By James Tansey PhD, AAg, Provincial Specialist, Insect/Vertebrate Pest Management
With reports of crop damaging populations of grasshopper nymphs and other insects beginning, it is important to revisit the products that are appropriate to control these insects. Notably, are the still applicable restrictions on the uses of lambda-cyhalothrin affecting the products Silencer, Matador, Zivata, and Voliam Xpress. When considering these products, it is important to remember:
- Lambda-cyhalothrin products are not permitted for use in feed crops or grain crops used for feed; and
- While lambda-cyhalothrin products are included for food crop uses in the 2024 Guide to Crop Protection (including those held back by Syngenta in 2023) please remember food crops treated with lambda-cyhalothrin products are not to be fed to animals. This includes forage, grain, seed screenings and aftermath.
There are alternatives for controlling all pests, including grasshoppers, for all crops listed in the Guide, including other synthetic pyrethroid insecticides.
- Synthetic pyrethroids (group 3A) are recommended for the control of juvenile grasshoppers only and can be very effective.
- Adult and mature grasshopper nymph control can be accomplished with Coragen, carbaryl, malathion and dimethoate products for most crops, pasture, and rangeland. The carbaryl bait, Ecobran, is also very effective for controlling nymph and adult grasshoppers and is an excellent option for pasture and rangeland, roadside, headland and summer fallow grasshopper control.
Lambda-cyhalothrin related information has been included on the Keep it Clean website.
Please see the Guide to Crop Protection for excellent alternatives to lambda-cyhalothrin products permitted for use on a wide assortment of crops.