Using specific insecticides requires particular care; mastering the method is key
Generally speaking, specific insecticides have different active ingredients, each with its own characteristics, and they also have different insecticidal mechanisms of action (that is, the principles by which pesticides kill pests). Varieties of this type often used in production today include: chlorfluazuron, buprofezin, flufenoxuron, diflubenzuron, bisultap, monosultap, imidacloprid, fipronil...
Generally speaking, specific insecticides have different active ingredients, each with its own characteristics, and they also have different insecticidal mechanisms of action (that is, the principles by which pesticides kill pests). Varieties of this type often used in production today include: chlorfluazuron, buprofezin, flufenoxuron, diflubenzuron, bisultap, monosultap, imidacloprid, fipronil, hexythiazox, pyridaben, etc. To give full play to the insecticidal action and use effectiveness of specific insecticides, we must start from several aspects: understanding the action characteristics of the product, mastering its correct method of use, and clarifying the relevant precautions. In particular, when it comes to some key technical links, we must strictly control them in order to achieve the expected results.
Chlorfluazuron (also called flucycloxuron, chlorfluazuron, chlorfluazuron, Yitaibao): it is an insecticide with very high insecticidal activity and low toxicity to humans and livestock. It works by inhibiting the synthesis of chitin in the pest's cuticle (a substance on the pest's cuticle), hindering the pest's normal growth and development, mainly causing the pest to be unable to molt and thus die. It has a broad insecticidal spectrum and high insecticidal activity, but its insecticidal action is very slow. After spraying, it takes 3 days for the efficacy to begin to show, and 5 days for the efficacy to be fully exerted, with the effective period lasting more than half a month. It is safe for crops and has little impact on natural enemies and other beneficial organisms. It is relatively effective against pests that have developed resistance to pyrethroids and organophosphates, but basically ineffective against red spider mites. It is ineffective against piercing-sucking mouthpart pests such as aphids, leafhoppers and planthoppers. It acts mainly as a stomach poison and only works after the pest feeds and takes it into the body; it has no systemic or fumigant insecticidal action. Method of use: to control cotton bollworm and pink bollworm, spray at the peak hatching stage of eggs and before young larvae bore in to cause damage, using 60-100 ml of 5% emulsifiable concentrate per 667 sq m, diluted with water for spraying; to control leaf roller and cotton geometrid, spray with a 2000-4000 times dilution at the 1st and 2nd instar stages; for vegetable pests such as diamondback moth, cabbage caterpillar, cabbage moth and tobacco cutworm, bean pod borer and other pests, spray with a 1000-2000 times dilution of 5% emulsifiable concentrate; for fruit tree pests such as peach fruit borer, citrus leafminer, pear starrhair caterpillar, leaf roller and tussock moth, spray with a 1000-2000 times dilution of 5% emulsifiable concentrate; to control tobacco budworm, spray with a 1000-2000 times dilution of 5% emulsifiable concentrate from the peak hatching stage of eggs to the young larva stage. In addition, note that this product has long-term toxicity to silkworms and should not be used in mulberry fields.
Buprofezin: also known as Yadele, Pushingling, Daoshujing, Youlede. It is an insecticide with special effectiveness against planthoppers and low toxicity to humans and livestock. It has contact and stomach poison action, with no systemic or fumigant insecticidal action. It has high insecticidal activity, but its insecticidal speed is slow, generally taking effect in 3-5 days, with an effective period of about 30 days. This product has special effectiveness against nymphs and is relatively safe for natural enemies and beneficial insects. To control the brown planthopper, white-backed planthopper, small brown planthopper and black-tailed leafhopper of rice, spray with 20-30 g of 25% wettable powder diluted with water at the peak nymph stage; for vegetable whitefly, control at the peak occurrence stage of young nymphs when population density is relatively low, using 25-30 g of 25% wettable powder per 667 sq m, diluted with water for spraying (note: this product can only be used for spraying and cannot be used as a soil treatment agent).
