Delegate INSECTICIDE Technical Manual The Reference Standard for control of western flower thrip and key caterpillar pests, in apples, pears and stone fruit Solutions for the Growing World
Contents Introduction 02 Delegate Insecticide 03 Product Summary 04 Product Profile 05-08 Active ingredient 05 Mammalian toxicity 05 Toxicity to wildlife and other non-target organisms 06 Environmental fate 06 Mode of Action group 07 Effect on beneficials 07 Adjuvants 07 Application factors 07 Water quality 07 Tank stability 08 Compatibility 08 Rainfastness and re-entry periods 08 Packaging 08 Western Flower Thrip and Trials 09-10 Codling Moth and Trials 11-12 Oriental Fruit Moth and Trials 13-14 Lightbrown Apple Moth and Trials 15-16 Delegate Label 17 Notes 18
Delegate Insecticide Technical Manual Introduction Dow AgroSciences worked with leading experts in the apple, pear and stone fruit industries to develop a new insecticide to meet the needs of Australian orchardists. Through consultation with these experts the key attributes that a new insecticide required were identified. They included: Outstanding efficacy against western flower thrip, codling moth, oriental fruit moth and lightbrown apple moth A short harvest withholding period Safety to predatory mites and most beneficial insects Compatibility with fungicides, miticides and foliar fertilisers Excellent crop safety A short orchard re-entry period Approval for use in export markets Convenient packaging and ease of packaging disposal 02
Delegate INSECTICIDE THE REFERENCE STANDARD for western flower thrip, codling moth, oriental fruit moth and lightbrown apple moth control in pome and stone fruit. For growers of apples, pears and stone fruit Delegate Insecticide is the ideal product for use early in the season with the flexibility to fit elsewhere in the spray programme when necessary. Controls western flower thrip and all key caterpillar pests Alternative Mode of Action More flexibility in use, storage and handling More user-friendly Occupational Health and Safety profile Unprotected re-entry to orchard once the spray deposit has dried Nil to low odour Short (< or = 14 days) withholding period and can be applied post-flowering on fruit to be exported 03
Delegate Insecticide Technical Manual Product Summary Active Ingredient Mode of Action Spinetoram Ingestion and contact activity MoA Group 5 Formulation Pests Controlled Registered Crops 250 g/kg Water Dispersible Granule (WDG) Western flower thrip, codling moth, oriental fruit moth and lightbrown apple moth Apples, pears, nashi pears and stone fruit (including plums, cherries, nectarines and apricots), table and wine grapes SchedulingS5 04
Product Profile ACTIVE INGREDIENT Delegate contains spinetoram, a member of the spinosyn class of insecticides. MAMMALIAN TOXICITY The acute mammalian toxicity of technical-grade spinetoram is low through all routes of exposure tested. Longer-term studies have demonstrated no evidence of reproductive, carcinogenic, genotoxic, teratogenic, or neurotoxic effects. Mammalian Toxicity of Technical Spinetoram Study Acute Oral LD50 Acute Dermal LD 50 Acute Inhalation LC50 Dermal Irritation Eye Irritation Result > 5000 mg/kg body weight > 5000 mg/kg body weight LC50> 5.50 mg/l (highest concentration tested) Very slight, transient irritation Slight eye irritation, cleared within 72 hours 05
Delegate Insecticide Technical Manual TOXICITY TO WILDLIFE AND OTHER NON-TARGET ORGANISMS The acute and chronic toxicity of spinetoram to mammals, birds, fish, earthworms, and aquatic plants is low. Spinetoram is toxic to the aquatic invertebrates Daphnia magna (water flea) and Chironomus riparius (midge), as are many insecticides, but at the exposure levels anticipated to be encountered in normal use, spinetoram is not expected to result in negative impact on these species. For more detailed information please refer to the MSDS. ENVIRONMENTAL FATE Fate in Soil The major and minor components of spinetoram biodegrade rapidly in soil under laboratory conditions, with average half-lives of 21 and 13 days, respectively. Spinetoram is strongly adsorbed to soil. Due to its high soil adsorption, short residual in the environment, and low water solubility, the