Instructions for use and description of the Colorado potato beetle remedy "Commander"

Every year, a growing number of different insect control products appear on the market, potentially damaging crops. Some of these new products disappear almost immediately, while high-quality, effective products linger for a long time. Furthermore, the pricing policies of certain manufacturers often discourage potential buyers, resulting in minimal demand.

But Komandor is a veteran insecticide on the market, and for over five years has maintained a reputation as an effective, high-quality, and affordable solution for fighting the Colorado potato beetle. In this article, we'll explore the features of this popular product in detail and find out why Komandor is the choice of many gardeners for fighting the Colorado potato beetle.

Description and characteristics of the drug Commander

Komandor is a systemic insecticide successfully used in both small gardens and large fields, protecting a wide variety of crops from dangerous insects. It is recognized as an effective pest control for root crops, grains, nightshades, legumes, and cucurbits, but it is most often purchased specifically to protect potatoes from the Colorado potato beetle.

Regarding Komandor packaging, manufacturers use containers of varying sizes, as it's difficult to know the size of the area being treated. The minimum volume is one milliliter, sold in special ampoules. There are also 10- and 20-milliliter bottles, 1-liter bottles, and even 10-liter canisters. The container itself is packaged in a plastic bag or blister pack, while the canister is placed in a box made of multilayer cardboard. Regardless of the volume purchased, it always comes with instructions from the manufacturer, which provide clear instructions on how to prepare and use the insecticide.

The active ingredient in Komandor is imidacloprid. Its distinctive advantage is that it remains biologically active and effective despite high temperatures and sun exposure. Potato treatment can be started at any time, provided there is no phytotoxicity. The concentration of this powerful organic poison is 200 grams per liter of water.

It's worth noting that Komandor possesses a new, unique mechanism of action, characterized by a complete lack of insect resistance. This is due to imidacloprid's membership in the chloronicotinyl group, which has long been recognized as one of the best pest control agents for garden pests.

Safety of the product

Although Komandor is considered one of the safest products on the market, it remains an organic poison, so it's important to remember that it's classified as a Class III hazard to humans. Therefore, it's important to take certain precautions when preparing the solution and spraying potatoes.

1. To breed Commander, use a special container that will never again be used for storing food, much less eating. It's advisable to set aside a special bucket or other container that will never contain anything other than the pest control solution.
2. Before spraying potatoes, be sure to equip yourself with personal protective equipment and wear protective clothing, or at least a gown. After spraying, remove all clothing that may have come into contact with the poison.
3. During the spraying process, it is forbidden to smoke, eat anything, or even drink water, to avoid poison entering the body.
4. After all the necessary plants have been treated by the Commander, it is necessary to change clothes, as well as thoroughly wash your face and hands using soap or another disinfectant.
5. After spraying, strictly ensure that children and pets do not approach the plants. Incidentally, the poison is highly toxic to bees, so apiary owners should be extremely careful to keep their insects away from treated garden crops. The poison can remain dangerous to humans for up to eight hours after treatment, and treated potatoes remain toxic to bees for four to five days.
6. If the solution comes into contact with your skin, remove it immediately using gauze, cotton wool, or a simple cloth. Then, treat the affected area with soapy water, and do not rub. A weak saline solution can also be used instead of soapy water.
7. It's advisable to perform the treatment while wearing a respirator, otherwise the poison could enter the body through the respiratory tract. If a respirator is not available and the treatment was performed without one, the person should spend approximately sixty minutes in fresh, clean air after the procedure. Changing clothes and disinfecting hands and face before going outside is recommended.
8. If any signs of poisoning appear, call an ambulance immediately. Only a doctor can provide the necessary treatment; self-medication is inappropriate when dealing with poisons.

Don't neglect safety precautions, as the product, although environmentally friendly and organic, can cause dizziness, nausea, and stomach pain. Sometimes, using a simple respirator or careful skin protection can prevent unwanted problems.

How to properly store Commander

Komandor is a chemical substance, so it should be kept out of the reach of both pets and children. Also, keep food, water, or medications away from the poison. The product can be stored for three years from the date of manufacture, but it is important to keep it in a cool place away from direct sunlight. The recommended storage temperature is no lower than 5°C (42°F) and no higher than 30°C (96°F). Komandor is highly flammable, so it is crucial to store it as far away from possible ignition sources as possible.

Rules for using the Commander

To treat potatoes with Komandor and protect them from Colorado beetles, aphids, and other pests, you can apply the treatment before planting or during the growing season. Incidentally, to use the treatment before planting potatoes, experts recommend a special product called Komandor+. Lay out all the potato tubers carefully in a single row on a flat surface and thoroughly spray them with the prepared solution. Afterward, wait until the potatoes are completely dry before planting.

Another option for using Komandor is to directly irrigate potato tops. Once seedlings emerge, pest activity increases, so this treatment must be as thorough and timely as possible.

Potato treatment should be approached with caution and diligence. Some gardeners advise paying special attention to each plant during the treatment process, trying to apply the product not only to the upper surface of the leaf, but also to the lower layer, in order to get rid of all pests once and for all.

How to prepare a working solution

To treat tubers before planting, prepare a working solution: dilute two milliliters of Komandor+ in ten liters of water. To treat one hundred kilograms of potatoes, you'll need 1.5 liters of working solution.

To treat the tops, use a working solution prepared in several stages. First, prepare the stock solution: pour approximately one liter of water and one milliliter of concentrated Komandor into a bucket. Stir the resulting mixture thoroughly for five to seven minutes, and only then add another four liters of water—this amount is enough to treat one hundred square meters. Mix the entire solution thoroughly again, and only then fill the sprayer with it.

