Its major uses include:
- Seed treatment – Imidacloprid is the most popular seed treatment insecticide in the world
- Agriculture – Control of aphids, cane beetles, thrips, stink bugs, locusts, and a variety of other insects that damage...
- Arboriculture – Control of the emerald ash borer, hemlock woolly adelgid, and other insects that attack trees (including...
What is imidacloprid used for?
Imidacloprid products may be used on crops, houses, or used in flea products for pets. There are over 400 products for sale in the United States that contain imidacloprid.
How do you use imidacloprid insecticide?
It is sold under many names for many uses; it can be applied by soil injection, tree injection, application to the skin of the plant, broadcast foliar, ground application as a granular or liquid formulation, or as a pesticide-coated seed treatment. Imidacloprid is widely used for pest control in agriculture.
What are the different types of imidacloprid products?
Products containing imidacloprid come in many forms, including liquids, granules, dusts, and packages that dissolve in water. Imidacloprid products may be used on crops, houses, or used in flea products for pets.
What are the side effects of imidacloprid?
Farm workers reported skin or eye irritation, dizziness, breathlessness, confusion, or vomiting after they were exposed to pesticides containing imidacloprid. Pet owners have sometimes had skin irritation after they applied flea control products containing imidacloprid to their pets.
What is the purpose of imidacloprid?
Imidacloprid is an insecticide that was made to mimic nicotine. Nicotine is naturally found in many plants, including tobacco, and is toxic to insects. Imidacloprid is used to control sucking insects, termites, some soil insects, and fleas on pets. It has been used in products sold in the United States since 1994.
How long does imidacloprid take to work?
It has both contact and ingestion activity. The target pest's feeding activity ceases within minutes to hours, and death occurs usually within 24 - 48 hours but can take up to 7 days depending on the mode of application.
Can imidacloprid damage plants?
Imidacloprid applied as a soil treatment can move up into flowers to injure or kill bees, other pollinators and beneficial insects. Avoid application to flowering plants that are visited by these beneficials. If used, don't apply until after bloom has been completed.
When should I apply imidacloprid?
There are different recommended timings for application depending on the active ingredient. Although the bag often says apply anytime from May to Aug. 15, it is highly recommended that products containing imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, clothianidin be applied and irrigated into the soil in June or July.
What insects does imidacloprid control?
The insects that Imidacloprid successfully targets are bed bugs, ants, flies, roaches and termites. It is also commonly applied to soil, seed, and foliage to control nutrient-sucking insects including aphids, thrips, whiteflies, turf insects, soil insects and some beetles.
How long will imidacloprid last?
Imidacloprid has a photolysis half-life of 39 days at the soil surface, with a range of 26.5-229 days when incorporated into the soil. Persistence in soil allows for continual availability for uptake by plant roots.
Can imidacloprid be sprayed on leaves?
Imidacloprid works best on pests that feed on leaves, stems, roots, or woody parts of the plant. There is concern about how much imidacloprid gets into the nectar and pollen of plants and how this might affect pollinating insects.
Is imidacloprid a fungicide?
Imidacloprid is a neonicotinoid compound that is used as an insecticide for dermal application on animals, for termite and grub control and as an insecticide for crop protection. The neonicotinoids act on nicotinic receptors in insects and vertebrates.
How bad is imidacloprid?
Imidacloprid pesticides appear to be of low toxicity to humans causing only mild symptoms such as vomiting, abdominal pain, headache and diarrhoea in the majority of cases. Large ingestions may lead to sedation and respiratory arrest.
How often can I use imidacloprid?
Perennials-Rotate with registered insecticides from other groups. Use a maximum of three 4Farmers Imidacloprid 200SC Insecticides (or other group 4A insecticides) sprays in any 12-month period. than 100% are not recommended beyond the 15 node crop stage.
How often can I apply imidacloprid?
Do not make more than 5 applications /A per year. Do not apply more than 1.6 pt (0.4 lb of active ingredient) per year. Allow 10 or more days between applications. Allow at least 7 days between last application and harvest.
How do I use imidacloprid?
3:475:30Imidacloprid 2F (Turf & Ornamental Insecticide): Product ReviewYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipApply your solution uniformly around the base of the plant with at least 10 gallons of water perMoreApply your solution uniformly around the base of the plant with at least 10 gallons of water per 1000. Square. Feet when applied properly imidacloprid 2f will be absorbed into the plant.
