On November 22, Hainan Zhengye Zhongnong High-tech co., LTD. applied
to register a new chlorfenapyr pesticide formula, which consists of 45%
imidacloprid. The new pesticide will be aimed at protecting string bean crops
from thunderworms. This new formula will be the first imidacloprid-based
pesticide in China to be used on string beans.
String bean thunderworms are one of the
leading pests for string bean crops, and these insects are also some of the
most difficult to combat. Thunderworms are capable of ruining a string bean
plant’s entire yield, as they damage vital anatomy in the plant’s stem. After a
string bean plant is damaged by a thunderworm, its leaves may shrivel, and at
worst the plant may die entirely without producing any beans. Furthermore, in
high temperatures, damaged string bean plants often grow to have a withered
stem, deformed leaves, and the plant may drop a large number of blossoms and
pods. With serious damage, the quality of the bean pods produced by the plant
is affected, and the entire yield of the plant is ruined.
Imidacloprid
highly effective, but may have unintended side-effects
Imidacloprid is a highly effective nicotine-based
pesticide which has the advantage of leaving behind little trace and not easily
allowing insects to develop resistance. Furthermore, imidacloprid kills insects
both through outer exposure and through poison by ingestion. After insects come
into contact with the pesticide, their central nervous system becomes affected,
which causes the insects to become paralyzed and then die. The pesticide works
fairly quickly, taking effect within a single day after application. Traces of
the pesticide remain on crops for about 25 days after use. The effectiveness of
the pesticide is directly correlated with temperature; in higher temperatures,
the pesticide is more effective. The pesticide is especially effective on
insects that have piercing and sucking mouth parts.
According to reports, under certain
environmental conditions, imidacloprid may have toxic effects on bean crops
that are sensitive to pesticides. The electronic label of this newly formulated
pesticide clearly states, “This product should be used on string bean crops
during the early stages of a thunderworm outbreak. The product should be
sprayed evenly on the plant, and care should be taken to avoid letting liquid
from the product come into contact with other crops in order to avoid
unintended crop damage. Crops on which this product is used should not be
harvested or consumed until at least five days after the last use of the
product, and the product should only be used once per season on each crop. Care
should be taken not to spray the product on soil, and the product should not be
used during rain or when rain is predicted.
Imidacloprid
already used in China to protect various bean crops
According to data from the official Chinese
website for information on agricultural chemicals, before the formulation of
this new pesticide, three imidacloprid-based pesticide formulas had already
been temporarily registered for the use on other bean crops. These products are
aimed at protecting soybeans and kidney beans against aphids and liriomyza.
However, at present, only Harbin Fuli Biochemical Development co., Ltd. of
Heilongjiang province has officially registered an imidacloprid-based
pesticide, which is an imidacloprid-based formulation containing 4% perchloric
acid aimed at protecting soybeans from aphids.
For more information on China’s
insecticides market, please check our China
Insecticides News