What are the main products for prevention and control of scale insects, after methidathion was prohibited in China?

 

Methidathion had previously been a special-effect pesticide for use against scale insects. However, beginning 1st October 2015, the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture revoked registration of methidathion for use on citrus crops, and prohibited its use on citrus trees. Thereafter, Chlorpyrifos has become a substitute for methidathion. However, on 31st December 2016 the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture also prohibited the registration and use of chlorpyrifos.

 

 

 

Scale insects carry a thick wax coat on its back, which normal pesticides cannot penetrate to reach its body. Due to insufficient understanding of this low-incidence scale insect by farmers, or due to negligence, serious damage could have occurred by the time an incident is noted. Under proper ambient temperature, scale insects multiply quickly and spread over large areas due to winds or farming activities, which cause frequent damage. When large amounts of adult scale insect groups are formed, normal pesticides can barely penetrate the wax coat of scale insects, permitting the insect to cause more damage, resulting in large losses. 

 

To procure pest-free seedlings is an effective method to prevent wide spread infestation by scale insects, though pesticide application continues to be the main measure to effectively control scale insects. The use of contact insecticides has a positive effect during egg-hatching and fast-growing periods, when chlorpyrifos and sulfoxaflor can be applied. At its adult stage, the scale insect’s body is covered with a thick and hard wax shell, which is resistant to penetration of normal pesticides, being difficult to control. At this time, chlorpyrifos can exert a relatively positive effect, attributable to its functions of contact toxicity, fumigation and stomach toxicity.

　　　　

 

Not many of the large amount of insecticide varieties are specifically registered as effective against scale insects. Statistic shows that there are, currently, 11 types of active ingredients and 118 registered formulations for control of scale insects, involving 103 manufacturers in China. The registration statistic reveals that the majority of registrations are for use on citrus, and a small portion are for grapes and waxberry, with the majority of registered active ingredients being chlorpyrifos, followed by buprofezin.

　　

The market for protection against scale insects is a niche market. When considering control of scale insects, growers might always provide consideration of control to other insect pests, concurrently, therefore broad-spectrum insecticides are more welcome. Methidathion, which was once a special-effect insecticide used against scale insects, has both contact toxicity and stomach poisoning functions, and can penetrate to plant tissues. This product not only controls insect pests with piercing-sucking mouthparts, but also controls chewing type insects with a special effect. However, because of its high toxicity and large amount of residue, methidathion has been completely prohibited.

 

After the prohibition of methidathion, chlorpyrifos has become a mainstream for control of citrus scale insects, which is featured for its high efficiency and broad spectrum, being an important substitution for high-toxic organophosphorus pesticides. 

 

According to information, the high sales chlorpyrifos products currently on the market include Lorsban and Nurelle of Dow AgroSciences, Yoslory of Bioseen and Shuangpin of Hailir. Among these products, the stock of Lorsban was approximately 1,400 to 1,500 tons in 2016, amounting to over Yuan100 million.

 

Following its prohibited use in vegetable crops beginning 1st January 2017, there have been different voices from the industry regarding the possibility of a full prohibition of chlorpyrifos. In any event, there is little doubt that the prohibition of high-toxic pesticides is progressing faster. 

 

　　

With the phase out of chlorpyrifos, its market will be taken over and shared by other products for different crops. For instance, for citrus application, the main products for application will be spirotetramat, buprofezin, thiamethoxam and sulfoxaflor.

　　

As buprofezin and thiamethoxam are effective only in control of larva-scale insects, and is not as desirable for control of adult scale insects, this is one of the main reasons why it is difficult to promote its use in citrus.

 

Sulfoxaflor and spirotetramat are the two ingredients that have attracted the most market attention, and are deemed the most possible substitutive ingredients for chlorpyrifos in citrus applications. At present, the patents of these two ingredients are held, respectively, by Bayer CropScience and Dow AgroSciences. There are fewer manufacturers producing these products and the sales volume is unsatisfactory. According to Dow AgroSciences, the prices of spirotetramat and methidathion are largely the same, which are acceptable to citrus growers. At present, the two products hold 2 percent of the scale insect pesticide market.

　　

It is understood that sulfoxaflor is bidirectionally conductive, featuring high efficiency, fast action and long-lasting effect. The product is effective in control of all insect pests with piercing sucking mouthparts, such as soft bug, aphids, whitefly and plant hopper. It also has a higher cost effectiveness than chlorpyrifos, which will enable it to possibly become a mainstream substitute for chlorpyrifos.

 

The mainstream spirotetramat is produced by only a few companies, including Bayer CropScience and Mindleader. Spirotetramat is bidirectionally conductive and has an 8-week lasting effect, being effective in control of various piercing-sucking mouthpart insects, such as aphid, thrip, plant louse and scale insects. The selling price of the product is also acceptable to farmers. The spirotetramat patent of Bayer CropScience will expire in two years, which will once again interest manufacturers to apply for registrations.

 

The requirement of the production process of sodium pimaric acid, mineral oil and lime sulphur is relatively low, therefore numerous manufacturers are involved in this production. However, very few registered products are for application to control scale insects. Additionally, the product quality is very different, which imposes difficulties on farmers for making the correct choice. With the production process being upgraded, these products may later on play an important role in the market.

 

Normal Products on Chinese Market for Control of Scale Insect

Company	Product	Formulation	Features	Sales
Dow	Lorsban	Chlorpyrifos 480g/L(EC)	3-day application enables 80% efficacy; 30-day long-lasting effect.	Total sales of 1,000-2000 tons amounting to over Yuan100 million; 1/3 sales for citrus.
	Nurelle	Cypermethrin 47.5g/L+ Chlorpyrifos 475 g/L	Contact toxicity, stomach poisoning, fumigation product, being effective in control of exposed pest, chewing mouthpart pest and hidden pest.	Total sales of 300-400 tons amounting to Yuan18million.
	Chlorpyrifos	40% Chlorpyrifos(EW)	EW formulation, safe for environment, good miscibility, not restrained by sequence of use.	-
Bioseen	Yoslory	45% Chlorpyrifos(EC)	Very effective on control of leaf feeding insect, aphid and soil insect on various crops, especially effective against scale insect on citrus arrowhead scales.	Total sales of 200 tons, amounting to Yuan12 million, 1/3 sales for citrus.
Hailir	Shuangpin	5% Imidacloprid +20% Chlorpyrifos(CS)	Mixture of imidacloprid and chlorpyrifos, with contact toxicity, stomach poisoning, fumigation and systemicity; taking effect fast, with 25-day long-lasting effect.	-
Syngenta	Actara	25% Thiamethoxam(WG)	Stomach poisoning, contact toxicity and systemicity; taking effect quickly, broad spectrum, safe, long-lasting effect; it does not easily cause cross resistance.	-
Rotam	Applaud	25% Buprofezin(WP)	High activity, high selectivity, especially effective against plant hopper, leafhopper and whitefly; also effective on control of lopholeucaspis jopomca; there is no cross resistance to normal pesticides.	-
Qingdao Dongsheng	Pojiake	5% Acetamiprid +35% Chlorpyrifos (EC)	Mixture of acetamipridand chlorpyrifos; contact toxicity, fumigation and stomach poisoning.	Sales of single product reaches Yuan10 million.
Dow	Typhoonee	22% Sulfoxaflor(SC)	Valid until 2028. Bidirectionally conductive, long lasting effect.	Sales of 80-100 tons, accounting for 2% of scale insect pesticides.
Bayer	Movento	22.4% Spirotetramat(SC)	8-week long-lasting effect, but taking effect slowly; preferable to mix with quick-acting agent.	＜100 tons; small proportion

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