Colorado potato beetle repellent "Sonnet": instructions for use, reviews

Fertilizers and preparations

Gray beetles with yellow stripes on their backs have become a nuisance all over the world. The Colorado potato beetle is a nuisance, from the larvae to the adult stage. Their voracity ruins potato fields on an industrial scale. The pest consumes the entire plant, completely destroying crop fields. The insect's reproduction is astonishingly rapid and widespread. It's important to take timely measures to avoid losing a harvest. There are folk remedies, which are certainly safe but not very effective. There are also chemical products, with a wide range and variety of choices. Among them, the "Sonnet" remedy for the Colorado potato beetle stands out, but it's worth noting that there are many different options, and each gardener or homeowner chooses one at their own discretion, based on their own or their neighbors' experience.

Garden pests can cause significant damage in vegetable gardens and ruin crops in garden beds. However, modern industry has developed effective means for eliminating various pests, including the Colorado potato beetle. The not-so-new "Sonnet" insecticide for Colorado potato beetles has been the market leader in the insecticide niche for several years. This product is considered safe and harmless to humans, pets, and bees. Furthermore, when applied to potato fields, the product does not penetrate the tubers. "Sonnet" is approved for use on plantations where potatoes are grown specifically for baby food and dietary nutrition.

Sonnet is highly effective against Colorado potato beetles at various stages of their development: adults, larvae, and egg clutches. However, adult female beetles, having consumed Sonnet, do not produce offspring. Even the laid egg clutches simply dry out, failing to mature into new offspring. Consequently, the entire colony dies.

Description, instructions for use

Sonnet is based on the toxic substance hexaflumuron, which kills pests. The product is extremely economical to use: manufacturers package the liquid in ampoules for ease of use. To treat a 100 m² field, simply dilute one 2 ml ampoule in a bucket of water. The product works by inhibiting the formation of the larval chitinous shell. This prevents both eggs and larvae from developing, and the life cycle of many insects is terminated before they reach adulthood. All the detailed information about the product is provided in the instructions for Sonnet against Colorado potato beetles. It states that adult females eat foliage sprayed with Sonnet, but they do not die and are unable to lay eggs.

Even if a female lays a clutch of eggs when the chitinous layer is destroyed, her eggs will be nonviable and will not produce offspring. Despite rain and field irrigation, Sonnet remains effective for up to 40 days. Furthermore, the manufacturers claim that insects do not develop a tolerance to the product, so they recommend continuous use.

Description of the Colorado potato beetle repellent "Sonnet"

Sonet is a safe and effective poison for Colorado potato beetles. It has a unique mechanism of action. After treatment, the larvae are unable to feed, so they die when Sonet blocks their growth and the development of their chitinous film. The product's maximum effect is achieved 3-5 days after treatment and lasts for a month. Its main characteristic is reliable protection of potatoes in both rain and heat. One treatment per season is sufficient.

Environmental characteristics:

absence of phytotoxicity;
the pesticide does not suppress the growth and development of potatoes;
tests were carried out according to consumption standards;
alternation with insecticides of a different chemical formula does not affect the stability of Sonnet.

The product is available in 10 ml bottles and 2 ml ampoules. The manufacturer's suggested dosage allows gardeners to vary the preparation of the working solution for potato pollination depending on the expected scope of work and the size of the potato field.

Attention! Although not considered a chemical, Sonet should be kept out of the reach of children, who might be tempted to play with the glass ampoules. Keeping children out of reach is an important rule.

Composition and principle of action

The composition of "Sonnet" is very simple: it contains 100% of the toxic chemical hexaflumuron. It doesn't actually kill the beetle, but only destroys its chitinous shell, rendering it inviable. Its unique mechanism of action effectively terminates the life cycle of an entire colony of insects. This effect is the same for adults, whose lower abdomen is covered with a chitinous film, and whose wings are composed entirely of chitin. The product also affects larvae, whose shell is composed entirely of chitin. The dissolved chitin makes the beetle soft-bodied and inviable, which is what kills them.

The effectiveness of the product depends on the time of application to the potato field. It's best to apply the product in the evening, so that the leaves and stems of the potato plants have time to absorb the chemical during the cool night air. Experienced gardeners report that Sonet is a truly effective and reliable remedy for Colorado potato beetles.

