POINSETTIA PRODUCTION

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR USE

For Control of Whiteflies on Poinsettias

M-Pede® Insecticide meets the fundamental needs of today's floriculture production professional. It is widely recognized for its effectiveness on sweetpotato and other whiteflies. Yet, M-Pede is low in toxicity to nontarget organisms and the environment. It can be applied to a wide range of ornamental plants including poinsettias without plant injury. M-Pede can be applied alone for quick knockdown of pests, or tank mixed to synergize or enhance the activity of other insecticides and miticides. M-Pede's cost-effectiveness and its minimal worker reentry restrictions offer poinsettia producers peace of mind. M-Pede works and yet less can go wrong when you use it.

Formulation and Active Ingredients: M-Pede contains potassium salts of fatty acids which are extracted from plant and/or animal sources. Fatty acids occur naturally in many biological systems and are a common part of our daily diet. M-Pede's inert ingredients are a combination of water and ethanol. M-Pede is readily biodegradable and will not persist in the environment.

Mode of Action: M-Pede is a contact insecticide which causes rapid death of susceptible, soft bodied insects and mites by disrupting their waxy cuticle and cell membranes. M-Pede is active only while in solution and must contact the target pests to be effective. M-Pede's mode of action is different from that of most other insecticides, so it can be a useful resistance management tool.

Steps for Successful Control of Sweetpotato Whiteflies on Poinsettias

Exclusion and early detection are key to successfully managing whiteflies. Carefully inspect all propagation materials for whiteflies prior to introducing to your greenhouse production areas. Scout plants thoroughly and regularly for whiteflies. Use yellow sticky cards for early detection of adults.
The supplemental release of certain biological control organisms including species of Encarsia spp., Eretmocerus spp., and Delphastus spp. can provide suppression of whiteflies under light to moderate infestation pressure. Certain selective pesticides can be used in combination with bio-control agents to knockdown pest populations while not significantly disrupting or suppressing predator and parasite populations.
Develop a pesticide program which includes three or four classes of insecticides such as fatty acids, pyrethroids, organophosphates, carbamates, macrocyclic lactones, chlorinated hydrocarbons and insect growth regulators in order to maximize control and manage resistance development. Rotate pesticide treatments to coincide with the development period for sweetpotato whitefly nymphs (approximately 14-17 days).
Utilize M-Pede insecticide as one of your primary insecticides for knockdown and control of whitefly adults, nymphs, and pupae, while selectively sparing biological control agents.Use Guidelines For M-Pede Insecticide

Rates: Use M-Pede at 1-1.5% (v/v) alone or at 1% (v/v) in tank mix combination to control whiteflies on poinsettias.

Interval: Make two applications of M-Pede 7 days apart. Evaluate control after the second application and make a third application 7 days later if necessary. Do not make more than three consecutive applications of M-Pede, either alone or in tank mix.

Mixing: Add the required amount of M-Pede to the spray water. M-Pede mixes readily with water to form a true solution, so vigorous agitation is not required. When tank mixing M-Pede with other pesticides, add pesticides in the following order: conditioning agents, wettable or soluble powders, flowable liquids, emulsifiable concentrates, followed by M-Pede. Use a defoaming agent to control excessive foaming, if necessary.

Hard Water: Water is referred to as "hard" when it contains greater than 300 ppm of metal ions (calcium, magnesium, iron, etc.). M-Pede will bind with metal ions and precipitate if mixed with hard water. This can result in reduced sprayability of the spray solution due to insoluble clumps, reduced pest control effectiveness, and/or increased potential for plant injury. Compatibility agents can be used to improve performance in hard water. A simple jar test as described in Mycogen's technical bulletin "Hard Water Testing" can help determine whether or not a compatibility (or conditioning) agent is needed.

Application: Apply M-Pede when whiteflies appear in production areas. M-Pede must come into contact with whiteflies to be effective. Adjust pressure and nozzle size to produce thorough coverage of upper and lower leaf surfaces of infested plants. M-Pede works on contact and is no longer effective once dried.

Tank Mixes: M-Pede can be used in tank mixes to synergize or enhance the activity of certain insecticides. Field trials have demonstrated that improved control of whiteflies can be achieved by applying M-Pede in combination with certain other insecticides including: Avid®, Dursban®, Mavrik®, Pounce®, Talstar® and Tempo®. Eight U.S. patents have been issued which disclose the ability of M-Pede to enhance activity of companion insecticides. For best results, use freshly mixed spray. Do not allow tank mixtures to stand overnight. When tank mixing, comply with the most restrictive label instructions.

Compatibility With Biological Control Agents: M-Pede has no residual activity after it has dried which allows predators and parasites to rapidly reinhabit treated areas. Research studies and field experience have shown that M-Pede can be used to selectively knockdown whiteflies while allowing predators and parasites to survive or repopulate treated areas and maintain pests below economically damaging thresholds.

Plant Safety: Certain poinsettia cultivars may be sensitive to repeat applications of M-Pede. A small number of plants should be treated prior to general spraying. Do not make more than three sequential applications of M-Pede to poinsettias.

Restrictions and Limitations

Do not apply M-Pede to poinsettia bracts.
Do not apply M-Pede through a pulse or thermal fogger sprayer.
Do not use M-Pede with spreader sticker or penetrator adjuvants.
Tank mix combinations with various foliar nutrients or pesticides containing sulfur or metallic ions (such as zinc, and iron) may be physically incompatible and phytotoxic.

This bulletin contains new or supplemental instructions for the use of this product which may not appear on the package label. Mycogen provides this use information in accordance with Section 2(ee) of FIFRA.

Always read and carefully follow product labels.

M-Pede is a registered trademark of Mycogen Corporation. Avid is a registered trademark of Merck and Co., Inc. Pounce and Talstar are registered trademarks of FMC Corporation. Dursban is a registered trademark of DowElanco. Mavrik is a registered trademark of Sandoz, Ltd. Tempo is a registered trademark of Bayer Ag, Germany. The use of select fatty acids and their salts alone and/or in combination with certain insecticides and miticides is covered in one or more of the following U.S. patents: 4774234, 4870102, 5192546, 4826678, 4983591, 4904645, 5047424, 5030658, 5093124, and 4861762.

EPA Reg. No. 53219-6 MYC.JJ# 2139 6/93