A new abamectin insecticide is now available for growers, targeting Two-Spotted Spider Mite and Western Flower Thrip in a range of vegetables and soft fruit.
The launch of Acaramik by global crop protection firm Rotam adds an alternative abamectin product to the market.
As well as its benefits in ornamental crop production, Acaramik has several farmer-applied Specific Off-Label Approvals (SOLAs) for use in strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, lambs lettuce and baby leaf production, tomatoes, peppers, aubergines and herbs.
The product provides residual control of the Two-Spotted Spider Mite and Western Flower Thrip on both the upper and lower surface of the leaves, penetrating the leaf to reach all surfaces and ensuring quick immobilisation of the pest when it ingests it.
Similarly, for effective control of Western Flower Thrip, Acaramik is applied as soon as the first nymphs are seen in the crop - a programme of two or three sprays should be applied seven days apart to ensure control.
Trevor Smith, Rotam’s sales and marketing manager for the UK and northern Europe, said: “We anticipate that Acaramik will play an important role in protection of ornamentals and soft fruits in particular - strawberry, raspberry and blackberry crops.
“For Two-Spotted Spider Mite control, growers should apply Acaramik as soon as mites are seen, preferably before leaf damage or ‘webbing’ occurs. A repeat application can be made seven days later if needed, but our advice is to avoid making more than two sequential applications without changing to a product with a different mode of action.
“It can be used all year round and there is no restriction on the number of treatments for thrip, however, if there is a persistent problem it is good practice to rotate Acaramik with other products that have different modes of action for thrip control.”
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