Commercial growers spend thousands of hours monitoring and controlling damaging insects, such as aphids, thrips and whiteflies. Mavrik Aquaflow® Insecticide, a pyrethroid, and the New Enstar® AQ Insect Growth Regulator (IGR), available from Central Life Sciences, can be used together or alone for superior, cost-effective control against greenhouse and nursery pests.
Mavrik Aquaflow®
Mavrik Aquaflow® Insecticide/ Miticide provides immediate, broad-spectrum insect control for use on ornamental plantings and plantscapes, flower and foliage cuttings, trees, shrubs and turf. The fast-acting formulation kills insects - including whiteflies, aphids, thrips, root weevils, beetles, caterpillars, glassy-wing sharpshooters, and mites - on contact or through ingestion. (For detailed information about the insects that Mavrik Aquaflow® targets, see Insect Identification.)
- non-phytotoxic, even on open blooms
- broad spectrum activity
- immediate and long-term control
- flexible use rates
- economical
- available in 1-quart or gallon containers.
Application
Apply Mavrik Aquaflow® when pests are first noticed and populations are manageable. Heavy populations may require repeated application - five to seven days apart. Product residue will continue to control certain pests for up to a week or longer.
For best results under varying conditions, a range of use rates is recommended. Higher rates should be selected when pest pressure or damage potential is severe; use lower rates for mild infestations or maintenance purposes. Use the highest Mavrik Aquaflow®rate for severe mite infestations. When Mavrik Aquaflow® is tank-mixed with wettable powders, add the powders to the tank first, using good agitation. Buffer-spray water to pH 5-7, if necessary. Your local extension office, a pest management consultant or a Wellmark Specialist can help you select a rate and timing schedule or tank-mix combination that will render good results under specific conditions. Mavrik Aquaflow®can be used alone or in conjunction with Enstar® AQ Insect Growth Regulator for complete pest control. For more technical information, see the Mavrik Aquaflow®Specimen Label.
Don't let insects and mites destroy countless varieties of ornamentals or compromise your overall profitability.
Enstar® AQ Insect Growth Regulator
Enstar® AQ, a water-based formulation, features broad spectrum, long residual control of whiteflies, thrips, aphids,soft-bodied and armored scales, mealybugs, leaf miners, glassy-winged sharpshooters, and fungus gnats. Enstar® AQ is for use on ornamental plants in greenhouses, shadehouses, lath houses, and interiorscapes (i.e. atriums).
Enstar® AQ is an Insect Growth Regulator (IGR) that prevents target insects from maturing into adults. Once the adult insects come into contact with the active ingredient, S-Kinoprene, they lay sterile eggs.
Application
Enstar® AQ has been tested on many varieties of bracking poinsettia and other plant species with low or no signs of phytotoxicity. However, growing conditions and cultural practices vary and it is advisable to test on a small sample prior to treating an entire crop toobserve for potential crop injury.
Complete foliage coverage is necessary for effective pest control. With conventional spray equipment, mix the recommended amount of Enstar® AQ and water. Then, spray both the top and bottom of leaves, until runoff occurs. For other applications of Enstar®AQ, follow the equipment manufacturer's specifications. Use Enstar® AQ alone or in conjunction with Mavrik Aquaflow® Insecticide for broad-spectrum control. For more technical information, see the Enstar® AQ Specimen Label.
Enstar® II Insect Growth Regulator
Enstar® II, a fast and effective Insect Growth Regulator (IGR), targets greenhouse insects at all stages of their life cycle. It mimics juvenile growth hormones that prevent whiteflies, aphids, thrips, scales, mealybugs and fungus gnats from completing their lifecycle, while adult females start laying sterile eggs once they come in contact with the active ingredient (S)–Kinoprene.
Enstar® II has a low use rate of 1 ounce per 20 gallons of water and can be tank mixed with any adulticide, like Mavrik Aquaflow®, and most fungicides. It’s easy on plants and beneficial insects and with no resistance concerns to worry about, there is no need to rotate your IGR.
Enstar® II provides long-term control that prevents pests from causing future infestations and now new label Enstar® II can be used through your irrigation system which means more time and profit for your business.
Enstar® II is available in convenient 5-ounce bottles. The bottles are packaged together in an 8-pack, making Enstar® II easy to handle, mix and store. For a preventative treatment, one 5-oz. bottle is enough to make a 100 gal. solution to treat a 20,000 square foot greenhouse. For a curative treatment, mix two bottles with 100 gallons of water.
Application
Containing the active ingredient (S)-Kinoprene, Enstar® II can be used on all greenhouse and interior plantscape ornamental plants. When treating new varieties, Enstar® II can be tested on a few plants before making large-scale applications to assure plant safety. Poinsettia application should occur prior to bract formation.
