The same way you have a food chain in an animal eco-system is the same with a plant eco-system. Some insects and pests can cause serious damage to the plants while others the plants can’t do without.
So the avid broad-spectrum insecticide helps to destroy all the predators in the plant ecosystem.
Most gardeners use avid, but you need to know how to use it, where to apply it, and when to use it. This way you can use this insecticide to prevent insects from destroying your plants and still have good soil for a great harvest.
But how long does avid stay in your plants? First of all, you shouldn’t apply avid on edible plants by itself. You have to mix it with an all-purpose spraying oil so it doesn’t absorb into your plants. Once it penetrates the plant’s surface, the chemicals in the insecticide will stay active in the plant tissue for 60 days that’s why it’s not the best to use on edible plants.
What is Avid insecticide?
Avid 0.15 EC is a group 6 insecticide that is used to get rid of mites that invade veggies like tomatoes and capsicum and fruit plants like pears, strawberries, citrus, and apples. Cotton farmers also use it to get rid of budworm.
Avid insecticide is also effective in controlling leaf miners and suppressing aphids, whiteflies, and thrips, on ornamentals.
Avid is best applied to young plants and when the mites are in their egg or larva stage so you have to be keen with the timing.
Once the mites become fully grown, you’ll have to mix avid with floramite to get the best results.
Avid contains 0.15% abamectin which is the active ingredient in the EC formulation that is said to be the best insecticide and miticide for controlling spider mites, leaf miners, and russet mites that invade your tomato plants and also suppress the activity of other pests like aphids and whiteflies.
How does Avid insecticide work?
Avid contains abamectin which is a nerve poison that affects the insect’s nerves. This compound also contains 2 different ingredients that include avermectin B1a and B1b that are formed from soil bacteria. Once you’ve sprayed Avid on your plants, it gets absorbed into the leaf tissue of the plants.
When the insects and pests eat the avid residue or get in contact with the leaves, the chemical gets into their nerve receptors which causes paralysis. This means the pests won’t feed on your plants and they die after a day or two.
The avid residue forms a long-lasting residual effect in the insects and pests damaging your plants. The fact that the insecticide stays in your plant’s leave tissue for 60 days means any insects or mites that land on the leaves to feed on them during this time will die on contact.
This reduces the frequency of spraying your plants which makes it economical.
How to apply Avid on your plants
Avid is a concentrated liquid insecticide that is packed in bottles of 1 or 5 liters and depending on the area you need to cover, you can either use a backpack sprayer or a handheld spray bottle.
However, before you spray Avid you need to dilute it with water as per the instructions on the bottle. T
his is the most important stage because it will determine the effectiveness of the insecticide. If you dilute it too much, it will become less effective or not effective at all, and if it’s too concentrated, it can scorch the leaves or destroy your plants.
You also need to know that different plants require different concentrations like ornamental plants will require about 25-50 ml of avid mixed with 100 liters of water, but apples will need 37.5 ml of avid mixed with 100 liters of water and 500 ml of all-purpose spray oil.
You’ll also need to wear protective gear when applying avid including a full-face gas mask, chemical resistant gloves, gumboots, and a chemical-resistant coverall with hood.
If not handled properly, avid can cause skin irritation and respiratory problems.
Advantages of using Avid insecticide
- It’s an odorless insecticide
- You can easily apply it using regular equipment
- It doesn’t leave any residue on your plant’s leaves
- Ideal for rotation in resistant management because of its unique chemical composition and mode of action
- Prevents damage to your plants
- It’s rain-fast within a few hours of application
- Optimized for the highest level of crop tolerance
Side effects of using Avid
Just like any other chemical, you need to be careful when handling Avid and keep it out of reach of your children. Avid can cause some adverse effects if you inhale, ingest, or when it gets in contact with your skin.
It’s a flammable chemical so you shouldn’t store it near fire or a heat source.
- Prolonged exposure can affect your respiratory system
- If exposed to open flame or sparks from an electric connection, it can a fire
- If in contact with your skin, it can cause an allergic reaction
- Prolonged and repeated exposure can cause damage to your internal organs
- If ingested of inhaled in large quantities by a pregnant woman, it can harm the unborn child
In case of a fire breakout, the best way to contain the avid fumes is to use a fire extinguisher that contains carbon dioxide, form, or a dry chemical-based.
If you experience the other side effects, you should seek immediate medical attention.
Types of broad-spectrum pesticides
These are pesticides that kill a variety of organisms including some beneficial and the targeted pests.
Type of pesticide | Used for | Kills |
Oxamyl | Veggies, ornamentals, crops, and fruits | Roundworms, insects, ticks, mites |
Carbaryl | Cotton, fruits, veggies, and other crops | All insects |
Terbacil | Pecans, sugarcane, mints, apples, alfalfa | Weeds and perennial grasses |
Conclusion
Most gardeners use Avid insecticide because it’s strong and effective ad it also doesn’t burn or stain the foliar part of your plants.
However, if you’re using it on edible plants, you should use it alongside an all-purpose oil to reduce its absorption into your plants.
FAQ
Does Avid kill mite eggs?
Mites have 4 stages and a miticide can kill mites at any stage. Avid is a very effective and long-lasting miticide that will kill mites in their egg, larvae, or adult stages.
How often can I spray Avid?
You should spray Avid 0.15 EC when mites first appear and repeat when necessary.
Also read
How Long Can You Store Rainwater For Plants?
How to Get Rid of Worms in Potted Plants ( Easy Method )
References
https://assets.syngenta.ca/pdf/ca/labels/AVID_1.9_EC_24485_en_pamphlet.pdf
https://www3.epa.gov/pesticides/chem_search/ppls/000100-00896-20050408.pdf