What is imidacloprid used for?
Uses: Imidacloprid is used to control sucking insects, some chewing insects including termites, soil insects, and fleas on pets. In addition to its topical use on pets, imidacloprid may be applied to structures, crops, soil, and as a seed treatment. 2,10 Uses for individual products containing imidacloprid vary widely.
How long does imidacloprid stay in the soil?
Soil half-life for imidacloprid ranged from 40 days in unamended soil to up to 124 days for soil recently amended with organic fertilizers. 44 See the text box on Half-life .
How much imidacloprid is given to rats?
Researchers administered a single oral dose of radio-labeled imidacloprid at 20 mg/kg to male rats. One hour after dosing, imidacloprid was detected throughout the bodies with the exception of fatty tissues and the central nervous system. 38
Is imidacloprid dust toxic?
2,20 Imidacloprid dust is considered slightly toxic but the aerosol form is highly toxic. 18
Where are neonicotinoid insecticides found?
Neonicotinoid insecticides are synthetic derivatives of nicotine, an alkaloid compound found in the leaves of many plants in addition to tobacco. 3,4,5. Imidacloprid was first registered for use in the U.S. by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) in 1994. 6 See the text box on Laboratory Testing .
Is imidacloprid in applesauce?
It was detected in over 80% of all bananas tested, 76% of cauliflower, and 72% of spinach samples. In all cases, however, the levels detected were below the U.S. EPA's tolerance levels. Imidacloprid was also found in 17.5 % of applesauce and 0.9% raisin samples, although percentage of detections were greater in the fresh unprocessed fruit (26.6% of apples sampled, and 18.1% of grapes sampled). 57
Is imidacloprid carcinogenic?
Humans. The U.S. EPA has classified imidacloprid into Group E, no evidence of carcinogenicity, based on studies with rats and mice. 20,31 See the text box on Cancer . Cancer: Government agencies in the United States and abroad have developed programs to evaluate the potential for a chemical to cause cancer.
What is imidacloprid used for?
Imidacloprid is widely used for pest control in agriculture. Other uses include application to foundations to prevent termite damage, pest control for gardens and turf, treatment of domestic pets to control fleas, protection of trees from boring insects, and in preservative treatment of some types of lumber products.
What are the effects of imidacloprid on the body?
Low- to mid-dose oral exposures have been associated with reproductive toxicity, developmental retardation and neurobehavioral deficits in rats and rabbits.
How much imidacloprid can kill a dog?
In dogs the LD 50 is 450 mg/kg of body weight (i.e., in any sample of medium-sized dogs weighing 13 kilograms (29 lb), half of them would be killed after consuming 5,850 mg of imidacloprid, or about 1⁄5 th of an ounce) . Blood imidacloprid concentrations may be measured to confirm diagnosis in hospitalized patients or to establish the cause of death in postmortem investigations.
What is the most widely used insecticide in the world?
Imidacloprid is the most widely used insecticide in the world. Its major uses include: Seed treatment - Imidacloprid is the most popular seed treatment insecticide in the world. Agriculture - Control of aphids, cane beetles, thrips, stink bugs, locusts, and a variety of other insects that damage crops.
How long does imidacloprid last in soil?
In soil under aerobic conditions, imidacloprid is persistent with a half-life of the order of 1–3 years. On the soil surface the half-life is 39 days.
How long does it take for imidacloprid to work on trees?
Application to trees. When used on trees, it can take 30–60 days to reach the top (depending on the size and height) and enter the leaves in high enough quantities to be effective. Imidacloprid can be found in the trunk, the branches, the twigs, the leaves, the leaflets, and the seeds. Many trees are wind pollinated.
What is the best insecticide?
Imidacloprid is the most widely used insecticide in the world. Its major uses include: 1 Seed treatment - Imidacloprid is the most popular seed treatment insecticide in the world 2 Agriculture - Control of aphids, cane beetles, thrips, stink bugs, locusts, and a variety of other insects that damage crops 3 Arboriculture - Control of the emerald ash borer, hemlock woolly adelgid, and other insects that attack trees (including hemlock, maple, oak, and birch) 4 Home Protection - Control of termites, carpenter ants, cockroaches, and moisture-loving insects 5 Domestic animals - Control of fleas (applied to the back of neck) 6 Turf - Control of Japanese beetle larvae (exp. Grubs) 7 Gardening - Control of aphids and other pests
What is imidacloprid used for?
