New insecticide ready to control piercing, sucking pests

PQZ insecticide from Nichino America Inc. has been granted a U.S. EPA label expansion for food crop use, the company announced today. PQZ is a new insecticide for control of piercing and sucking insect pests in many perennial and annual agronomic crops including those insects resistant to standard chemistries.

Pyrifluquinazon, the active ingredient in PQZ, is effective on nymphs and adults of target insects and is highly effective in preventing transmission of plant viruses. The rapid cessation of feeding by treated insects, strong residual activity, and translaminar properties provided by PQZ allows immediate and long-lasting protection against insect pests and the viruses they transmit.

PQZ has demonstrated selectivity to beneficial insects and has a favorable environmental profile, making it an excellent fit for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices. The product has been classified by IRAC as a Chordotonal Organ TRPV Channel Modulator (Subgroup 9B).

PQZ is a foliar insecticide that exhibits translaminar movement, providing control of insects feeding on both sides of the leaf surface. It is registered for control of aphids, citrus thrips, leafhoppers, mealybugs, and whiteflies on brassica head and stem vegetables; citrus fruits; cotton; cucurbit, fruiting, leaf petiole, leafy, and tuberous and corm vegetables; grapes; pome and stone fruits; and tree nuts.

“This new active ingredient broadens the company’s portfolio of novel chemistries for protection of specialty crops,” said Ian Wildey, director of marketing for Nichino America. “We are excited to add a proprietary insecticide to our product lineup and to offer growers an excellent rotational tool for their resistance management spray programs,” Wildey said.