Its effectiveness lies in:

unique composition;
spectrum of action from egg to adult;
safe use;
long-term protection from pests;
protection of potatoes in the early stages of shoot growth;
long-lasting action of the drug;
protecting plants from pests at all stages of their life cycle.

Chemical products that could be considered analogs of Sonet are produced by different chemical plants. However, they all have different active ingredients. Nevertheless, they are equally effective in controlling Colorado potato beetles. These products include Confidor, Regent, Komandor, Killer, Palach, Napoval, and Karbofos. All of these, like Sonet, are chemical products. They are produced in different forms—powder, granules, and liquid. However, all manufacturers ensure that gardeners can easily dose the product and prepare the required effective working solutions.

The right to choose! There are plenty of products available to combat Colorado potato beetles, including chemical and biological ones. Each gardener chooses their own product based on their experience using similar products.

Instructions

When using chemicals to control Colorado potato beetles, it's important to follow the instructions. They explain how to properly prepare the solution and what precautions to take when handling chemicals. They also provide preventative measures to minimize chemical use in your garden. It's recommended to spray potatoes before they bloom to prevent the chemical toxin from reaching the tubers.

To avoid harm from using Sonet, carefully read the instructions. Recommended crops: potatoes, tomatoes. Insects controlled: Colorado potato beetle, potato ladybird. Chemical properties: The main active ingredient is hexaflumuron.

Rules for preparing the working solution:

dilute the ampoule of the drug in a small amount of water;
bring the volume to 10 liters;
use protective equipment;
cultivate the beds.

Manufacturers recommend using 2 ml of the product per 10 liters of water. Depending on the size of established but not flowering plants, use 10 liters of the working solution per 100 square meters of field. For effective control of beetles, spray the plants with a fresh, diluted solution, ensuring the aqueous solution evenly wets the surface of the potato plants. It is recommended to spray at temperatures between 12°C and 25°C.

Important! Manufacturers do not recommend that owners of private farms combine Sonet with other chemical or biological preparations.

Security measures

The instructions for using the product "Sonnet" indicate the need to observe personal protective measures when working in the garden or at home. It is recommended to cover the eyes with goggles and at a minimum, cover the respiratory tract with moistened, multi-layer gauze masks. Wear full-body clothing and latex or vinyl gloves. Working with chemicals against Colorado potato beetles requires following safety precautions.

While spraying the substance, it is not recommended to stop for a smoke break or drink, even if it is very hot. After spraying the potatoes, wash your hands and face with soap. These precautions must be taken for your own safety.

Furthermore, it is necessary to take all possible environmental protection measures. It is not recommended to use Sonet or similar products containing the same active ingredient if your field or garden is located in close proximity to natural or artificial bodies of water. If these chemicals enter the water, they can negatively affect fish, causing unexpected mutations or life cycle interruptions.

Waste disposal! Any remaining working solution must be disposed of, which is easy to do, as hexaflumuron loses its potency over time. Simply pour the remaining solution down an outdoor toilet or dig a deep pit away from your garden or vegetable patch.

Reviews

Insecticides recommended for killing Colorado potato beetles sometimes fail to produce the desired results. The pests survive and continue to destroy crops. Therefore, "Sonnet," to which beetles do not develop a tolerance, is essential. This is the main reason cited in reviews of the Colorado potato beetle control product, "Sonnet." Colorado potato beetles naturally adapt quickly to the most common insecticides. However, "Sonnet" prevents them from producing offspring, interrupting the insect's life cycle at several stages simultaneously.

Lyudmila:

"We have a large family and grow a lot of potatoes, but fighting Colorado potato beetles is becoming a real disaster. We unexpectedly found a solution at the market, where a salesperson explained how one of the products works. It's not that new, we just hadn't paid attention to it before. We've been using Sonet for three seasons now, and our neighbors have been recommended it, so it seems like everyone around our dacha is using it."

Ivan:

"I'm an agronomist at a farm. Our soil is rich in black earth, and our potatoes produce excellent yields. We were offered to supply potatoes to a baby food company. But they required us to use the product Sonet. We hadn't used it before and were a little hesitant. But the very first pollination amazed us – how much the beetles had changed. We study them in the lab, testing the effectiveness of the products. We produced excellent potatoes for the children in our very first season, which was confirmed by the baby food company's lab."