Landscape and Nursery - Review of Newer Insecticides and Miticides

The following is a review of newer insecticides and miticides that came on the market in the last 2 years for use in nurseries and landscapes.

Quite a few new products became available in the last 2 years for use in the nursery (N) and landscape (L). Here is a quick description of these products and what they can do.

Flagship (N). Thiamethoxam from Syngenta. For grubs, soft scales, beetles, leafhoppers and aphids. Soil applications in July will work well for grub control. Soil applications will also provide good systemic control of the other pests on the label for four to eight weeks after application. This product can also be used as a foliar spray.

Tristar (L, N). Acetamiprid from Cleary. For use as a foliar spray on outdoor ornamentals and in nurseries. Aphids, leafhoppers, scales and beetles.

Safari (N, L). Dinotefuron from Valent. For aphids, leafhoppers, thrips, adult beetles, beetle borers, scales and thrips. Safari works as a soil systemic or as a foliar spray.

Celero (N, L). Clothanidin from Arysta. For outdoor ornamentals and greenhouses, scales, adult beetles, beetle borers, leafhoppers, aphids and grubs. Celero works as a soil systemic or as a foliar spray. Soil applications in July will provide excellent grub control later that summer and fall.

Distance (N, L). Pyriproxyfen from Valent. A safe IGR for use on armored scales. Recent tests have shown that Distance is one of the best sprays available for control of armored scales such as Eunymous, oystershell and lilac scales.

Ultiflora (N, L). Milbamectin. A new miticide from Gowan. Similar to Avid. This is a restricted use pesticide.

Judo (N). Spiromesifen from OHP. For mites and whiteflies.

Forbid (L). Spiromesifen from Bayer Corp. For mites and whiteflies.

ProMite (L, N). Hexakis from Sepro. A selective miticide not harmful to predator mites or beneficial insects (an old version of this product was Vendex). This is a restricted use pesticide with a 48 hour re-entry interval.

Soil drench or soil injections of Discus, Safari, Flagship or Celero. These products will also work as a fall treatment for most spring and early summer pests such as soft scale insects, honeylocust plant bug, potato leafhopper and meadow spittlebug. These products are not very effective against mites or caterpillars.

Information reprinted from the Landscape Alert Newsletter from Michigan State University.