It is somewhat counter intuitive but there seems to be a number of chemicals
that we use as pesticides that stimulate fecundity and act to cause a
resurgence weeks or months after the application of either the target pest,
or other insects and/or their predator populations that just happened to be
in the way. I remember learning in Pest management class that the product
called "Sevin" does the same thing to spider mites, although I don't know if
it acts this way on all species of mites or if the instructor followed the
common misuse of the term and referred to all mites as "spider" mites. I am
able to find much more info on the topic than I was a few years ago. It
seems that some chemicals that kill adult instars stimulate the egg
producing abilities of unhatched female eggs or of larvae that are exposed
to it. I also remember hearing that one chemical (forget the name) tended
to produce resurgent populations that were heavily weighted toward the
female gender of some insect (forget the name).
http://www.bioone.org/bioone/?reques...e=04&page=1144
Dish soap and rubbing alcohol probably makes them horny too. I know it has
this effect on me.
"K Barrett" wrote in message
...
"Rob" wrote in message
...
K Barrett wrote:
I read about an new (to me) product called Bayer Rose and Flower Insect
Killer that has Imocloprid and something called Clyfluthrin (sorry if I
spelled that wrong). Label says its a systemic and kills on contact.
Those seem to be counter intuitive to me, how can it do both? I always
thought an insecticide was one or the other.... ... I am assuming the
Clyfuthrin is the systemic/contact killer of adults while the
imicloprid
affects newly hatched young. Anyway, I've tried it and it sure knocked
down
a blooming fungus gnat problem, on the plants potted in sphagnum. I
have
yet to see if it truly lasts 30 days.
K Barrett
Works like a charm. I haven't used the formulation you used, but I did
use the tree and shrub version, which I think is just imidocloprid.
Great for scale. I've heard it is supposed to last a year... Maybe
that is hype. IIRC, it is also sold as Premier and Marathon (and a few
other trade names). If you believe the MSDS, it is less toxic to
mammals than many of the things we might otherwise use. If you want to
spend more money, there is a 'translaminar' formulation of imidocloprid
(Marathon II? I'm working without a net today...), that penetrates the
leaf tissue. I think the regular formulation has to be absorbed mainly
through the roots (applied as drench).
Only problem I've found with this stuff is that it makes the spidermites
go crazy. Like bunnies on viagra. My spidermite population went
through the roof when I sprayed with imidocloprid. Somebody pointed me
to an article which said that it was a growth promoter for mites, but I
can't find it right now.
Anyway, use it only if you don't have a problem with spider mites. Or
don't spray the mite prone plants. Or spray in conjunction with a good
miticide (if you can afford one). I'd rather not use any pesticides,
but if I have to use it again, I'll release some predatory mites a week
or two after spraying.
--
Rob's Rules: http://littlefrogfarm.com
1) There is always room for one more orchid
2) There is always room for two more orchids
2a) See rule 1
3) When one has insufficient credit to obtain more
orchids, obtain more credit
Yikes!! I sprayed it all over my catasetums, which ususally get mites like
crazy in my GH. Well, I'll keep an eye out. I've been keeping a higher
than usual humidity...so fingers crossed that'll keep the mites at bay.
(denial)
Thnaks for the heads up
K Barrett