leaching potential of spinetoram is very low. Therefore spinetoram poses little threat to groundwater. Fate in Water Spinetoram degrades rapidly by photolysis in water. The aqueous photolysis half-lives of the major and minor components are 0.5 and 0.3 days, respectively. The minor component of spinetoram is stable to hydrolysis at ph 5-7, but degrades slowly at ph 9 (half-life = 154 days). The rapid dissipation in surface waters indicates little risk of chronic exposure of aquatic organisms to spinetoram. Fate in Animals Spinetoram metabolism has been studied in animals. In those studies, >95 % of the recovered residues were found in the animals excreta. Residues characterised in excreta and animal tissue consisted primarily of unchanged parent material. These studies indicate that spinetoram is only moderately transferred into milk, eggs, or edible tissues of animals. Protection of Livestock Do allow stock to graze grasses or weeds under treated trees. Fate in Air Levels of spinetoram in air following normal use will be extremely low. 06
MODE OF ACTION GROUP Delegate is a Group 5 product and is an alternative mode of action group for codling moth and oriental fruit moth control. As such, Delegate provides an excellent resistance management option. There is no resistance to Delegate in target pests and no cross-resistance between Delegate and other products in this market. Mode of Action Group Group 5 Group 1B Product Example Delegate azinphos-methyl and parathion-methyl Group 4A Calypso and Samurai Group 7B Insegar Group 22A Avatar Group 28 Altacor EFFECT ON BENEFICIALS Delegate is not harmful to predatory insects such as lacewings and ladybird beetles, but direct sprays will affect parasitoid wasps. Once the spray deposit has dried, impact on sensitive species is minimal. No flaring of pest mites has been observed during five years of commercial use. Delegate is not toxic to honeybees once the spray deposit has been allowed to dry. ADJUVANTS An adjuvant will not usually be required. Providing spray equipment is properly calibrated and an appropriate water rate is used, it is unlikely a wetter will be of advantage (see Compatibility section for more information). APPLICATION FACTORS Label use rates for Delegate are for dilute spraying to the point of run-off. Thorough coverage is essential. For concentrate spraying guidelines refer to the label. The maximum concentration recommended is 3X. WATER QUALITY Spray-water ph should be in the range ph 4-9. 07
Delegate Insecticide Technical Manual TANK STABILITY Delegate in a dilute spray solution is stable for 24-48 hours if stored away from direct sunlight. Prior to re-use the stored spray-mix should be thoroughly agitated. COMPATIBILITY Delegate is compatible with most commonly used commercial insecticides, fungicides and foliar fertilisers. When tank-mixing any new product combinations, always conduct a bucket test to confirm physical compatibility. Do not add any adjuvants when tankmixing Delegate with other products. RAINFASTNESS AND RE-ENTRY PERIODS Once the Delegate application is dry it is rainfast and safe to re-enter the sprayed area. PACKAGING Delegate will be packaged in 800 g plastic containers. There are 6 of these in an outer carton. At recommended use rates, each 800 g pack will treat between 2 and 4 ha. 08
Western Flower Thrip Western flower thrip (WFT) are one of the worst insect pests faced by fruit growers. Unchecked, they will leave a worthless crop of spotted apples or scarred nectarines behind and no single management tool is a silver bullet. Getting on top of western flower thrip requires a truly integrated approach. Western flower thrips have a range of adaptations which make them one of the most successful insect pests around the world. They exploit a very wide host range (weeds, tree fruit, berries, vegetables and weeds) and can survive and multiply on almost any living plant. WFT are most damaging to crops during flowering and so control measures that are safe to bees and pollinators are required. Getting rid of weeds or flowering plants (e.g. clover and capeweed) around the orchard before fruit tree blossom is a good start. Monitoring for the pest is very important as even small numbers cause economic damage. In stone fruit, western flower thrip can also cause economic crop damage close to harvest so monitoring at this time of year is important and appropriate spray programmes need to be implemented where necessary. Delegate gives very good control of WFT and is the standard around the world for control of this pest. It is very important to follow the spray programme recommended on the Delegate label not only to ensure good control of the pest but equally as importantly to delay the onset of insect resistance. 09
