Nursery and Landscape - Newer Insecticides and Their Use.

Over the last 4-5 years, many new insecticides have been registered for use in horticultural applications. The following are some of these as well as informtion on some new uses for older insecticides.

Tristar (acetamiprid). This is a neonicotinoid insecticide available as a foliar spray for control of aphids, mealybugs, caterpillars, scales, whiteflies, thrips, leaf-eating beetles and leafminers. Nursery and landscape.

Safari (dinotefuran). A neonicotinoid insecticide used as a foliar spray or soil drench for control of whiteflies, aphids, scales, leafminers, mealybugs and other insects. Nursery and Landscape.

Celero (clothianidin). A new neonicotinoid insecticide for aphids, whiteflies and mealybugs in ornamental crops. The same active ingredient is labeled as Arena for use in turfgrass. Arena provided great control of grubs in turf, even surpassing Merit in our trials last year. Nursery and Landscape.

Discus (imidacloprid + cyfluthrin). Soil directed sprays in late June or July should be lightly covered with soil or watered-in immediately after application for optimum control of grubs. Discus is also excellent for aphid control and will help suppress scale insects and mealybugs. Allow four weeks after soil application for uptake by roots and movement into the leaves. Foliar sprays will control a wide spectrum of insects because of the cyfluthrin. Nurseries.

Flagship (thiamethoxam). Soil-directed sprays in June followed by rain or irrigation will control Fletcher scale and other scale insects and aphids. This insecticide seems to work better for soft scale insects than imidacloprid. June applications will also provide grub control, although July is the optimum timing for grubs. Nurseries

Distance (pyriproxyfen). Although not a new product, recent research tests in Indiana showed that Distance gave the highest level of control of euonymus scale of any product tested. This means it should also work well as a crawler spray for pine needle scale, oystershell scale and any armored scale insects. Nursery or landscape.

Reprinted from the June 10, 2005 edition of the Michigan Landscape Alert newsletter from Michigan State University.