Complete foliage coverage is necessary for effective pest control. With conventional spray equipment, mix the recommended amount of Enstar® II and water. Then, spray both the top and bottom of leaves, until runoff occurs. For other applications of Enstar® II, follow the equipment manufacturer's specifications. Use Enstar® II alone or in conjunction with Mavrik Aquaflow® Insecticide for complete pest control. For more technical information, see the Enstar® II Specimen Label.
Enstar® II the IGR that is compatible with all adulticides.
Aphids
Aphids, also known as "plant lice," are small, soft-bodied, pear-shaped insects with long antennae in the front and two short "tailpipes" in the rear. One of the first insects to arrive in spring, aphids come in a variety of colors - yellow, green, black, red and gray. Adults may or may not have wings.
More than 4,000 species of aphids exist. Of those species, an estimated 10 percent feed on a wide range of plants, draining sap with their piercing mouths. These harmful insects - which shed their skin, leaving little white flecks behind - cluster on the growing tips of plants or the underside of leaves. They distort flowers and foliage and stunt new plant growth. They also excrete honeydew; a sugary substance that forms a sticky coating on leaves and attracts ants. The honeydew provides a substrate for dark-sooty mold, giving plants a dirty appearance.
Certain species of aphids, such as conifer aphids and smoky-wing poplar aphids, prove more damaging than others because they feed directly on stems, twigs and branches - rather than on the underside of leaves. Some aphids inject toxins and transmit viral diseases from plant to plant through their saliva.
Aphids infest a variety of crops, including bedding and garden plants, potted plants, cut flowers and cut greens.
Enstar® AQ can be used alone to control aphids. To prevent populations from reaching damaging levels, one 16-ounce bottle of Enstar® AQ per 100 gallons of water should be applied every two weeks. To control existing populations, two 16-ounce bottles of Enstar® AQ per 100 gallons of water (per 20,000 square feet) should be applied every seven days.
For broad spectrum control with Mavrik Aquaflow®, use eight ounces per 100 gallons of water to treat 20,000 square feet every seven days until the aphids are controlled.
Enstar® AQ and Mavrik Aquaflow® can also be used together to provide complete control.
Pest Management for Poinsettias
Growers can help strengthen their poinsettia crop and add dollars to the bottom line by adopting an integrated pest management (IPM) program to control insects. As the number one potted crop in the United States, poinsettias are extremely important to the economic success of growers.
Native to Central America, poinsettias flourish in an environment high in humidity and sunlight, an environment also ideal for pests. Fungus gnats and whiteflies can have a severe economic impact on poinsettias, causing stunted growth and deformities. Mealybugs and spider mites also threaten poinsettias.
Growers can protect their poinsettia investment from damage with an IPM program that includes the proper monitoring of crops to anticipate problems before they become uncontrollable.
Consider a few simple tips to increase a insecticide’s effectiveness in an IPM program and help poinsettias stay healthy.
- Place sticky traps near plants to detect infestations.
- Monitor plants regularly to identify infestations and damage early.
- Familiarize yourself with the life cycles and habits of various insects.
- Use an insecticide labeled for use against the insects causing the infestation.
- Apply insecticides early in the morning or on a cloudy day.
- Be sure to apply insecticides to the underside of leaves where some insects, including whiteflies, live.
- Rotate adulticides with different modes of action to ensure insect resistance problems will not occur.
- Keep detailed records including the type of insect, its location and the pesticides used.
Growers can control greenhouse insects attacking poinsettias with Mavrik Aquaflow® and Enstar® II.
The quick-killing action of Mavrik Aquaflow® provides broad spectrum insect control. A non-phytotoxic, water based formulation, Mavrik Aquaflow® can be used on all greenhouse crops, even open blooms. Effective against adult insects, Mavrik Aquaflow® interferes with the target insect’s central nervous system on contact and through ingestion.
Enstar® II, an insect growth regulator (IGR), has a unique mode of action to control pests. The IGR disrupts normal pest insect processes; causing sterile eggs, incomplete development of immature stages and may cause adults to die prematurely. Enstar® II is effective on a wide range of insects and will not harm beneficials. Enstar® II does not have to be rotated out of insect control programs, as adulticides do, to prevent resistance. Labeled for indoor use, Enstar® II can not be used after bract formation on poinsettias.
Together Mavrik Aquaflow® and Enstar® II provide excellent control, flexibility, and effective resistance management with two modes of action. The cost effective combination is unbeatable for poinsettias.
For more information on protecting your poinsettia investment with Mavrik Aquaflow® and Enstar® II, contact a distributor or call 1-800-248-7763.