Flufenoxuron: also known as Cascade. It is a low-toxicity selective insecticide. Its mechanism of poisoning pests is to prevent the pest from molting, so that the pest cannot grow and develop normally and dies. It has good killing effect on nymph mites but is ineffective against adult mites. It has contact and stomach poison insecticidal action, with no systemic or fumigant action, and is safe for crops, natural enemies and other beneficial insects. Method of use: to control cotton pests, cotton bollworm and pink bollworm, spray before the larvae reach the working instar, using 70-100 ml of 5% emulsifiable concentrate per 667 sq m, diluted with water for spraying; for cotton geometrid, leaf roller, tiger moth, slug moth and others, all at the peak occurrence stage of 1st-2nd instar larvae, use 30-50 ml of 5% emulsifiable concentrate per 667 sq m; for cotton red spider mite, at the stage when nymph population density rises, use 60-90 ml per 667 sq m, diluted with water for spraying; for vegetable pests such as tobacco cutworm and cabbage armyworm, at the peak occurrence stage of 2nd instar larvae, and for diamondback moth at the peak occurrence stage of 1st-2nd instars, use 50-60 ml of 50% emulsifiable concentrate per 667 sq m; for mites such as eggplant red spider mite and bean red spider mite, at the peak occurrence stage of nymph mites, use 40-60 ml per 667 sq m diluted with water for spraying; for apple leaf mite, spray with a 1000-1500 times dilution of 5% emulsifiable concentrate before and after apple flowering; for apple small leaf roller, citrus red spider mite, psyllid, peach fruit borer, citrus leafminer and others, spray with a 1000-2000 times dilution (note: this product cannot be mixed with alkaline substances and cannot be used in mulberry fields or silkworm farms).
Diflubenzuron: it is a selective low-toxicity insecticide. Its mechanism of action is the same as that of chlorfluazuron. Its insecticidal speed is slow, its effective period is 15-20 days, it can withstand rain washing, and it is relatively safe for beneficial insects. Its outstanding feature is that it is effective against many kinds of pests. It is ineffective against piercing-sucking mouthpart pests such as aphids, leafhoppers and planthoppers. To control dryland crop pests such as armyworm, at the peak occurrence stage of 2nd instar larvae, use 100-150 ml of 25% suspension concentrate per 667 sq m, diluted with water for spraying; for cotton bollworm, pink bollworm, corn borer and other pests, at the peak hatching stage of eggs or the peak stage of young larvae, use 100-150 ml of 25% suspension concentrate per 667 sq m diluted with water for spraying; for cotton geometrid, cotton large leaf roller, tiger moth and others, at the peak occurrence stage of 2nd instar larvae, use 75-100 ml per 667 sq m diluted with water for spraying. For cabbage caterpillar, cabbage armyworm, tobacco cutworm, beet armyworm and other pests, at the peak occurrence stage of 2nd instar larvae, use 50-100 ml of 25% suspension concentrate per 667 sq m; for diamondback moth at the peak occurrence stage of 1st-2nd instar larvae, use 100-150 ml of 25% suspension concentrate per 667 sq m diluted with water for spraying. For apple small leaf roller, citrus leaf roller, pear starrhair caterpillar, boat-shaped caterpillar, slug moth, tussock moth and other pests, spray with a 1000-2000 times dilution of 25% suspension concentrate. For tobacco budworm, at the peak hatching stage of eggs or the peak stage of young larvae, use 100-150 ml of 25% suspension concentrate per 667 sq m diluted with water for spraying (note: this product cannot be mixed with alkaline substances and is prohibited in mulberry fields and silkworm farms).
