Movento insecticide (spirotetramat), a new foliar product from Bayer CropScience, has been registered by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR) for use on citrus, pome and stone fruits, grapes, tree nuts and vegetables.

“Movento protects against a broad spectrum of troublesome sucking insects such as aphids, mealybugs, whiteflies, scales and many others,” says John Bell, product development manager with Bayer CropScience. “It shows long-lasting control of feeding immature life stages as well as reductions in fecundity of female adults. But the feature that truly sets Movento apart from other insecticides is a unique active ingredient with 2-way systemic activity within plant tissue,” added Bell.

After application, the material moves upward and downward through the plant's vascular system, ensuring even and continuous distribution and better overall protection of young shoots, leaves and roots. A spreading and penetrating adjuvant or additive is required for optimum uptake and systemicity within plant tissue.

Movento is easy on beneficial insects such as ladybugs and lacewings, making it ideal for integrated pest management (IPM) programs. From a new chemical class, tetramic acids, Movento also has an excellent fit for resistance management programs.

Beth Grafton-Cardwell, director, University of California Lindcove Research and Extension Center, has conducted research on this product for California red scale, cotton aphid and begun some work with citrus leafminer. “It has shown excellent efficacy against these pests,” she said.

It has shown efficacy against citrus thrips as well. “I have found a citrus thrips timed treatment (petal fall) does not control California red scale. For red scale control you need to apply it just before the second generation or third generation of crawler activity. A water volume of 500 gallons per acre is best for red scale, she said. “Adding an adjuvant for penetration and spread is very important,” she added.

Movento is also safe on Aphytis and vedalia beneficials. “It is very compatible with Aphytis release programs and will not cause the cottony cushion scale outbreaks that we saw with the IGRs,” she said, adding, “the predatory mites were reduced about the same level as a miticide.