Spinsosad Number of Applications Per Year

[Imthechuck]

Quick Question:

According to the Spinsosad directions it is labeled to only be used 6x a year.

I was wondering if anything would happen if I use it more. I am assuming nothing?

The growing season in S Florida is so long and the insect pressure is also....

I have had the same eggplants and tomatoes going since September!

I noticed that there is no Maximum Application Rate on BT; Maybe I should just spray BT biweekly/weekly next season?

Any thoughts would be great!

[NathanP]

Are you using it as a preventive measure, or as a response to an insect problem? If I remember correctly, it degrades rapidly, so it would be more effective as a treatment in case of a problem, rather than preventive.

[kurt]

If sprayed use during vegetative state if possible,there are some complications reported with its affect on pollinators i.e.Bees,Ladybugsetc.


http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15366583
"Although spinosad has low toxicity to most beneficial insects, initial acute laboratory tests indicated that spinosad is intrinsically toxic to pollinators."

[ginger2778]

I used BT with my very dilute copper spray, about every 10 days, and also after a rainstorm. Much less foliar disease, and zero worms this year.

[clkeiper]

This is directly from the label of the "Conserve" pdf.


"Insecticide Resistance Management (IRM)
Conserve SC contains spinosad, a Group 5 insecticide. Insect/mite
biotypes with acquired resistance to Group 5 insecticides may eventually
dominate the insect/mite population if Group 5 insecticides are used
repeatedly in the same area, or in successive years as the primary method
of control for targeted species. This may result in partial or total loss of
control of those species by Conserve SC or other Group 5 insecticides.
Currently, only spinetoram and spinosad active ingredients are classifled
as Group 5 insecticides. These two insecticide active ingredients share
a common mode of action and must not be rotated with each other for
control of pests listed on this label. Spinetoram and spinosad may be
rotated with all other labeled insecticide active ingredients.
To delay development of insecticide resistance, the following practices a......" Rotate with other effective insecticides was the rest of the label along with how to proceed.

But you didn't state specifically what product you are using, and there are different labels for the exact same products from different companies.



From what I read in this pdf... I think it is a proactive labeling and use of spinosad in the posibility of resistance developing.
http://www.parapro.com/documents/spi...l_bulletin.pdf

This is buried at the end of a page....

RESISTANCESpinosad has a novel mode of action that makes it ideal for resistance management programs. It has shown no cross-resistance with
existing chemistries and can be rotated with all other classes of existing and experimental products. Spinosad has excellent activity
on many insects with historic resistance problems. Therefore, Dow AgroSciences (DAS) is taking a proactive stance in regard to
resistance management. Specific resistance management strategies have been identified for key pests. These strategies may vary
depending on crop, pest, and geography. Specific resistance management strategy recommendations for key pests may be found on lab
els
of products targeted at that pest and crop. For additional information regarding specific resistance management strategies, contact your das representative.

You may want to contact your local extension service and ask if there is a different application rate for your area than the rest of the country.