 Raymond Cloyd |
Due to a number of factors including stringent federal and state regulations and the manufacturers’ costs associated with developing new active ingredients, there have been fewer new control products introduced than in previous years. Here are some of the “new” products that growers may not be fully aware of yet.
Shuttle
Shuttle is a miticide commercially available from OHP Inc. with the active ingredient acequinocyl (15.8 percent). It is formulated as a soluble concentrate (SC), and is labeled for control or suppression of various spider mites.
Shuttle works by contact activity only, but is supposedly active on all spider mite life stages. It kills spider mites quickly and may provide up to 28-days of residual activity. The label rate is 6.4 to 12.8 fluid ounces per 100 gallons.
Shuttle has a mode of action similar to fenpyroximate (Akari) and pyridaben (Sanmite). All three miticides are mitochondria electron transport inhibitors. Even though Akari and Sanmite work differently than Shuttle, it is important to avoid using any one of these three in succession in a rotation program.
In our research, acequinocyl was much more effective on two-spotted spider mite nymphs than adults. Also, since acequinocyl does not have translaminar activity, more frequent applications may be needed to suppress two-spotted spider mite populations.
Overture
Overture, which is distributed by Valent Professional Products, contains pyridalyl (35 percent) as its active ingredient. This insecticide is labeled for both thrips and caterpillars, and is formulated as a 35WP (wettable powder) available in water-soluble packets.
Pyridalyl is active as both a contact and stomach poison although contact activity may reduce western flower thrips populations faster than ingestion. This insecticide has translaminar activity on a number of plant types.
Overture’s label specifically states that there should be no more than three applications per cropping cycle or no more than three applications within six months.
Based on our research, pyridalyl does kill western flower thrips adults and nymphs with mortality ranging from 80-90 percent. It appears that pyridalyl is more toxic to second instar nymphs (2.8 fold) than adults.
One major difference between Overture and spinosad (Conserve) is the speed of kill. Conserve, in general, kills western flower thrips one to three days following application. Overture may take seven to 10 days to kill a majority of western flower thrips. Growers should not expect an immediate reduction in the western flower thrips populations when using Overture. Research is being conducted to determine the direct and indirect effects of Overture on biological control agents (e.g., parasitoids and predators).
Molt-X
Molt-X is available from BioWorks Inc. and contains the active ingredient azadirachtin (3 percent). This is the same active ingredient and concentration in both Azatin XL and Ornazin.
Azadirachtin is an insect growth regulator. It acts as an ecdysone antagonist by inhibiting the effects of the molting hormone ecdysone. Insect pests never reach adulthood.
Azadirachtin is very sensitive to degradation when the spray solution pH is less than 7. The recommended pH range is between 5.5 and 6.5. Application rates are 8-10 ounces per 100 gallons of water.
Molt-X is registered for control or suppression of a multitude of insect pests including whiteflies, leafminers, soft scales, mealybugs, thrips, aphids, fungus gnats, shore flies and caterpillars. In most cases, multiple applications are required to suppress pest populations and to avoid outbreaks.
SuffOil-X
SuffOil-X is available from BioWorks Inc. It contains petroleum oil (80 percent) as its active ingredient. This active ingredient kills insect and mite pests by suffocation blocking gas exchange and covering the breathing pores (spiracles). The product has activity on all life stages (eggs, larvae or nymphs and adults. The application rate is 1-2 gallons per 100 gallons of water.
SuffOil-X is registered for use against aphids, fungus gnats, leafminers, mealybugs, mites, scales, thrips and whiteflies. Since oils only have contact activity, multiple applications may be required to suppress insect and pest populations.
In our research, we found that one application of SuffOil-X at 2 gallons per 100 gallons, effectively suppressed populations of the sweet potato whitefly B-biotype (Bemisia tabaci) on poinsettia after three weeks with no phytotoxicity.
Kontos
Kontos, which is distributed by OHP Inc., is the first truly systemic miticide for use in greenhouses, nurseries and interiorscapes. Its active ingredient is spirotetramat (22.4 percent) and its mode of action is a lipid biosynthesis inhibitor.
Kontos is labeled for control or suppression of spider mites, aphids, leafhoppers, mealybugs and whiteflies. It is a soluble concentrate (SC) and is labeled for use on vegetable transplants.
Kontos has fully-systemic miticide activity. The active ingredient moves through the xylem and phloem tissues with the active ingredient residing in new shoots and leaves. It is primarily active via ingestion and may potentially reduce female fecundity of certain pests. Kontos may be applied as a foliar spray or growing medium drench.
In our research, Kontos provided between 81-98 percent mortality of two-spotted spider mite seven to 14 days after application when applied as a medium drench. The active ingredient appeared to be more active on nymphs than adults.
It is important to avoid using Kontos on a number of crops including geraniums, orchids and ferns. Be sure to consult the product label for a complete list of crops that it should not be used on.
For control or suppression of two-spotted spider mite, it is important to apply the product preventively or when populations are first detected since Kontos will not rapidly reduce “high” populations. For control or suppression of mealybugs, it is recommended to make two foliar applications at 14-21 day intervals so as to kill nymphs that emerge from eggs.
Raymond A. Cloyd is associate professor/ext. specialist in ornamental entomology IPM, K-State Research and Extension, (785) 532-4750; rcloyd@ksu.edu.
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