Page 18 - Griffin Gazette - March 2026

Aria WDG (MOA 29), Endeavor WP (MOA 9B), and
Mainspring (MOA 28) provide additional modes of action
for drenching. Aria WDG or Endeavor WP have the best
safety profiles for late-season drenches with regard to
pollinators and beneficial insects used in production. Aria
WDG has traditionally been used in rotation as a foliar
spray option, and we are still gaining experience on how to
use it most effectively as a drench application. The active
ingredients of these products rise quickly in the plant, but
the actual death of the pest may take a few days upon
ingestion of the active ingredients. Kontos (MOA 23) is
slow to rise through the plant, making it best utilized for
early to mid-production for aphids.

Thrips protection by drench application must be planned
for, because of the products we have available and their
described characteristics. The products that can be used
in a drench application for thrips include Kontos (MOA 23),
Mainspring (MOA 28), and Mainspring Xtra (MOA 4A + 28).
Note, these products control both aphids and thrips. Each
of these products has a relatively long period of expected
control and a similar residual impact on pollinators,
although they are not quite as efficient in entering the
flower tissue as with leaf tissue. Kontos will require 2-3
weeks to reach the top of the plant and will control pests
for about 5 weeks after that. The Mainspring formulations
will reach active growing points of the plant within a few
days and will help protect against pests for up to 8 weeks.
From an economic standpoint, it is important to time
drench applications (i.e., apply them early enough) so we
maximize the number of weeks that the grower receives
pest protection. As a drench, a product’s “cost in use” Fresh Thinking.
(CIU) is assessed using application rate, volume applied
per container, and residual. We encourage you to work
with GGSPro to understand your drench strategy’s CIU
and see how proper timing, pollinator safety, and adequate
protection can be achieved while saving you profit dollars.

Integrating different modes of action for drench
applications allows for planned, season-long control of
nuisance pests such as thrips and aphids. Remember,
drenches work best on well-rooted plants. Ensure your
production schedule incorporates enough time for plant
establishment (e.g., 2-3 weeks) and utilize foliar sprays to
provide protection leading up to the drench applications
as well as while the chemical is being taken up by the
plant (i.e., generally around 1 week for most pesticides).
As always, read the label completely to ensure proper
rates in both how you mix the chemical and how much
is applied per container – both are equally important to
ensure efficacy, residual, and plant safety. The drenching
sections of pesticide labels are often ‘uniquely written’, or
in other words, hard to interpret. GGSPro is here to assist
you in understanding pesticide labels clearly and making
calculations precisely to prevent waste.

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