Imidacloprid is a neonicotinoid compound that is used as an insecticide for dermal application on animals, for termite and grub control and as an insecticide for crop protection. The neonicotinoids act on nicotinic receptors in insects and vertebrates.
What is the purpose of imidacloprid?
The mode of action of imidacloprid is to block neurotransmission by postsynaptic antagonism of nicoti nic acetylcholine receptor s. It is used to control grubs in lawns and as a termiticide in residential environments.
How does imidacloprid work?
Imidacloprid works by interfering with the transmission of stimuli in the insect nervous system. Imidacloprid mimics the action of acetylcholine, but it is not degraded by the enzyme acetylcholinesterase. Imidacloprid binds to the acetylcholine receptor on the postsynaptic portion of nerve cells.14,15 This results in persistent activation preventing transmission of impulses and leading to an accumulation of acetylcholine. The acetylcholine accumulation results in hyperexcitation, convulsions, paralysis, and death of the insect. It has been recently hypothesized that there are two binding sites with different affinities for imidacloprid and that imidacloprid has both agonistic and antagonistic effects on the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor channels. 16
What receptor does imidacloprid bind to?
Imidacloprid binds to the acetylcholine receptor on the postsynaptic portion of nerve cells.14,15 This results in persistent activation preventing transmission of impulses and leading to an accumulation of acetylcholine. The acetylcholine accumulation results in hyperexcitation, convulsions, paralysis, and death of the insect.
How long does it take for imidacloprid to be absorbed?
Imidacloprid is rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and excreted via urine and feces. Approximately 96% of the dose is recovered within 48 hours. Poisoning by imidacloprid has not been reported in dogs and cats. Insects become disoriented at sublethal doses and stop foraging for food.
How long did Imidacloprid stay in rats?
Imidacloprid was administered through the diet for 13 weeks to young-adult Wistar rats. Clinical signs associated with treatment were not evident at exposures as high as 300 mg kg −1 day −1. The liver was the principal target organ, with hypertrophy of hepatocytes and sporadic cell necrosis in high-dose males only. Liver pathology was mild at study termination and fully reversible within the 4 week recovery period. The no-observed-effect level (NOEL) was 14 and 83 mg kg −1 day −1 in males and females, respectively.
What are neonicotinoids?
The neonicotinoids act on nicotinic receptors in insects and vertebrates. To reduce toxicity to mammals and increase toxicity to insects, neonicotinic compounds have been selected that are highly specific for subtypes of nicotinic receptors that occur in insects.
What is the chemical class of imidacloprid?
The technical material of Imidacloprid is a chlorinated analog of nicotine, belonging to the class of chloronicotinyl insecticides. Insecticides in this chemical class work in a similar manner to the natural drug nicotine, attacking the central nervous system and causing inhibiting the normal function of nicotinergic acetylcholine receptors. The result is a disruption of nerve transmission, leading to convulsions, hyperexitation, paralysis and death.
Is it safe to take imidacloprid?
Imidacloprid is safe for use around people and pets. Imidacloprid is noted for having low toxicity to most animals other than insects. It is considered much safer for insect control than other neurotoxins, including organophosphates.
Is imidacloprid a trade name?
Imidacloprid is sold under a variety of trade names including Merit, Premise , Pre-Empt, and Maxforce. Imidacloprid is also them main active ingredient in three out of the four most popular preventative topical flea treatments for dogs in the US.
What is imidacloprid used for?
Imidacloprid is an neonicotinoid agricultural insecticide used to control sucking insects, termites, soil insects, and fleas on pets. These include plant hoppers, aphids, termites, Colorado beetles, fleas, white grups, craneflies, crickets and ants. It mimics nicotine, a naturally-occuring chemical found in plants, which is toxic to insects. It has been used in products in the U.S. since 1994. Other uses for imidacloprid include cholinergic agent, veterinary substance, and seed treatment. It is highly soluble and persistent in soil. Imidacloprid is toxic to birds, honey bees, mammals and earthworms.
How many products contain imidacloprid?
