Battle for the harvest: using the Regent insecticide against the Colorado potato beetle

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Published: 06/22/2019

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The new generation of insecticidal preparations is characterized by a long-lasting and rapid effect, reliability, and ease of use. Regent has proven itself to be excellent in protecting potatoes and other vegetables from the insidious Colorado potato beetle.

• 1 Main characteristics of the insecticide 1.1 Principle of action of the drug
• 1.2 Advantages and disadvantages of the product

Description of the Colorado potato beetle

The Colorado potato beetle is a medium-sized insect (on average 12 x 7 mm). It has a convex oval body of a shiny yellow-orange color, a head with antennae and well-developed membranous wings. There are black spots on the pronotum, and 5 black stripes on each elytra.

The pest is capable of making long flights over long distances, which contributes to the spread of the population.

The insect's lifespan is about a year, but some individuals live up to 3 years. One female Colorado potato beetle lays up to 1000 eggs over the summer, from which 350–700 larvae emerge, which also cause enormous damage to agriculture.

Insects overwinter in the soil at a depth of 30-50 cm. The larvae also burrow into the soil to about 10 cm to form a pupa. Within 20 days, a new individual emerges from it, which can either crawl out or hibernate until spring.

Interesting fact: a female who has managed to mate in the fall can begin laying eggs immediately after diapause (winter dormancy).

Read all about the Colorado potato beetle – what it looks like, what it eats and where it came from in this article.

Colorado beetles reproduce very quickly, live in large colonies, fly from place to place at speeds of up to 8 km/h and are capable of completely destroying the crop of potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants. Since a large amount of toxic substances contained in the tops of nightshade crops accumulate in their bodies, natural enemies prefer to avoid insects.

Storage conditions, expiration date

For storing the drug Regent, no special rules are required. The available temperature range is from 30 to +30 degrees. It is best to store the insecticide in places inaccessible to pets and children.

Please note that the effectiveness of the product is maintained throughout the expiration date indicated on the packaging. The finished solution should not be stored for more than three to four hours, as there is a risk of losing the effectiveness of the substance.

According to reviews on forums, gardeners note the rapid effectiveness of the drug with minimal negative effects on the plant crops themselves.

General description and features of the drug Regent

As the pest spreads, many means of combating it appear: some use a mechanical method, collecting beetles and larvae by hand, others resort to folk methods (20 best ways to fight the Colorado potato beetle with folk and chemical means). But when it comes to industrial crops, the only effective option is a chemical agent.

Regent is a general action insecticide. That is, a chemical pest control agent that poisons the insect directly and through the plant.

On the market you can find the forms of the drug shown in the table:

All forms of release of the Regent product against the Colorado potato beetle and other pests involve the preparation of a working solution, which is subsequently used to treat the affected crops.

Attention! Regent interacts poorly with other drugs, so it is not recommended to use it in combination.

The copyright holder of the trademark is the German company BASF, but Hungary, France and Russia also have a production license.

Prevention

Cleanliness in the apartment is the best way to avoid the reappearance of cockroaches. Daily cleaning, timely elimination of leaks and throwing away garbage are the basics of prevention. Moisture-loving insects need access to water; if they are deprived of it, they will consider the room unsuitable for living.

It is recommended to postpone watering the plants to the daytime, when the Prussians are passive. It is necessary to exclude access to food, especially wet ones. Don't forget that plastic bags are not a barrier for cockroaches.

Source: beetlestop.ru/regent-ot-tarakanov/

Composition and principle of action

The main substance in the drug is fipronil. It is a widely used pesticide whose action is based on strong stimulation of the nervous system of insects. In addition to the Colorado potato beetle and other pests that cause damage to agriculture, it is effective against domestic cockroaches.

Regent enters the pest’s body in 3 ways:

• Through the cover of an insect that has had direct contact with the insecticide.
• The beetle is also capable of spreading poison on its legs and other parts of its body.
• Through the treated plant that the beetle tried.

In both cases, fipronil acts as a poison that blocks receptors that inhibit the nervous system of insects: from the Colorado potato beetle to the wireworm. As a result, the pest dies from paralysis within 12-24 hours.