Bisultap: it is an insecticide synthesized by biomimicry based on the structure of nereistoxin. It has strong contact and stomach poison action and a certain fumigant action. It kills pests by causing them to lose response to external stimuli, falling into paralysis and numbness, and eventually dying. Its most outstanding feature is its strong systemic insecticidal action; it can be absorbed by plant roots and leaves and translocated within the plant to kill pests. Absorbed from plant roots, it can be distributed throughout the whole plant within one day, and distributed evenly, but its insecticidal speed is slow, generally taking effect in 3 days, with an effective period of about 10 days. Bisultap has good control effects on many rice pests. For the striped stem borer, yellow stem borer and pink stem borer, when dead heart seedlings and dead sheaths begin to appear at the peak hatching stage of borer eggs, use 150-200 ml of 25% aqueous solution per 667 sq m, diluted with water for splashing irrigation; spraying can also be used, with efficacy lasting more than 10 days, or use 1.5-2 kg of 3% granules per 667 sq m for direct broadcasting. This method is convenient and fast, with an effective period of 12-15 days. In addition, bisultap also has a good killing effect on larvae that have already bored into rice stems. For control of the rice leaf roller, at the peak stage of 3rd instar larvae, use 200 ml of 25% aqueous solution per 667 sq m, diluted with water for splashing irrigation, with efficacy of about 10 days. Bisultap also has a killing effect on other pests such as thrips. For control of vegetable diamondback moth and cabbage caterpillar, use 200 ml of 25% aqueous solution per 667 sq m, diluted with water for spraying; to control striped flea beetle, when seedlings first begin to be damaged, use 200-250 ml of 25% aqueous solution diluted with water for spraying. For citrus leafminer, when new shoots have grown 0.2-0.5 cm, spray with a 600-800 times dilution of 25% aqueous solution. For citrus arrowhead scale, citrus spiny whitefly, pear starrhair caterpillar and others, spray with a 500-700 times dilution of 25% aqueous solution. For sugarcane stem borer and pink stem borer, at the peak hatching stage of larvae, use 250 ml of 25% aqueous solution per 667 sq m, diluted with water for spraying, which can also concurrently control pests such as sugarcane thrips. Precautions: bisultap has moderate toxicity to humans and livestock. When using it, operations must be strictly carried out according to regulations. Once poisoning occurs, with symptoms such as headache, dizziness, abdominal pain, body weakness, nausea and vomiting, drooling, excessive sweating, and constricted pupils, the person must immediately be moved away from the application site, contamination removed, and promptly sent to hospital for emergency treatment. This product is prone to causing phytotoxicity to cruciferous vegetables such as Chinese cabbage and cabbage, as well as beans and cotton, during high summer temperatures and should be used with care; to improve efficacy and enhance its wetting and spreading properties, it is best to add neutral washing powder at 1% of the liquid volume when using; when using bisultap to control rice pests, the field should maintain a 3-5 cm water layer for 2-3 days; it cannot be mixed with alkaline substances.
Monosultap: its characteristics are similar to those of bisultap. It is a nereistoxin-series insecticide, with contact, stomach poison and systemic insecticidal action on pests, and has very strong systemic insecticidal action. Its insecticidal mechanism is to make pests lose response to external stimuli and gradually become paralyzed, numb, poisoned and die. Method of use: to control rice striped stem borer, yellow stem borer and pink stem borer, when rice shows dead heart seedlings, use 75-100 g of 50% crystals per 667 sq m; at the rice heading stage, use 100-140 g, diluted with water for splashing irrigation. For sugarcane borers, apply 4 kg of 3.6% granules per 667 sq m at the roots. For soybean hawk moth, use 15-32 g of 50% crystals per 667 sq m diluted with water for spraying (for precautions, refer to bisultap).
Imidacloprid: also known as Confidor, Yashijing, Pushiya, Gaqiao, Bidan. It is a selective low-toxicity insecticide with very strong systemic insecticidal action and very good effects on piercing-sucking mouthpart pests, but it is ineffective against mites and nematodes. Because it has very strong systemic insecticidal action, it can be used directly for soil treatment or seed treatment. Its insecticidal mechanism also acts on the pest's nervous system, causing the pest to lose nerve conduction function and ultimately killing the pest. It has very good effects on controlling various rice planthoppers. A control strategy of thoroughly controlling one generation and managing the 2nd generation should be adopted, carrying out control at the peak dispersal stage of first-generation adults and the peak hatching stage of 2nd-3rd generation nymphs, using 7-10 mg of 20% concentrated soluble liquid per 667 sq m diluted with water for spraying, or 50-100 g of 10% wettable powder per 667 sq m. To control whitefly in greenhouses or open fields, at the stage when nymph populations rise, use 15-30 ml of 20% concentrated soluble liquid per 667 sq m, diluted with water for spraying; to control cabbage caterpillar, use 5-8 ml, diluted with water for spraying. For cotton pests, use 70% wet seed dressing to treat cotton seed. This is because it has very strong systemic action; after seed dressing it is absorbed by the roots and can control aphids during the cotton seedling stage. Use 500-714 g per 667 sq m, add 1.5-2 L of water, mix into a paste, and mix into 1000 g of cotton seed; be sure to mix evenly before sowing. To control pear psyllid, spray with a 2500-5000 times dilution of 20% concentrated soluble liquid at the egg stage and the beginning peak stage of first-generation nymphs; for citrus leafminer, spray with a 1000-2000 times dilution when the field young leaf germination rate reaches 25%; for apple yellow aphid, spray with a 5000-6000 times dilution when populations rise (note: this product is ineffective against mites, so acaricides should be added when insects and mites occur at the same time; it is not suitable for spraying under strong sunlight).