Over 400 products in the U.S. contain imidacloprid – it is vital to read the the product label prior to purchase or usage. Do not inhale, ingest, or apply imidacloprid products on humans. Do not use products on pets without veterinary recommendations.
Is imidacloprid a cholinergic agent?
It has been used in products in the U.S. since 1994. Other uses for imidacloprid include cholinergic agent, veterinary substance, and seed treatment. It is highly soluble and persistent in soil.
Is imidacloprid bad for dogs?
A one-year feeding study in dogs resulted in increased blood cholesterol and liver stress. Imidacloprid may cause reproductive, teratogenic effects (skeleton abnormalities in rats), and mutagenic effects (DNA changes in hamsters). This chemical is not known to be carcinogenic following carcinogenicity tests (two-year span) in rats.
Is imidacloprid toxic to rabbits?
Oral doses of technical grade imidacloprid resulted in mortality of half of all laboratory test animals. It is considered non-irritating to the eyes and skin of rabbits, and non-sensitizing to the skin of guinea pigs. Some formulations, however, may include clay as an ingredient which may cause irritation to the eyes. Inhalation toxicity with rats resulted in mortality of half of the test group.
Does imidacloprid affect the thyroid?
Body systems affected by imidacloprid. Tests on rats and dogs show that imidacloprid affects the thyroid gland and liver, respectively. There are no known reports of the effects of imidacloprid poisoning in humans, but may be fatal if swallowed and may cause moderate eye irritation on contact.
How do systemic insecticides kill insects?
Systemic insecticides are taken up by the roots or other parts of the plant and then move internally through the plant tissues and kill insects eating those tissues. In contrast, non-systemic insecticides remain on the plant surface and kill insects by contact or ingestion of treated foliage. Imidacloprid has been available to commercial growers ...
What insecticides kill apples?
Iowa State’s Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic has received several questions recently about the use of imidacloprid on apple trees and other edible fruits and vegetables. Imidacloprid is a systemic insecticide that has been available for many years under different trade names and concentrations. Systemic insecticides are taken up by the roots or other parts of the plant and then move internally through the plant tissues and kill insects eating those tissues. In contrast, non-systemic insecticides remain on the plant surface and kill insects by contact or ingestion of treated foliage.
Can I use imidacloprid on roses?
Yes, it does get into the reproductive parts, but not in high enough concentrations to control pests. This is why if you use imidacloprid on your roses to control Japanese beetles it does not protect the flowers. Imidacloprid works best on pests that feed on leaves, stems, roots, or woody parts of the plant.
Does imidacloprid affect pollinators?
There is concern about how much imidacloprid gets into the nectar and pollen of plants and how this might affect pollinating insects. It is something to be aware of and why some labels say to not apply until after bloom.
Is imidacloprid available for commercial use?
Imidacloprid has been available to commercial growers for use on edible crops for over a decade. Homeowners, however, have not had any systemic insecticide available for insect control on fruits and vegetables until recently. A new product called Bayer Advanced Fruit, Citrus & Vegetable Insect Control is now available for the general public.
Products
- Products containing imidacloprid come in many forms, including liquids, granules, dusts, and packages that dissolve in water. Imidacloprid products may be used on crops, houses, or used in flea products for pets. There are over 400 products for sale in the United States that contain imi…
Prevention
- Always follow label instructions and take steps to avoid exposure. If any exposures occur, be sure to follow the First Aid instructions on the product label carefully. For additional treatment advice, contact the Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222. If you wish to discuss a pesticide problem, please call 1-800-858-7378.
