Vine weevil biorational ‘Pitcher GR’ wins Technical Excellence award
Pitcher GR – the new biorational for the suppression of Black Vine Weevil eggs and early instar larval stages – has won the Technical Excellence category in the Spirit of Four Oaks Product of the Year awards.
Available exclusively from ICL and its distributors, Pitcher GR is a timely new tool in the IPM armoury for controlling this potentially devastating pest. Judge - Horticulture Week technical editor Sally Drury - said: "As we lose more and more conventional chemicals these products are becoming increasingly important."
Developed by independent UK-based biopesticide company Ecospray, Pitcher GR is based on a stabilized from of garlic extract. When applied to growing media the active substance – Diallyl polysulphide – dissolves through the cuticle starting a cascade chain reaction causing vine weevil eggs or early instars to die due to overwhelming oxidative stress.
“For use in containerised ornamental plants growing outside or under protection, Pitcher GR is recommended for use in conjunction with beneficial nematodes in an integrated pest management (IPM) programme,” explains ICL’s Sales Development Manager Martin Donnelly. “With the imminent loss of thiachloprid (Exemptor) early next year, biorationals are a future proof alternative for growers to employ.
“Pitcher GR is applied as a topdress. It is important to wait a minimum of six weeks before making a second application or applying beneficial nematodes. Unaffected by temperature fluctuations, there are no resistance issues, no re-entry limitations following treatments and Pitcher GR has very low impact on non-target organisms and the environment.”
“Used in conjunction with our Seeka beneficial nematodes which target vine weevil larvae, Pitcher GR bolsters overall control by targeting younger stages of the pest.”
View the Pitcher brochure below: -
Find out more about Pitcher in our technical semianar below