Flonicamid effectively manages populations of aphids, thrips, and whiteflies on ornamental plants grown in greenhouses, nurseries, or landscapes. Flonicamid, a novel compound with a unique mode of action, has contact activity and is upwardly systemic. Flonicamid acts as an antifeedant and a behavioral modifier on aphids within 30 minutes of exposure resulting in insect mortality from starvation within 5 to 7 days after exposure. Flonicamid does not affect beneficial insects such as parasitoid wasps or predatory mites. In a series of trials conducted during 2002, flonicamid was tested on various insects including aphids, thrips, whiteflies, scales, and mealybugs, using rates from 10 to 60 g ai per 100 gal. The results obtained on these pests of ornamental plants was consistent with efficacy previously obtained on pests of agricultural crops (data not shown). Aphids were very sensitive to flonicamid exposure with excellent efficacy at 10 to 30 g ai per 100 gal. Thrips were less sensitive (30 to 60 g ai per 100 gal) with efficacy species dependent. Whiteflies required slightly more active ingredient (40 to 60 g ai per 100 gal) and, similar to thrips, exhibited species variation in response to flonicamid. Flonicamid provided excellent efficacy comparable to current standards for foliar insect control. Due to its 1) lack of cross resistance with organo-phosphates, carbamates, and pyrethroids, 2) mode of action unlike other chemistry classes currently available, and 3) lack of a negative impact on beneficial organisms, flonicamid may become a standard component of integrated pests management programs for managing pests on ornamental plants.
Species 1: (aphid)
Species 2: (Thrips)
Species 3: (whitefly)
Keywords: foliar pests, ornamental pests
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