Compatibility with other substances

The regent cannot be used with other poisons, as the drug will lose its effect. Compatible with fungicides, excluding copper-containing ones. Before preparing the mixture, it is recommended to conduct a compatibility test with the drugs that are mixed.

See also Features of foliar feeding of potatoes

Instructions for use

A regent is a chemical whose use must be very careful. Instructions for preparation and use are included with each package of insecticide, even the smallest one. Before starting work, you should read it carefully.

How to prepare the solution?

Powder or liquid “Regent” is used against the Colorado potato beetle and other pests as a water-based solution:

1. Prepare a suitable container for mixing with water and a spray bottle.
2. Carefully open the ampoule or package.
3. Place a granular or liquid drug into the container, the dose of which is indicated in the table on each package.
4. Add water.
5. Mix the contents thoroughly until completely dissolved.
6. Pour the resulting mixture into a sprayer using a funnel.

If there are too many pests, do not increase the concentration, but reduce the surface to be treated. Those. 1 ampoule of the drug is diluted according to the instructions, but the solution is used not on two acres of land, but on one.

Recommendation: It is recommended not to dilute 1 portion of the insecticide with all the water at once, but to dissolve it in a small amount of liquid and only then bring it to the required standards indicated in the table.

Instructions for use

"Regent 800" is used only on large farms. Due to the high content of the active ingredient, it is impossible to dilute the drug at home in compliance with the recommended proportions.

"Regent 20G" is intended for application to the soil during planting or hilling. A plot of 1 acre will require 50 g of dry preparation. It is also possible to dissolve the granules in water and process them by spraying.

“Regent 25” is used for irrigating nightshade crops at the rate of 1 sachet in 9 liters of water per plot of 2 acres.

The manufacturer recommends diluting Regent 200 in 10 liters of water. One ampoule is enough to treat an area of ​​2 acres by spraying.

After preparing the working solution, they begin processing, which is recommended to be carried out after noticing the first beetle larvae. In this case, a number of conditions must be met:

1. Precautionary measures.
2. The finished solution must be used at a time, because after 10-12 hours its quality is lost.
3. Dry and windless weather.
4. Early morning (before 10) or evening (after 18): the scorching sun can cause burns to plants.
5. No precipitation for 4-6 hours: so that the drug does not wash off.
6. Uniform spraying, including in hard-to-reach places.
7. Strict compliance with the standards for the treated area and crop.
8. Avoid contact with other crops.
9. Hygiene procedures after work: wash your face and hands with soap. It is advisable to take a shower and soak clothes for 2-4 hours before washing.

Attention! The manufacturer allows double treatment of crops with a high concentration of the pest, but the use of Regent is possible no less than a month before harvest.

Analogs

If you are not afraid to use Regent 800 due to increased toxicity, study the anti-cockroach properties of similar products. More effective drugs include:

• Raptor;

• Raid;

• boric acid;

• Dichlorvos;

• Combat;

• Globall;

• Mashenka;

• Cucaracha;

• Clean house;

• Dohlox-gel.

Basically, all drugs work on one active substance included in the composition. Before purchasing, study information about the effect of the drug on forums or ask friends for advice.

Regent 800 is a substance that guarantees the complete extermination of cockroaches from the apartment. It is available and very cheap. Before use and during treatment of the premises, be sure to follow safety precautions. After spraying, wash the room thoroughly. Do not allow poison to come into contact with children and pets. By following all the recommendations described above, you will get rid of pests forever.

Effect on the human body and precautions

The main active ingredient Fipronil is an ecotoxicant and is dangerous for many species of fish, aquatic invertebrates and crustaceans. And also for Galliformes, rabbits and some species of lizards. Regent is a real poison against the Colorado potato beetle and a number of other pests. It should not be used near apiaries, as it forces bee colonies to leave the hive and leads to the death of insects.

Despite this, the drug is not phytotoxic and is safe for the plant. It is also not dangerous for humans if you use it according to the instructions and follow the following precautions:

1. Use a respirator, goggles and long sleeves, in other words, protect the skin and mucous membranes.
2. If Regent gets into your eyes or skin, rinse thoroughly with water.
3. Do not drink, smoke or eat while working with the insecticide.
4. After completing all manipulations, take a shower, soak and wash all clothes.
5. Do not apply treatment later than a month before harvest.
6. Do not leave in a place visible and accessible to children.

