MITE CONTROL IN
NURSERY CROPS
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR USE
For Control of Mites on Nursery and Floriculture Crops
M-Pede® insecticide meets the fundamental needs of today's nursery production professional. It can be used to effectively control two-spotted spider mites and other foliage feeding mites, as well as soft bodied insects on a wide range of nursery and floricultural crops. Yet, M-Pede is low in toxicity to nontarget organisms and the envrionment. 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 nursery and floriculture producers peace of mind. M-Pede works, 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 miticide which causes rapid death of susceptible, soft bodied insects and mites by disrupting waxy cuticles 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 miticides, so it can be a useful resistance management tool.
Steps for Successful Control of Two-Spotted and Other Foliage Feeding Mites
1. Exclusion and early detection are keys to successfully managing mites. Carefully inspect all propagation materials for mites prior to introducing to your greenhouse production areas. Understand the biology and feeding habits of the mite pests which attack your crop. Scout plants thoroughly and regularly for mites and any feeding damage.
2. The supplemental release of certain biological control organisms including species of Phytoseiulus spp., Amblyseius spp., and Typhlodromus spp. can provide suppression of two spotted, eriophyoid, and cyclamen mites under light to moderate infestation pressure. Certain selective pesticides can be used in combination with mite predators to knock-down high pest populations while not significantly disrupting or suppressing predator populations.
3. Develop a miticide program which includes several classes of miticides such as fatty acid salts, macrocyclic lactones, and chlorinated hydrocarbons. Rotate sprays of different pesticide classes in order to maximize control and manage resistance development.
4. Include M-Pede in your mite control program as a stand alone or tank mixture miticide for quick knockdown and control of two spotted and other foliage feeding mites. M-Pede's knockdown capability will compliment other longer residual pesticides.
5. M-Pede has no residual activity after it has dried. Therefore, many bio-control agents can survive M-Pede applications when applied alone, or can be released in treated areas shortly following application.
Use Guidelines For Controlling Mites With M-Pede
Rates: Use M-Pede at 2% (volume/volume) alone or at 1% (v/v) in tank mix combination to knockdown and control mites on ornamentals.
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. Avoid making more than three consecutive applications of M-Pede, either alone or in a 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: compatibility 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 which 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 mites appear in production areas. M-Pede must come into contact with mites to be effective. Adjust pressure and nozzle size to thoroughly wet upper and lower leaf surfaces of infested plants while avoiding over applicaiton and run-off.
M-Pede works on contact and is no longer effective once dried.
Tank Mixes: M-Pede can be used at reduced rates (1% v/v) to synergize or enhance the activity of certain miticides in tank mixes. Field trials have demonstrated that superior control of mites can be achieved by applying M-Pede in combination with certain other miticides including: Avid®, Pentac Aquaflow®, Ornamite®, SunSpray® Ultra Fine Oil, Kelthane®, Morestan® and Vendex®. Eight U.S. patents have been issued which disclose the ability of M-Pede to enhance activity of companion insecticides. Tank mix M-Pede to:
improve effectiveness over individual miticides applied alone;
allow use of lower label rates of companion products which can result in reduced costs, reduced impact on beneficial insect populations and reduced pesticide exposure;
provide fast knockdown activity;
broaden the spectrum of pests controlled;
increase the activity against multiple life stages including the egg stage of certain mites;
provide a unique mode of action which can be used in resistance management programs.
For best results, use freshly mixed spray. Apply tank mixtures promptly. When tank mixing, comply with the most restrictive label instructions.
Restrictions and Limitations To Applications of M-Pede
Certain plant species are sensitive to applications of M-Pede. A small number of plants should be treated prior to general spraying. Avoid making more than three sequential applications of M-Pede.
Do not apply M-Pede through a pulse or thermal fogger sprayer.
Do not use M-Pede with a spreader sticker or penetrator.
Tank mix combinations with various foliar nutrients or pesticides containing sulfur or metallic ions (such as zinc, iron, etc.) or chlorothalonil may be physically incompatible and ultimately phytotoxic.
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. Vendex is a registered trademark of E.I. duPont de Nemours & Co. Ornamite is a registered trademark of Uniroyal Chemical Co., Inc. Pentac Aquaflow is a registered trademark of Sandoz, Ltd. Morestan is a registered trademark of Bayer Ag, Germany. Kelthane a registered trademark of Rohm Haas Company. 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# 2140 5/93