Piercing-Sucking Plant Pests Beware of New Insecticide

Posted by Paul Rusnak|November 2, 2018

Whiteflies are one pest for which BASF’s new insecticide Inscalis provides control. Photo courtesy of UF/IFAS

BASF has received EPA registration for its new insecticide Inscalis. The novel active ingredient controls piercing-sucking insect pests such as aphids, whiteflies, and certain psyllids, in a variety of row and specialty crops, including soybeans, cotton, and citrus.

In a company news release, Christa Kirk, BASF Technical Market Manager, stated: “Inscalis insecticide is a new active ingredient with a unique mode of action that provides effective control of devastating piercing-sucking insect pests. Farmers can choose from several formulations as part of their resistance and integrated pest management plans, giving them more operational control over their crops.”

According to BASF, the chemistry’s formulation works by moving through the leaf to control pests that may be living on the underside of leaves. Inscalis insecticide’s fast onset of action causes insect feeding to quickly stop, limiting the spread of damage and transmission of viral pathogens. In addition, the insecticide boasts a favorable environmental profile with low toxicity to beneficial insects, including pollinators.

Inscalis will power Versys (labeled for use on brassicas, leafy vegetables, pome, and stone fruit, targeting aphids and whiteflies), Sefina (labeled for use on citrus, cotton, cucurbits, fruiting vegetables, and soybeans, targeting all three pests, primarily focusing on the Asian citrus psyllid and whiteflies), and Ventigra (for use in greenhouse and nursery production and ornamental landscapes) insecticides.