Pest Management for Potted Plants
As the second largest segment of the floriculture industry, potted plants encounter diverse insect infestations. Warm growth conditions in greenhouses attract insects, which can damage potted plants and transmit disease. To grow healthy potted plant crops and maintain their value, insect problems should be identified and controlled throughout the growing cycle.
Insect treatments are more effective when targeting an identified insect. Infestations can be controlled much easier when a grower is familiar with insect behavior and detects a problem early. Pest management should be tailored to meet the needs of each individual greenhouse.
Practices can be implemented to monitor and control greenhouse insects after identification.
- Eliminate weeds inside and outside of the greenhouse. They are a source for insects and disease.
- Install screens on doors and vents, making it more difficult for insects to enter.
- Inspect clothing, cuttings and soil so insects are not carried into the greenhouse.
- Monitor plants on a daily basis to catch infestation and damage early.
- Recognize various insects and the stages of development.
- Keep detailed records including the type of pest, its location and the insecticides used.
Insecticides are often necessary to control an infestation. Mavrik Aquaflow® and Enstar® II can be used alone or together for control against greenhouse insects.
Labeled for both indoor and outdoor use the quick killing action of Mavrik Aquaflow® provides broad spectrum insect control. The product is a nonphytotoxic, water-based formulation for use on all greenhouse crops, even open blooms. Effective against adult insects, Mavrik Aquaflow® interferes with the target insect’s central nervous system on contact and through ingestion.
Enstar® II, an insect growth regulator (IGR), prevents an insect from advancing to the next growth stage and causes adults to die prematurely or lay sterile eggs. Targeting insects at all stages of growth, Enstar® II controls a wide variety of insects and it will not harm beneficial parasites or predators. Unlike adulticides, there is no need to rotate Enstar® II out of a control program because of insect resistance concerns.
Together Mavrik Aquaflow® and Enstar® II provide excellent control, flexibility, and effective resistance management with two modes of action. The cost effective combination is unbeatable, controlling aphids, mites, thrips, and whiteflies among other insects.
For more information on controlling insects in your greenhouse with Mavrik Aquaflow® and Enstar® II, contact a distributor or call 1-800-248-7763.
Pest Management for Bedding & Garden Plants
Spring brings the season for bedding and garden plants along with a buildup of insects. Geraniums, impatiens, pansies, begonias and petunias are attractive to insects because of the sheltered growth conditions in greenhouses. Reproducing more rapidly in warm weather, insects can damage plants and transmit disease. To maintain healthy and attractive plants and greenhouses, the potential for insect problems needs to be identified and controlled.
Identification of insects common to bedding and garden plants is essential. Treatments are much more effective when targeted at the proper insect. Knowledge of insect patterns can help prevent a potential problem and early detection allows infestations to be controlled much easier.
Practices can be implemented to monitor and control greenhouse insects after identification.
- Eliminate weeds inside and outside of the greenhouse. They are a source for insects and disease.
- Install screens on doors and vents, making it more difficult for insects to enter.
- Inspect clothing, cuttings and soil so insects are not carried into the greenhouse.
- Monitor plants on a daily basis to catch infestation and damage early.
- Recognize various insects and the stages of development.
- Keep detailed records including the type of pest, its location and the insecticides used.
With insects’ attraction to greenhouses, the use of insecticides is often necessary to control an infestation. Mavrik Aquaflow® and Enstar® AQ can be used alone or together for control against greenhouse insects.
Labeled for both indoor and outdoor use, the quick-killing action of Mavrik Aquaflow® provides broad spectrum insect control. The product is nonphytotoxic and a water-based formulation for use on all greenhouse crops, even open blooms. Effective against adult insects, Mavrik Aquaflow® interferes with the target insect’s central nervous system on contact and through ingestion.
Enstar® AQ, an insect growth regulator (IGR), works by preventing immature stages of insects from becoming breeding adults. By inhibiting adult emergence, reproduction is halted and the infestation cannot continue. With continued use Enstar® AQ can prevent the build up of future infestations by invading insects.
Enstar® AQ provides dependable control of a wide variety of pests, by targeting insects at all stages of growth. Unlike adulticides, there is no need to rotate Enstar® AQ out of a control program because of insect resistance buildup concerns. And it will not harm beneficial parasites or predators.
Together Mavrik Aquaflow® and Enstar® AQ provide excellent control, flexibility, and effective resistance management with two modes of action. The combination is unbeatable. The cost-effective combination controls aphids, mealybugs, mites, and thrips among other insects.
For more information on controlling insects in your greenhouse with Mavrik Aquaflow® and Enstar®AQ, contact a distributor or call 1-800-248-7763.