Newly Registered Pesticides for Use on Citrus Nursery Stock in 2009

Kim Wilenius and Beth Grafton-Cardwell

Platinum 75 SG (Thiamethoxam)—For bearing and non-bearing citrus in nurseries, Platinum is a soil applied (drench, chemigation, injection) in the neonicotinoid class of insecticides, with the same active ingredient as Flagship (for non-bearing use only). The label lists pests such as: aphids, scales, mealybugs, thrips, Asian citrus psyllid, sharpshooters, thrips, and citrus leafminer. Manufactured by Syngenta.

Grafton-Cardwell research trial experience: In various experiments with potted citrus trees and field trees, Platinum showed only moderate control of California red scale, citricola scale, and aphids, but showed excellent control of citrus leafminer and glassywinged sharpshooters. It is a systemic insecticide that is similar in activity to imidacloprid.

Arena 50WDG (Clothianidin)—A foliar neonicotinoid insecticide, for use on non-bearing fruit trees. Listed pests controlled on label include aphids, certain lepidopterous pests, and leafminers. Manufactured by Valent.

Grafton-Cardwell research trial experience: In various experiments with potted citrus trees and field trees, the experimental commercial citrus formulation of clothianidin (Clutch) showed only short-term control of aphids, but showed excellent control of citrus leafminer and citricola scale.

Overture 35 WP (Pyridalyl)—For use on non-bearing fruit trees in enclosed greenhouses only. Label lists control of thrips and lepidopterous pests. Manufactured by Valent. No experiments have been conducted to determine its efficacy against citrus thrips.

Movento (Spirotetramat) - For use on non-bearing and bearing citrus (greenhouse use not allowed). It is applied to the foliage, but is systemic, moving to the new tissue over a 2 week period. Listed pests controlled include scale (including California red scale), Asian citrus psyllid, citrus leafminer, mealybugs, and whiteflies. Manufactured by Bayer CropScience.

Grafton-Cardwell research trial experience: In various experiments with potted citrus trees and field trees, Movento showed slow but effective control of aphids, citrus red mite, citrus leafminer and California red scale. It was not effective against citricola scale.

Resistance Management: To avoid selecting for resistance in pests, it is important to rotate between insecticides from different chemical groups and modes of action (See group numbers below). For example, Platinum and Arena are in the same chemical neonicotinoid chemical class and should not be used back to back.

Insecticide group numbers are based on the Insecticide Resistance Action Committee http://www.irac-online.org/.

Group #—mode of action	Group name	Brand name	Pests targeted
a—acetylcholinesterase inhibitors	Carbamates	Lannate, Sevin, Carzol, Mesurol	Broad spectrum, killing most insect pests
1b—acetylcholinesterase inhibitors	Organophosphate	Naled, Orthene, Malathion, Cygon, Diazinon, Lorsban, Dursban, Imidan, Supracide	Broad spectrum, killing most insect pests unless they have resistance (for example citrus thrips)
3 -Sodium channel modulators	Pyrethroid	Baythroid, Talstar, Tame, Danitol, Astro Pounce, Asana	Broad spectrum, killing most insect pests
4—nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonists	Neonicotinoids	Admire, Provado, Marathon, Assail. Tristar, Platinum, Flagship, Actara, Safari, Arena	Sucking insects such as aphids and whitefly, but not scales
6—chloride channel activators	Avermectins	Agri-Mek, Zephyr Zoro, Clinch	Mites and thrips and ants (Clinch ant bait)
7a—juvenile hormone mimics	Insect growth regulator	Esteem, Knack Distance, Esteem ant bait	Scales and ants (Esteem ant bait)
9a—feeding blockers		Kryocide	Chewing insects such as katydid and fuller rose beetle
9b—feeding blockers		Endeavor	Aphids and whiteflies
11- microbial disruptors of midgut membranes		Javelin	Caterpillars
15—inhibitors of chitin biosynthesis—type 1, lepidoptera	Insect growth regulators	Micromite	Leafminer, Diaprepes, citrus rust mite, katydid
16—inhibitors of chitin biosynthesis type 2, homoptera	Insect growth regulators	Applaud	Scales
17a—molting disrupter	Insect growth regulator	Intrepid	Caterpillars
17b—molting disrupter	Insect growth regulators	Neemix, Azatin Aza-direct	Aphids, whitefly, caterpillars
20a—Mitochondrial complex III electron transport inhibitors		Amdro	ants
23—lipid synthesis inhibitors		Movento	Armored scales, citrus leafminer, citrus red mite, citrus thrips
Unknown mode of action
		Narrow range oils	Broad spectrum, killing most insects
		M-Pede	Aphids, whiteflies
	Botanical	Veratran	Thrips
		Overture	Thrips, Lepidoptera

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