toxicity of the pesticides spinetoram and spinosad to Frankliniella intonsa, an important pest of daylilies, and on the activity of protective and detoxifying enzymes in this species. [Methods]  The feeding and immersion methods were used to determine the toxicity of spinetoram and spinosad to adults, nymphs, and pupae of F. intonsa. The effects of a sublethal concentration (LC₂₅) of spinetoram and spinosad on the developmental duration and fecundity of F. intonsa were measured using the feeding method. In addition, changes in the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) and carboxylesterase (CarE), were measured 6, 12, 18, and 24 hours, after exposure to LC₂₅ doses of spinetoram and spinosad. [Results]  Different developmental stages (female adults, 2nd instar nymphs and pupae) of F. intonsa showed significant susceptibility to spinetoram, with corresponding LC₅₀ values of 0.004 4 mg/L, 0.004 7 mg/L, and 0.023 4 mg/L, respectively. Exposure to LC₂₅ levels of both spinetoram and spinosad, significantly prolonged the pre-oviposition period (P < 0.05) and the duration of the 1st-instar nymph stage (P < 0.001) relative to the control. Protective enzyme activity changed markedly after exposure to an LC₂₅ doses of spinosad. With the exception of POD at 6 h and SOD at 18 h, activity of SOD, CAT, and POD increased significantly at 6, 12, 18, and 24 h post-exposure (P < 0.01), relative to the control. GSTs activity also increased significantly over 24 h (P < 0.05). CAT activity significantly increased relative to the control at 6, 12, 18, and 24 h after exposure to an LC₂₅ dose of spinetoram  (P<0.01), whereas SOD and POD activity was not significantly different to that of the control after 24 h (P>0.05). GSTs and CarE activity significantly increased compared to the control over 24 h (P<0.05). [Conclusion]  An LC₂₅ dose of spinetoram is toxic to different developmental stages of F. intonsa. The duration of the pre-oviposition period and 1st-instar nymph stage were significantly prolonged by exposure to LC₂₅ doses of spinetoram and spinosad. Spinosad induces a synergistic increase in SOD, CAT, and POD activity, and activates GSTs for metabolic detoxification. Spinetoram had no significant effect on protective enzymes but induced an increase in CAT activity. Both detoxifying GSTs and CarE were activated by exposure to this pesticide.