Fipronil: also known as fipronil. It is a broad-spectrum moderately toxic insecticide with strong insecticidal activity, low use dosage, slow insecticidal speed, and a long effective period. It has contact and stomach poison action and also a certain systemic insecticidal action. Its outstanding feature is that it can promote crop growth and increase crop yield, and it is safe for natural enemies and beneficial insects. To control various rice planthoppers at the nymph stage, use 30-60 ml of 5% suspension concentrate per 667 sq m diluted with water for spraying, but a certain water layer must be maintained in the paddy field. For borers and rice leaf roller, from the peak hatching stage of eggs to the young larva stage, use 30-55 ml of 5% suspension concentrate per 667 sq m, diluted with water for spraying. To control rice weevil, it is best to apply about 5 days after transplanting, using 60-80 ml of 5% suspension concentrate per 667 sq m diluted with water for spraying. To control diamondback moth, at the peak larva stage, use 18-30 ml of 5% suspension concentrate per 667 sq m, diluted with water for spraying; it has good effects on diamondback moth resistant to pyrethroids and organophosphates. For leafminer, apply from the peak egg stage to the peak hatching stage of eggs, using 40-60 ml of 5% suspension concentrate per 667 sq m diluted with water for spraying.
Hexythiazox: synonym Nissorun. It is a low-toxicity acaricide with very good effects on many kinds of red spider mites, but it mainly kills mite eggs, young mites and nymph mites, and is ineffective against adult mites. Its insecticidal action is slow, but its effective period is long, reaching 50-60 days. It has low toxicity to natural enemies and other beneficial insects, is not afraid of alkaline substances, and can be mixed with Bordeaux mixture and lime sulfur mixture. This product can control various mites on crops such as cotton, vegetables, fruit trees, tea trees and tobacco, such as citrus leaf mite, apple leaf mite, cotton leaf mite and hawthorn red spider mite. It is best applied when the density of mite eggs and young and nymph mites is relatively low, using a 1000-2000 times dilution of 5% emulsifiable concentrate or wettable powder for spraying, with efficacy lasting more than 1 month.
Pyridaben: also called pyridaben, pyridaben, supmite, Altair, saomite. It is a low-toxicity broad-spectrum acaricide with contact action and no systemic action. It can kill adult mites, young mites and nymph mites, and is also effective against mite eggs. This product has good quick-acting performance and a long effective period of more than 2 months. It is safe for crops and can control red spider mites and kill piercing-sucking mouthpart pests such as aphids, leafhoppers and thrips. To control vegetable leaf mites and tarsonemid mites, use a 750-1500 times dilution of 15% emulsifiable concentrate; to control whitefly, leafhopper, thrips and others, spray with a 500-1500 times dilution. For apple leaf mite, hawthorn red spider mite, citrus red mite, citrus rust mite and others, spray with a 2000-4000 times dilution of 20% wettable powder; for tea tree leaf mite, use a 750-1500 times dilution of 15% emulsifiable concentrate; to control leafhopper, thrips and others, spray with a 500-1000 times dilution (this product cannot be mixed with alkaline substances and is not suitable for use in fish ponds, mulberry fields, silkworm farms or bee farms).