US OKs Certis's spinosad label expansion for control ants

The U.S. EPA and California's DPR have approved the label expansion for Certis USA’s spinosad-based insecticide baits, Seduce® and Bug-N-Sluggo®, for the control of ants around trees and vines. Spinosad, derived from a naturally occurring bacterium found in soil, is manufactured for Certis USA by W. Neudorff GMbH KG of Germany. (Neudorff has a licensing agreement with Dow Agrosciences for access to spinosad.) The new improved and more weather-resistant bait provides control of several ant species and also enhances control of cutworms and earwigs. Quick acting, Seduce and Bug-N-Sluggo knock back ant populations in less than 48 hours. Bug-N-Sluggo also contains iron phosphate for the control of snails and slugs.

Seduce and Bug-N-Sluggo baits are patented, highly compressed pellets (shorts) that are UV and rain resistant. The dry pellets, which are now a terra-cotta color, are easy to apply, unlike some sticky competitor baits that can be more troublesome to accurately apply. Seduce and Bug-N-Sluggo have 4-hour reentry intervals and on almonds can be used up to the day before harvest. They are OMRI® Listed and NOP approved, so they can be used in organic production, as well as conventional farming. These baits are an essential tool for the growers of 50,000 acres of organic trees and vines that previously had no effective ant control.

Certis USA Product Manager Dave Silva said, "This is crucial and significant technology that has been approved for ant pest control. Unlike most other baits that only target ants, Bug-N-Sluggo and Seduce also control earwigs and cutworm and Bug-N-Sluggo also decimates slugs and snails. The ability to curb multiple pests with one application means savings in costs and labor for growers and a lighter pesticide load in the environment." Both products also offer a shorter period to harvest when compared to currently used ant baits.