When mixing Commander with water, lumps do not form, but a stable suspension is formed, and this does not require much effort - simply thoroughly stir the working solution for a while.

There's also a more concentrated product, Commander Maxi. It's diluted at a rate of one gram per fifteen liters of water. It's worth noting that Commander Maxi is available in powder form. This solution is sufficient to protect potatoes from pests on a three-hundred-square-meter plot.

Once the working solution is prepared, it should be used immediately as directed. Leaving any unused solution is prohibited due to its toxicity. Avoid applying the solution during flowering periods.

Important! Try to distribute the solution as evenly as possible across the plant leaves; this will make the treatment much more effective. If it rains within four hours of treating the potatoes, there's a risk that the solution will be washed away. It's best to choose a windless day to ensure the solution reaches its target during irrigation.

The principle of action of the drug

How does Commander work, and what makes it so effective and popular among gardeners? The product works by sending a series of impulses to the base of the insect's nervous system, disrupting its functioning and ultimately killing the pest. Thanks to the systemic nature of imidacloprid, which is part of Commander, the substance completely permeates the stem, root, and leaves of the plant. Therefore, the Colorado potato beetle that's intent on damaging the plant will first be completely paralyzed, then die from nervous overstimulation. All this occurs in no more than twenty-four hours.

After spraying, the plants will be actively protected by the product for two to three weeks. It's important to note that potatoes should not be eaten for twenty days after treatment.

Advice! To ensure maximum effectiveness, experts recommend spraying plants in the morning or evening, with the ideal temperature being 20 to 25 degrees Celsius.

The effectiveness of the Commander's actions

There are several advantages of Komandor that are worth noting. The most important of these is its immediate effectiveness. A single application of Komandor solution to a potato field, prepared according to all the standards and regulations clearly described in the instructions, is enough to eliminate Colorado potato beetles for the entire season. The beetle dies within half an hour of exposure, so it only takes 24 hours to completely eliminate the pest infestation.

Of great importance is the unique mechanism of action, to which insects are not adapted, which is the reason for the lack of resistance, something not every drug can boast. Commander's action extends not only to adults, but also to larvae.

Another encouraging fact is that, given the Commander's broad spectrum of action and its effectiveness, the consumption rate can be considered very low.

The product is non-phytotoxic and can be used at any temperature. Even hot weather won't prevent Komandor from reliably protecting young plant shoots, and if the tubers are treated before planting, its root-systemic action will keep the potato leaves completely safe. Potatoes can be treated at any time, regardless of the plant's growing season.

The cost of the Commander

Because the dosage required for effective treatment is considered practically minimal, Commander is recognized not only as an effective but also as a cost-effective pest control method. Twenty milliliters of concentrate costs about ten hryvnias, while a liter of concentrated product costs 335 hryvnias. Commander is sold in specialized stores, markets, and bazaars, and can also be ordered online.

Compatibility with other drugs

Before combining any products, it's important to thoroughly check their compatibility. Komandor can be combined with growth regulators, other insecticides, and even fungicides. However, avoid combining products that are alkaline. To avoid unexpected reactions, it's best to conduct a brief compatibility test before using two or more products simultaneously.

The manufacturer specifically identifies several tank mixes that are recommended. For example, the fungicide "Camelot," the herbicide "Ballerina," the growth stimulant "NanoMineralis," and the foliar fertilizer "MineralisMolybdenum" work well with Komandor.

Of course, it's helpful to read general information about the product, familiarize yourself with its instructions for use, and how it works. However, these days, reviews from those who have already tried it are extremely important when choosing a product. Based on the opinions of those who have used the product, it's safe to say that around 90 percent of reviews are positive. Naturally, achieving a 100% rating is a good thing, but it's practically impossible. Almost everyone praises the effectiveness of Komandor, stating that a single treatment eliminated the beetle for the entire season, but some claim they had to repeat the treatment.

Customer Reviews of the Commander

Zhenya, Moscow

"I bought Komandor for the first time; we'd previously used other products to combat Colorado potato beetles, each with a different one every year. I was pleasantly surprised – I treated the garden once, and the problem was gone until harvest! It's safe to say this is the best product we've tried."

Kristina, Ulyanovsk

"I bought the Komandor product for the first time and treated a small patch of potatoes. The procedure didn't seem to take very long, but my health deteriorated sharply within half an hour of using the Komandor. This hadn't happened before after using other products, so perhaps I should have been more careful with my protective equipment."

Maxim, Ufa

"We've been using Komandor for several years now. We grow large quantities of potatoes for sale, renting a field for this purpose, so it's important that the product is tasty and grows in sufficient quantities. Komandor is effective, but its main advantage is that it doesn't affect the taste or appearance of the potatoes. This is crucial, as there are many products that effectively protect plants, but they can cause the potatoes to grow dry, sour, and lose their natural flavor."

Anton, Sochi

"We were generally satisfied with the product, but we weren't able to get rid of all the Colorado potato beetles at once. After the first treatment, about seventy percent of the pests died, but a week later their numbers had increased again. We then re-treated each leaf, but using a weaker solution, and after a thorough second treatment, we finally managed to completely clear the tops. The pests didn't appear again for the rest of the season."

Thus, it can be said that consumer opinions vary, each seeing their own advantages and disadvantages in the drug, but almost everyone notes the product's effectiveness, its cost-effectiveness, and ease of use.