Page 11 - Griffin Gazette

• Incoming plant material sometimes impact BCAs for 8 weeks or longer. Ap- such as Milstop and Zerotol all have some
arrives with a higher pest population plying one of these pesticides may end a detrimental effects on one or more BCAs.
than is acceptable to begin a biocontrol biocontrol program for the entire season! That doesn’t mean they can never be used
program. Pesticides with short residual Better to “measure twice and cut once,” as in a biocontrol program, but it does mean
activity may be required to clean up the carpenters say! the negative effects need to be understood
before releasing BCAs. The need to carefully evaluate pesticides for and accounted for. Growers are sometimes
surprised to learn that some plant growth
Biocontrol programs take time to design The need to carefully regulators and surfactants can also have
and execute properly. The ability to apply evaluate pesticides for unexpected negative effects on BCAs.
a compatible pesticide to combat a hot use in biocontrol programs GGSPro encourages BCA users to identify
spot or surge in pest activity may help is driven home by some compatible pesticide options well in
preserve a program that’s already well of the misconceptions advance; don’t wait until the biocontrol
underway. One key to success is the program is threatened to start researching
ability to determine which pesticide(s) growers may have options! The ability to react quickly may
are suitable, taking into account which about BCA safety. mean the difference between salvaging
BCAs are in use. Some good sources are the program and losing control of the pest
available for this information, including use in biocontrol programs is driven home population. This is planning to succeed,
biocontrol companies, university/extension by some of the misconceptions growers not planning to fail! GGSPro is a resource
research and pesticide companies. There may have about BCA safety. It might seem that Griffin customers can rely on for
is safety in utilizing multiple sources logical to assume that pesticides classified all aspects of their biocontrol program,
whenever possible, as there isn’t always as bio-rational or organic would have including consideration of compatible
full agreement. GGSPro utilizes all of these good compatibility with BCAs. While that’s pesticide options.
resources in maintaining our database sometimes the case, all too often it’s not.
of BCA-pesticide compatibility. This OMRI-listed organic pesticides such as the 1 Adapted from: “Compatibility Conflict: Is the
information is updated periodically, as neem-based IGRs, M-Pede insecticidal Use of Biological Control Agents with Pesticides a
more information becomes available. soap, horticultural oils and fungicides Viable Management Strategy?”- R. Cloyd, Kansas
State University
Toxicity Legend
Toxic > 75% mortality GGSPro BCA Compatibility Chart – Insecticide Sprays
Moderately Toxic 50-75% mortality
Slightly Toxic 25-50% mortality COLOR KEY LIFESTAGE KEY NUMBER IN COLORED BOX
Safe < 25% mortality Number of weeks
residual toxicity to
Toxic I Immature indicated BCA

The term “compatible pesticides”, needs Moderately Toxic A Adult
some explanation. In the chart above you
can see that even “safe” pesticides might Slightly Toxic
cause up to 25% mortality to the particular
BCA in use. Furthermore, mortality is not Safe
the only consideration. Sub-lethal effects
may include repellency that influences the Aphidius
ability of parasitoid or predator to locate the colemani
pest. Residues from the pesticide on the Aphidioletes
host may make them unacceptable to the aphidimyza
BCAs.1 Other significant sub-lethal effects Aphelinus
may include reduced ability to forage for abdominalis
hosts, sterilizing females and reduced egg Amblyseius
laying. All things considered, compatible
pesticides need to be used with caution swirskii
and only when other reasonable options Amblyseius
have been exhausted. Continued research
in this area will yield better decision-making cucumeris
information for growers. Amblyseius
Toxicity isn’t the only consideration when californicus
evaluating pesticides for suitability within Amblyseius
a biocontrol program. We must also con-
sider the length of time in which a pesticide andersoni
produces negative effects. Pesticides
based on soaps and oils may have very Product IAIAIAIAIAIAIA
short residual side effects, a week or less 1300 Orthene TR
in some cases. Synthetic pyrethroids (e.g., 1600 X-clude Formula 2 4 12 12 12 12 12
Decathlon, Talstar), organophosphates Acephate 79UP
(e.g., Acephate, Duraguard) and carba- Akari 5SC 11 111
mates (e.g., Mesurol, Sevin) can negatively Ardent EC
Aria 50% WDG 4 12 12 12 12 12
Attain TR
Avid 333 3
AzaGuard
Azatin XL 2222332
Azatin O
2

12 12 12 12 12 12 12

2222332

GGSPro BCA compatibilty database

Griffin Gazette winter 2017 11