Apache Colorado potato beetle pest control for potatoes: instructions for use (photo)

Apache is a popular and sought-after remedy for the Colorado potato beetle. Its widespread use is due to its relatively simple instructions. The product is intended for potatoes, which are not only a favorite of the Colorado potato beetle but also a staple in the national diet.

Apache for Colorado potato beetles is a promising development by Japanese scientists, made with the addition of clothianidin to the standard formula. Its specific effects and high effectiveness, as evidenced by reviews from gardeners who have tried the product in their own gardens, might come as a surprise. However, they are easily explained by the fact that the potato pest, known as the Colorado potato beetle, has not yet adapted to the action of the main, new ingredient.

The Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa ​​decemlineata), also known as the Colorado potato beetle or potato leaf beetle, has been a notorious pest to every gardener since its arrival on the continent, even to those who don't grow potatoes but buy them at the store. This pest can devastate entire fields. If left unchecked, it readily consumes the leaves of any nightshade crop, including eggplant, tomatoes, and bell peppers. Small plantings are harvested by hand or traps are set; larger plantings or fields are treated with poisons, to which the beetle quickly develops resistance.

Season and conditions of use of the product

As soon as the air temperature rises above 140°C, beetles that have overwintered in the soil emerge. By this time, potato sprouts are sufficiently developed and become not only their main food source but also a breeding ground for the species. On the underside of the leaves, the beetles lay numerous eggs, which eventually hatch into soft-bodied larvae that also feed on the leaves of the garden plant.

The instructions for using Apache, a Colorado potato beetle control product, repeatedly mention that the insecticide is based on a new principle, using the active ingredient clothianidin. The fact that this Japanese product was not manufactured and tested in the Russian Federation gives gardeners hope that the local beetle has not developed resistance to Apache, a Colorado potato beetle control product.

Apache is a chemical substance developed for specific purposes. It has a triple mechanism of action, confirmed not only by a patent for its development but also by numerous positive reviews. Various poisons for Colorado potato beetles are available, but Apache currently holds the leading position. Its mechanism of action involves three pathways:

1. Contact poisoning is based on direct contact with the insect's body. If the insect comes into direct contact with the beetle or larva, both individuals die due to the toxic effect.
2. Intestinal ingestion involves the poison being ingested by the pest when it eats leaves. The substance is absorbed during the digestion of the food that has been exposed to the diluted chemical.
3. Translaminar means that the product is absorbed by the plant's leaves and stems, which allows it to independently defend itself against the aggressor.

Composition of the product and safety measures

The Apache pesticide, like any pesticide potentially hazardous to humans, comes with detailed instructions. They detail all the nuances of its use and its chemical composition. The main active ingredient is clothianidin, developed by chemists at the Japanese corporation Sumitomo Chemical. The chemical class of the compounds is neonicotinoids, developed for the subsequent use of the powerful poison nicotine, which has previously been used in pest control.

Neonicotinoids are free from many of the disadvantages of the substance of which they are derivatives and have acquired new, more beneficial properties:

• the hazard class for humans has changed from threatening to moderately hazardous (the drug does not accumulate in the receptors of humans and warm-blooded animals);
• the substance has the ability to accumulate in the plant in a short period of time, but does not have a detrimental effect on it (phytotoxicity);
• The compounds are not volatile, but unstable, and quickly decompose in the soil into their constituent components (this makes it possible to avoid the accumulation of poison in tubers that are eaten).

The Apache pest control product for the Colorado potato beetle cannot be called completely safe for humans, and the Russian-language instructions provide a ambiguous warning about this. However, compared to previously available products, it is much more convenient to use. The neonicotinoid is contained in granules or powder at a ratio of 500 g per kg (1:2 ratio), carefully packaged in a white foil bag and cardboard box, preventing its effects when unopened, even when stored at home.

The second packaging option is 35g and 50g sachets, with 25 or 50 sachets per box. When dissolved in water, they emit a very faint, barely perceptible odor.

Forms of the drug and the necessary conditions for its dilution

Apache's Colorado potato beetle treatment includes specific instructions that must be followed depending on whether the product is diluted as a powder or as a dispersed granule. A 0.5-gram packet of powder is sufficient for a 200-square-meter garden when diluted in 1 liter of water. To treat 100-square-meters (0.40 acres), you'll need 5 packets of powder diluted in a 5-liter container. A 2.5-gram packet is impractical for a small garden, but convenient for larger plots.

There are differences in the amount of Apache used to treat Colorado potato beetles and other insects. This should be taken into account when carefully reading the instructions for using Apache on potatoes and other plants. The product can also be used to treat the soil under bushes, where beetles may be hiding. To do this, use 1 gram of the mixture (or two 0.5 gram packets) per liter of water and dilute it in a liter container.

The third hazard class for humans requires dilution and spraying with protective equipment for the face and hands, and in windless weather. The dilution instructions are detailed in the included instructions, but the poison for the Colorado potato beetle Apache usually presents no difficulties for gardeners in practical application.

Apache: advantages and disadvantages of use

Reviews of Apache, a Colorado potato beetle control product, received by Russian sales representatives are almost always favorable. This Japanese product truly has a number of undeniable advantages, including:

• systemic action, which can be achieved both by cultivating the soil and by not applying it to all plant tissues;
• fast effect – the pest dies literally within half an hour;
• the Colorado potato beetle does not develop resistance to the action of the diluted powder;
• solubility, allowing the use of water from +200C;
• soluble sachets that do not need to be opened, just place them in water;
• minimum spending standards;
• the ability to destroy any leaf-eating pests on personal land.

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Apache is a Colorado potato beetle repellent, and consumer reviews mention some minor drawbacks. These include its short-term (monthly) effectiveness, its toxicity to bees, which is disappointing for beekeepers, and its inability to kill mites. Its relatively high cost also hinders its use for those with limited financial means.