Delegate Insecticide Technical Manual Western flower thrip TRIALS 2.5 Thrips per 100 flowers 7DAA3 2.0 1.5 1.0 0.5 0 Untreated Delegate 15 g/100 L Delegate 20 g/100 L Mavrik Aquaflow 20 ml/100 L WFT nymphs WFT adults Other thrip spp. adults Treatment 10
Codling Moth Codling moth is the dominant chewing caterpillar pest in Australian apple and pear orchards and effective control is the key to almost all other pest programs. APPLICATION TIMING FOR CODLING MOTH Delegate is recommended for use early in the season to control the first generation of codling moth. Alternatively Delegate is flexible enough to be used to control later generations of codling moth if required. Only 4 applications of Delegate can be made per season and these should be applied to a single generation of the pest. Carefully monitor for codling moth by regular trapping and field scouting. Time sprays against hatching eggs and newly emerged caterpillars. Applications should be repeated at 14 day intervals as egg hatch continues. APPLICATION RATES FOR CODLING MOTH Use 15 g/100 L in light pest pressure and good weather conditions and 20 g/100 L when pest pressure is heavier (for example where orchards have a history of CM problems) or when spray intervals are being stretched due to poor weather or equipment breakdowns. 11
Delegate Insecticide Technical Manual CODLING MOTH TRIALS Delegate for Codling Moth Control in Apples Stanthorpe, 2007/08 % fruit damaged by CM at 14DAA 15 10 5 0 15 Untreated control 0.67 Delegate 15 g/100 L 1.0 Calypso 37.5 ml/100 L Delegate for Codling Moth Control in Pears Goulburn Valley, 2006/07 20 % fruit damaged by CM at harvest 15 10 5 0 11.0 Untreated control 0.5 a Delegate 20 g/100 L 0.7 a Gusathion 245 ml/100 L 1.2 a Calypso 37.5 ml/100 L 12
Oriental Fruit Moth The oriental fruit moth has been a serious pest of peaches in the Goulburn Valley since the early 1930s, and now also infests pome fruit. The larva or caterpillar of the moth bores into the new season s tip growth while later generations bore into the fruit as well. The need for spray applications should be determined by monitoring, using lure pots or pheromone trap catches. Delegate provides robust control of oriental fruit moth and lightbrown apple moth and is not harmful to most beneficial insects. APPLICATION TIMING FOR ORIENTAL FRUIT MOTH Delegate is recommended for use early in the season for control of oriental fruit moth. Alternatively Delegate is flexible enough to be used to control later generations of oriental fruit moth if required. Only 4 applications of Delegate can be made per season and these should be applied to a single generation of the pest. Carefully monitor for oriental fruit moth by regular trapping and field scouting. Time sprays against hatching eggs and newly emerged caterpillars. Applications should be repeated at 14 day intervals as egg hatch continues. APPLICATION RATES FOR ORIENTAL FRUIT MOTH Use 10 g/100 L in light pest pressure and good weather conditions and 15 g/100 L when pest pressure is moderate to high or weather conditions cause the spray interval to be greater than 14 days. 13
Delegate Insecticide Technical Manual ORIENTAL FRUIT MOTH TRIALS Delegate for OFM Control in Stone Fruit Goulburn Valley 2005/06 % fruit damaged by OFM at harvest 10 5 0 8.8 Untreated control 0.8 bc Delegate 10 g/100 L 2.1 ab Folidol 450 70 ml/100 L 2.9 a Calypso 37.5 ml/100 L Delegate for OFM Control in Peaches Goulburn Valley 2005/06 % fruit (total) damaged by OFM at harvest 10 5 0 8.5 Untreated control 0.8 b Delegate 10 g/100 L 5.1 a Folidol 450 70 ml/100 L 1.8 b Calypso 37.5 ml/100 L 14
