Powerful pest control

Greenhouse Management: What are the active ingredients in Pradia? Why are those significant?

Carlos Bogran: Pradia contains two active ingredients, flonicamid and cyclaniliprole. The fact that both active ingredients are active against most of the insect pests in the greenhouse and that applications are safe to flowering plants and biological control agents makes Pradia an effective tool for integrated pest management and resistance management programs.

GM: What are the most problematic greenhouse pests on Pradia’s label?

CB: Pradia is effective against virtually all insect pests in the greenhouse, including sucking insect pests such as aphids, whiteflies, mealybugs and scales, chewing insect pests such as worms, caterpillars and beetles, and rasping-sucking insect pests such as thrips.

GM: What are the advantages of Pradia?

CB: Pradia works both on contact and ingestion, providing quick knockdown and residual activity against key pests. It is safe on pollinators and proven compatible with BCAs used in biological control programs, especially those using predatory mites, but also insect parasitoids. It is also an alternative to neonicotinoid and pyrethroid insecticides for those growers seeking additional tools.

GM: How should growers incorporate Pradia into their IPM program?

CB: Pradia can be used as a broad-spectrum insecticide to prevent damage by common insect pests or to target difficult-to-control pests such as thrips and mealybugs. Applications should be made as foliar sprays or coarse-sprays (sprench) to target all life stages of the pest and to take advantage of the systemic activity of flonicamid. Pradia applications can also be incorporated into biologically based pest and disease management programs to clean crops immediately before or after releases of natural enemies or application of microbial products. In terms of Pradia’s compatibility with predators, we have results from replicated greenhouse trials (with the help of university cooperators) showing that indirect and direct mortality by Pradia is similar to that of water, in most cases. In particular, Pradia has shown compatibility with predatory mites such as A. swirskii and A. cucumeris used in biological control of thrips and whiteflies.

GM: What is Pradia’s MOA?

CB: Pradia has two modes of action based on the combination of the two active ingredients. Cyclaniliprole acts on the insect nervous system, affecting calcium release and leading to contraction and paralysis (IRAC Code 28). Flonicamid acts on the insect chordotonal organs, inhibiting balance, attachment and pest feeding (IRAC Code 29).

GM: Can you tank mix Pradia?

CB: Pradia can be mixed with most products; however, since it is already a combination insecticide, special care must be taken when mixing with EC formulations or with products with phytotoxicity risks, including soaps and oils. Testing a few plants in advance is always recommended, but Pradia has been shown safe for all tested annual and perennial crops, even on open blooms.

GM: Is there any trial data you can share about Pradia?

CB: We have continued product development research to enhance the uses of Pradia. In replicated experiments, by Texas A&M University, for example, applications of Pradia as a systemic drench (not currently registered for drench use) provided great and extended control of aphids on pansies relative to foliar spray. We hope to continue to collect trial data to support drench application in the future. Stay tuned.