Newest study highlights efficacy of Safari Insecticide against emerald ash borer

The latest data from The Ohio State University brings promising news in the fight against the destructive emerald ash borer (EAB). A study conducted by Dr. Dan Herms, professor of entomology at Ohio State, shows that soil applications of Safari® Insecticide (active ingredient: dinotefuran) are providing strong results against EAB.

The study, which began in 2008 in Bowling Green, Ohio, measures the percentage of canopy thinning witnessed in ash trees treated with different products and through a range of application methods.

Whereas trees that were not treated with insecticide showed an average of 48% percent canopy thinning three years after their first treatment, those treated via soil injection with Safari 20 SG at a rate of 7.5 grams / inch of trunk diameter exhibited an average of just 2.5 percent canopy thinning, and 6 of 8 trees showed no damage at all.

"The data shows that a single Safari soil drench is giving very good EAB control based on canopy loss,” said Dr. Joe Chamberlin, regional field development manager for Valent Professional Products. “They basically saw no canopy loss on trees treated with Safari. That’s very encouraging.”

Data from the Ohio State study also shows that Safari provides excellent control of EAB when applied as a basal trunk spray, with just 10 percent canopy thinning observed on trees treated with the basal trunk spray.

EAB has killed tens of millions of ash trees across the Midwestern and Eastern United States during the past 10 years, and the infestation area is spreading rapidly.

Due to its unique chemical properties (high solubility and low binding to organic matter), high amounts of Safari are rapidly absorbed by ash trees and then transported into the vascular system where EAB feeds. This results in faster control of EAB than with less systemic products and also extends the application window later in the season.

"The results of this study are real and they show that soil treatments can be effective against EAB,” Dr. Herms said. “They are showing good results.”