New and novel

Photo courtesy of OHP

In most situations, the ornamental industry adopts products from agriculture and uses them to suit its own needs. However, a new product from OHP is turning that approach on its head.

OHP and ISK have partnered to combine Cyclaniliprole and Flonicamid for the first time in Pradia, an insecticide that controls horticulture pests such as thrips, aphids and whiteflies, says OHP Technical Manager Carlos Bográn.

“We are leading the development and utilization of this novel combination,” he says.

Multiple product attributes allow Pradia to help growers improve efficiencies and increase their profits, Bográn says. These include broad-spectrum control, residual control and a built-in resistance management tool.

Because of Pradia’s broad-spectrum control, growers won’t have to apply as many insecticides or make as many applications.

The residual control of Pradia — 30 days or more — prevents growers from having to make weekly applications of product, thereby reducing costs.

Together, Cyclaniliprole and Flonicamid can help manage resistance because Bográn says they have “an overlapping spectrum of control” on pests. “By having two things that control the same pest, you are automatically reducing the chances that the population will become tolerant to one of them,” he says.

Cyclaniliprole is the newest member of Insecticide Resistance Action Committee (IRAC) Group 28, and Flonicamid is the only member of IRAC Group 29.

OHP will also target the product Sarisa — with solely the active ingredient of Cyclaniliprole — to nurseries with problematic chewing and foliage-feeding insects on site.

Some commercial growers have tested Pradia on OHP’s behalf and have seen positive results. The product hit the market in late July.

Using both Cyclaniliprole and Flonicamid, Pradia has proven efficacy in controlling everything from mealybugs to borers to leafminers and midges.

“Because of the combination of the two active ingredients, it’s effective on all greenhouse insect pests except mites. This is not a miticide,” Bográn says. “But that’s a good thing because it’s compatible with predatory mites, which are used also for control of some of these same pests.”

Pradia is also compatible with parasitic wasps and lady beetles, making it well-suited to be a component in an integrated pest management (IPM) program.

Overall, several characteristics make Pradia a standout product, Bográn says.

“Combinations are not that common in insecticides,” he says. “They are more common in fungicides ... and this one, we think, is very unique because of that unique mode of action, but also because it is not available in ag, in other markets, yet.”