Date: 3/31/99

Time: 9:20

Type: Symposium

Number: 223

The Spinosyns, new insect control agents isolated from Saccharopolyspora spinosa

*L.L. Larson, T. Sparks and G.D. Thompson, Dow AgroSciences, Indianapolis, IN 46268
Contact e-mail: lllarson@dowagro.com

Spinosad, the first product in the naturalyte class of pest management tools, is a mixture of two fermentation-derived products produced by Saccharopolyspora spinosa, a new species of Actinomycete discovered from a Caribbean soil sample in 1982. This material exhibits such a favorable environmental and mammalian toxicity profile that it has been designated a reduced risk pesticide by the EPA. Spinosad is rapidly degraded in sunlight, but is stabilized on leaf surfaces. Its rainfastness as a suspension concentrate is comparable to commercial standards, and its activity is unaffected over a wide range of pH's. Spinosad is selectively active on insects in the Orders: Lepidoptera, Diptera, Thysanoptera, and some Coleoptera and Hymenoptera. Targeted crops are cotton, vegetables, tree fruits, and nuts at use rates from 50-180 grams AI/Ha. Spinosad, with its unique characteristics, does indeed fit a product class of its own, and will offer an exciting pest management alternative for the future. No other biologically sourced material has such a combination of excellent contact and residual efficacy on target pests and safety to beneficials, aquatic organisms, and mammals. It will fit very well into integrated Pest Management Systems.

This abstract may not be cited or reproduced without permission from the author(s).