Lightbrown Apple Moth The lightbrown apple moth is native to Australia and the larvae feed on a wide range of plants including fruit crops, broad-leaved weeds, some vegetables and ornamentals. It is a serious pest of pome fruit. Lightbrown apple moth has 3-4 generations a year. Delegate provides robust control of lightbrown apple moth and is not harmful to most beneficial insects. APPLICATION TIMING FOR LIGHTBROWN APPLE MOTH Good early-season control is essential. Pheromone traps for lightbrown apple moth are commercially available. Lure pots containing a port wine/water mixture can be used to monitor flight periods of the adult moth but are often difficult to interpret. The size of the over wintered population can be estimated by checking broad-leaved weeds such as capeweed in the orchard during late winter/early spring. If lightbrown apple moth larvae and pupae are readily found, an early spray is advisable. For pome or stone fruit orchards this would be applied at late petal or shuck fall respectively. APPLICATION RATES FOR LIGHTBROWN APPLE MOTH Use 10 g/100 L in light pest pressure and good weather conditions. Use 15 g/100 L when pest pressure is moderate to high or weather conditions cause the spray interval to be greater than 14 days. Rates are for dilute spraying to point of run-off. 15
Delegate Insecticide Technical Manual LIGHTBROWN APPLE MOTH TRIALS Delegate for LBAM Control in Apples Huonville, 2005/06 % shoots damaged by LBAM at harvest 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 13.3 Untreated control 3.0 b Delegate 10 g/100 L 2.3 b Delegate 15 g/100 L 7.0 a Lorsban 33 g/100 L 16
Delegate Label DIRECTIONS FOR USE Restraints DO NOT make more than 4 applications to any FRUIT crop in any one season (see the RESISTANCE statement). DO NOT apply when livestock, pasture or any land that is producing feed for livestock are within 150 m downwind of the application area. DO NOT apply from aircraft. SPRAYING TREE CROPS: In the following table, all rates are given for dilute spraying where spray volumes may vary in order to obtain good coverage to the point of run-off. For concentrate spraying refer to the CONCENTRATE SPRAYING section on this label. CROP PEST RATE CRITICAL COMMENTS FOR ALL TREE CROPS: Carefully monitor crops for eggs and larvae of pest species by regular field scouting. Target sprays against mature eggs and newly-hatched larvae. Apply repeat applications at 14 day intervals as egg hatch continues or as new infestations occur unless otherwise directed in the CRITICAL COMMENTS. Pome fruit, including: apples, pears and nashi pears Stone fruit Codling moth 15-20 g/100 L* Western flower thrip 20 g/100 L* Lightbrown apple moth and oriental fruit moth Lightbrown apple moth and oriental fruit moth 10 or 15 g/100 L* Use higher rates when adverse weather conditions may cause the spray interval to become greater than 14 days, or in high pressure conditions, in orchards with a history of damage or when mating disruption does not provide adequate protection. Use this product as part of the WFT Resistance Management strategy (see end of table for details). Use the higher rate under high pest pressure or when adverse weather conditions may cause the spray interval to become greater than 14 days. WFT RESISTANCE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY: Make 3 consecutive applications at either 3-5 day intervals when temperatures are greater than 20 C or at 6-12 day intervals when temperatures are less than 20 C. For any further sprays required, use an approved product from another chemical group. Do not make more than 3 consecutive applications of Delegate before switching to an approved product from another chemical group. PEST NAMES: Codling moth: Cydia pomonella; Lightbrown apple moth: Epiphyas postvittana; Oriental fruit moth: Grapholita molesta; Western flower thrip: Frankliniella occidentalis. *Addition of a non-ionic wetting agent at its label rate, such as Agral at 10 ml/100 L, may improve control under less than ideal application conditions. NOT TO BE USED FOR ANY PURPOSE, OR IN ANY MANNER, CONTRARY TO THIS LABEL UNLESS AUTHORISED UNDER APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION. 17
Delegate Insecticide Technical Manual NOTES 18
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