Toxicity
- Imidacloprid disrupts the nerve's ability to send a normal signal, and the nervous system stops working the way it should. Imidacloprid is much more toxic to insects and other invertebrates than it is to mammals and birds because it binds better to the receptors of insect nerve cells. Scientists fed imidacloprid to mother rats and rabbits during their pregnancies. The exposure caused repro…
Causes
- There are four ways that people can be exposed to chemicals. Chemicals may get on the skin, get into the eyes, be inhaled, or be eaten. This can happen if someone handles a pesticide or a pet recently treated with a product and does not wash their hands before eating. You could be exposed to imidacloprid if you are applying a product to your yard, on a pet, or in another locatio…
Mechanism of action
- Imidacloprid does not go through skin easily but it can cross the lining of the stomach and especially the intestine when it is eaten. Once it gets into the body, imidacloprid moves through the bloodstream to the whole body. Imidacloprid is broken down in the liver and then removed from the body in feces and urine. Rats that were fed imidacloprid excreted 90% of the dose in 2…
Research
- The United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) decided that there is no evidence that imidacloprid causes cancer based on animal studies. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has not classified imidacloprid for its potential to cause cancer. Scientists are actively studying the effects of imidacloprid on bees and other invertebrates. As they finish their …
Formation
- Imidacloprid can last for months or years in soil. The residues become more tightly bound to the soil with time. Imidacloprid is broken down rapidly by water and sunlight. The pH and temperature of water affect the speed of the imidacloprid breakdown process. Imidacloprid may leach from soil into groundwater under some conditions. Imidacloprid is broken down into a number of othe…
Diet
- Other beneficial animals may also be affected. Green lacewings did not avoid nectar of plants grown in soil treated with imidacloprid. The lacewings that fed from the treated plants had lower survival than lacewings that had not fed from treated plants. Ladybugs that ate aphids from plants grown in treated soil also showed reduced survival and reproduction.
Overview
Imidacloprid is a systemic insecticide belonging to a class of chemicals called the neonicotinoids which act on the central nervous system of insects. The chemical works by interfering with the transmission of stimuli in the insect nervous system. Specifically, it causes a blockage of the nicotinergic neuronal pathway. By blocking nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, imidacloprid prevents a…
Authorized uses
Imidacloprid is the most widely used insecticide in the world. Its major uses include:
• Seed treatment – Imidacloprid is the most popular seed treatment insecticide in the world
• Agriculture – Control of aphids, cane beetles, thrips, stink bugs, locusts, and a variety of other insects that damage crops
Application to trees
When used on trees, it can take 30–60 days to reach the top (depending on the size and height) and enter the leaves in high enough quantities to be effective. Imidacloprid can be found in the trunk, the branches, the twigs, the leaves, the leaflets, and the seeds. Many trees are wind pollinated. But others such as fruit trees, linden, catalpa, and black locust trees are bee and wind pollinated and imidacloprid would likely be found in the flowers in small quantities. Higher dose…
Background
On January 21, 1986, a patent was filed and granted on May 3, 1988, for imidacloprid in the United States (U.S. Pat. No. 4,742,060) by Nihon Tokushu Noyaku Seizo K.K. of Tokyo, Japan.
On March 25, 1992, Miles, Inc. (later Bayer CropScience) applied for registration of imidacloprid for turfgrass and ornamentals in the United States. On March 10, 1994, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approved the registration of imidacloprid.
Biochemistry
Imidacloprid is a systemic chloronicotinyl pesticide, belonging to the class of neonicotinoid insecticides. It works by interfering with the transmission of nerve impulses in insects by binding irreversibly to specific insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.
As a systemic pesticide, imidacloprid translocates or moves easily in the xylem of plants from the soil into the leaves, fruit, pollen, and nectar of a plant. Imidacloprid also exhibits excellent transl…
Environmental fate
The main routes of dissipation of imidacloprid in the environment are aqueous photolysis (half-life = 1–4 hours) and plant uptake. The major photometabolites include imidacloprid desnitro, imidacloprid olefine, imidacloprid urea, and five minor metabolites. The end product of photodegradation is 6-chloronicotinic acid (6-CNA) and ultimately carbon dioxide. Since imidacloprid has a low vapor pressure, it normally does not volatilize readily.
Health effects
The effects of imidacloprid on human health depend on the dose, duration, and frequency of exposure. The effects may also depend on the health of a person and environmental factors. People who might orally ingest acute amounts would experience emesis, diaphoresis, drowsiness and disorientation. This would need to be intentional since a large amount would need to be ingested to experience a toxic reaction.
Toxicology
Based on laboratory rat studies, imidacloprid is rated as "moderately toxic" on an acute oral basis to mammals and low toxicity on a dermal basis by the World Health Organization and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (class II or III, requiring a "Warning" or "Caution" label). It is rated as an "unlikely" carcinogen and as weakly mutagenic by the U.S. EPA (group E). It is not listed for reproductive or developmental toxicity, but is listed on EPA's Tier 1 Screening Order for chemic…