Toxicity of Imidacloprid

[Jerry@TreeZoo]

On another forum that I sometimes participate in, a poster noted that he (she?) was eating the fruit from his citrus tree after treating it with Imidacloprid (Bayer's Systemic). Without consulting the label, as I don't have one handy, I always thought that edible plants and plant parts should never be treated with a systemic. I cautioned the poster about eating the fruit. Subsequently, another poster stated that Imidacloprid is harmless to humans and most greens and many fruit are routinely treated with it. Huh? I never heard of that but thought I would ask here for opinions.

Whaday'all fink?

Tanx,

Jerry

Edited October 26, 2008 by Jerry@TreeZoo

[fiji jim]

Hi Jerry,

Here we have a product manufactured in Singapore that contains 20% Imidacloprid.

We only use in on our palms and ornamentals. We only use Neem oil on our vegetables.

On the bottle it states the various withholding periods. Depending on the suggested strength for the various usage the periods are from 10 to 21 days.

The label also has the usual warnings about precautions when mixing and applying.

Definitely a toxic substance.

Jim

[Jerry@TreeZoo]

Thanks Jim,

Depending on the rate applied, imidacloprid lasts up to 12 months for sucking insects.

Jerry

[SubTropicRay]

The label for the Bayer product I use says no for fruit and vegetable plant applications.

[fastfeat]

Rulle of thumb is if it (--cide) gets translocated in the plant, it's not for use on edibles. I'm sure some have lived to tell about their whitefly-free tomatoes drenched in Merit, but I'll believe it when he/she has a few seasons' under his/her belt.

[George Sparkman]

Imidacloprid is used on food crops much more then one would think (or hope for).The information below is Bayer company info.

At least we all should have less fleas & ticks.

Happy growing,

George Sparkman

Cycads-n-Palms.com

Imidacloprid

( Admire®, Confidor®, Connect®, Evidence®, Leverage®, Muralla®, Provado®, Trimax® )

Product Category

Foliar and soil insecticide

please see also..

Mode of Action

Nicotine Acetylcholine receptor agonist / antagonist

Crops

Citrus, coffee, cotton, fruits, grapes, potatoes, rice, soybeans, sugarcane, tobacco and vegetables.

Please follow the local approved product label before use. If you have any further questions please contact your local country organization of Bayer CropScience (find top right).

Bei Anwendung der Produkte beachten Sie bitte die lokalen Anwendungsbestimmungen. Bei Fragen wenden Sie sich bitte an die lokale Landesorganisation von Bayer CropScience (siehe rechts oben).

Registrations in (status 2007)

In more than 100 countries worldwide such as Brazil, Canada, Europe, India, Japan, Korea, Mexico and USA.

[palmmermaid]

I recently read something about a nicotine based -cide and it's long term effects on humans eating things sprayed with it. I think it was in a magazine. Anyway, the article indicated that it was sprayed on seeds and was still potent enough in the adult plant to cause harm to anything that ate it.

One other reason to only buy organic fruits and vegetables - or grow your own!

And I don't trust anything those chemical companies tell ya! Monsanto, ConAgra, and Dow scare the bejeezus out of me!

[tipper55]

It's definitely one of the most common food crop pesticides around, tomato growers would have half their yield without it. The last time I bought a new citrus tree, it was tagged with something to the effect "treated with Imidacloprid as required by Florida".

The reason it is "safe" and gets far beyond my full understanding is; something about the way the plant uptakes it from the soil that it is only distributed through the leaves and not into the flowers. It's the reason why hibiscus growers say it won't work for gall midge and the reason why naysayers feel it does not affect the bee population.

I know we have been "feeding" it to our dogs and cats for many years now, apparently with no ill effects.