MITE CONTROL IN
LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR USE
For Control of Mites in Commercial Landscape Maintenance
M-Pede® insecticide meets the demands of today's landscape pest control professional. It can be used to effectively control spruce and two-spotted spider mites, European red mites, and other foliage feeding mites, as well as many soft bodied insects on a wide range of ornamental and edible plants. Yet, M-Pede is low in toxicity to nontarget organisms and the environment. M-Pede can be applied alone for quick knockdown of mites, or tank mixed to synergize or enhance the activity of other miticides. M-Pede's cost-effectiveness and versatility have helped many landscape managers achieve greater worker productivity with a reduced number of call-backs and rescheduled applications.
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. Early detection of injurious populations and maintenance of natural predators and parasites are keys to successfully managing mites. Understand the biology and feeding habits of the mite pests which attack landscape plants. Know which plants and cultural conditions are prone to injury from specific mite pests. Scout plants thoroughly and regularly for mites and their feeding damage.
2. Natural biological control organisms exist in most landscapes which prey on and maintain foliage feeding mites below economically damaging levels, unless they are disrupted by cultural and pest control practices. The use of "nonselective" pesticides can eliminate natural predators from treated areas which results in a flaring of mite populations. Effective miticide programs utilize selective pesticides which control pests without disrupting the natural balance of nontarget organisms.
3. Include M-Pede in your mite control program as a stand alone for quick knockdown and to protect beneficial predators. M-Pede has no residual activity after it has dried. Therefore, many biological control agents can survive M-Pede applications or can reinhabit treated areas shortly following application. Alternatively, M-Pede can be tank mixed with reduced label rates of other miticides for longer residual control of mites.
Use Guidelines For Controlling Mites With M-Pede
Rates: Use M-Pede at 2% (v/v) alone or at 1% (v/v) in tank mix combination to knockdown and control mites on landscape 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 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 exceed economic thresholds. M-Pede must come into contact with mites to be effective. Adjust pressure and nozzle size to produce thorough coverage of upper and lower leaf surfaces of infested plants.
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: 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 following mixing. 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. Refer to the M-Pede label and Mycogen technical bulletins for a list of plants which are known to be sensitive to applications of M-Pede. Avoid making more than three sequential applications of M-Pede.
Do not use M-Pede with a spreader sticker or penetrator adjuvant.
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 pesticide product labels.
M-Pede is a registered trademark of Mycogen Corporation. Vendex is a registered trademark of E.I. duPont de Nemours & Co. Pentac Aquaflow is a registered trademark of Sandoz, Ltd. Ornamite is a registered trademark of Uniroyal Chemical Co., Inc. 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# 2144 5/93