Attention! Regent has a minimal level of toxicity, but if safety rules are violated, it can lead to poisoning by eating processed vegetables.

Security measures

Be sure to follow safety precautions. The poison is dangerous to humans and can cause poisoning if it gets into:

• on the skin;
• into the respiratory tract;
• into the digestive system;
• into the blood through wounds and scratches.

To protect yourself from the negative effects of poison vapors, when preparing the solution and spraying the room, follow these steps:

1. Wear clothing that completely covers your body. Ideally, a special thick suit or robe.
2. Wear rubber gloves on your hands.
3. Put a protective mask on your face. It is better if it is a respirator, so the vapors will definitely not get into the respiratory system.
4. Cover your eyes with safety glasses.
5. After treatment, wash your hands and face well, rinse your mouth with soda solution.

How does Regent affect pets and people?

It is prohibited to use the product and contact with treated areas:

• pregnant and lactating women;
• people suffering from allergies or asthma;
• children and pets.

If the drug does get on your skin, wash it off immediately with water. If you feel unwell or experience the first symptoms of poisoning, call an ambulance immediately. If you are poisoned by vapors, you may feel:

• nausea;
• weakness;
• dizziness;
• abdominal pain.

With a more severe infection, a person may even faint.

Animals with poisoning experience similar symptoms.

Advantages and disadvantages

Regent is one of the newest 5th generation drugs to which the Colorado potato beetle has not yet developed immunity. Other advantages of the insecticide include:

1. High safety for humans and animals.
2. High temperature resistance.
3. Elimination of insects at any stage of their development, including larvae.
4. Economical consumption.
5. Easy to prepare and use.
6. High efficiency and speed of action: destroys all adult Colorado potato beetles within 24 hours. 2 treatments per season are enough.
7. Long-lasting action: works even after 3 weeks.
8. Contact and intestinal effects.
9. Low market value.
10. No pungent odor.
11. No marks on clothes.

The Regent has only one drawback. This is still not a natural drug, but a chemical one.

Difference from other toxic agents

Regent differs from other means for exterminating cockroaches in its 100% effectiveness, availability and ease of use. The main features that are superior to the effects of other brands of poisons:

• penetrates the cockroach’s body in several ways, due to which a larger number of individuals become infected;
• the effectiveness of the product does not depend on external factors, changes in temperature, light or air humidity;
• does not cause addiction in insects.

Advantages

According to reviews, “Regent” for cockroaches in ampoules and powder is purchased by many owners. Often the product is purchased by apartment residents. The popularity of the drug is due to the presence of many advantages:

1. Excellent efficiency.
2. Active influence on pests.
3. Destruction of a population due to combined effects.
4. Convenient packaging.
5. No smell.
6. Affordable price.
7. Cost-effective: 1 ampoule or sachet is enough to perform the procedure in one medium-sized apartment.
8. Ease of creating a solution.
9. After spraying, there will be no stains on the floor or furniture.
10. The procedure can be performed after preparing the composition.
11. Can be used to treat rooms of different sizes.

Dosage

To destroy agricultural pests, you need to follow the instructions for using “Regent”:

1. Colorado potato beetle (potatoes during the growing season). To prepare the mixture, you need to dilute 5 grams of the substance in a liter. 4 liters are consumed per hectare.
2. Bread ground beetle (wheat during the germination period). To create poison, you need to dilute 30 grams of the active substance in a liter. Consumption is about 2 liters per hectare.
3. Bug bug (wheat in milky ripeness). To form the mixture, 8 grams of the active substance must be diluted per liter. The consumption of the prepared preparation is 4 liters per hectare.
4. Pijavitsa (wheat, barley during the growing season). To create the mixture, you need to add 10 grams of poison per liter. For treatment, it is enough to spray 2-4 liters per hectare.

Minuses

But as buyers confirm, the product also has disadvantages. The drug has class 2 toxicity, so it must be handled with care. And this applies to powder and emulsion. During disinfection, people must leave the premises.

Disadvantages include long-term destruction of pest populations. This does not happen instantly, but over several days. During this time, the cockroaches should receive the dose and die.