A new acaricide based on the active ingredient etoxazole, Borneo has received recent approval for use in protected tomatoes and aubergines as well as being granted a SOLA for use in protected ornamental plants.
"Spider mites can cause serious cosmetic injury to ornamentals and can damage yield in other protected crops, even in low population numbers. Containing 110 g/l etoxazole and formulated as a suspension concentrate, Borneo is a new effective contact-acting acaricide for use on a number of protected crops for the control of spider mites. From the oxaline group, it offers unique chemistry and a unique mode of action as well as showing excellent crop safety," says Dr. David Stormonth, Technical Manager for Interfarm (UK).
Borneo is active against the two main species of spider mite - Two-spotted Spider Mite (Tetranychus urticae) and the Red Spider Mite (Panonychus ulmi). Acting on chitin formation, it inhibits the development of both eggs and larval stages. As such it will give the best performance when used at the first appearance of the first mobile stages of spider mites. It should be applied at a dose rate of 35 mls per 100 litres of water in a minimum water volume of 500 litres per hectare," he advises.
"In particular growers of protected crops will welcome its introduction to our product range, as this sector has already seen the loss of several actives in recent years. In this market resistance management is also a major concern and it is very useful that Borneo has a novel mode of action, is active on a number of stages in the life cycle and has shown no cross resistance with any other acaricides. In addition Borneo has little adverse effect on bees or predatory mites and is expected to fit in well within IPM systems," says David.
