Australian tree crop growers are set to benefit from stronger and more sustainable pest control, with the launch of Sivanto prime – a new insecticide from Bayer.

Having been developed globally in a wide variety of fruit and vegetable crops, Sivanto prime has shown excellent performance on a broad spectrum of damaging sucking pests, says Bayer grower marketing lead: horticulture, Anthony De Monte.

Importantly, the product introduces a new chemical class – butenolide (Group 4D) – into key pest management programs, such as for spotting bug and other common tree crop pests. “Introducing innovative and selective insecticide classes such as this is critical for sustainable pest management,” Mr De Monte said.

Sivanto prime offers advantages over existing management options by offering rapid protection, flexibility for use over flowering and a good level of beneficial species safety.

Mr De Monte said it is exciting to be bringing such an innovative insecticide to market, after it has been proven by over a decade of field research in Australia.

“With the registration of Sivanto prime in avocados, mangoes and papaya for control of fruit spotting bugs and planthoppers, growers will have an innovative and selective insecticide class to support sustainable pest management.”

After being proven through extensive field research in Australia, he says Sivanto prime has shown excellent performance on a wide spectrum of damaging sucking pests, including fruit spotting bugs, banana spotting bugs, lace bugs, aphids, whiteflies, planthoppers and for the suppression of scirtothrips.

“The product acts fast and selectively, meeting the needs in most cases of a beneficial species-safe insecticide and diverse environmental safety requirements in a range of crops,” Mr De Monte said.

Business development manager for Bayer in Queensland, Tim O’Grady, believes Sivanto prime is a game-changer in orchard pest management, with its ability to work fast, but in a targeted way, which he says is good news for preserving beneficial insects.

“Fruit spotting bugs are controlled quickly by direct contact, however the majority of important beneficial insects like predatory mites, lacewings, hoverflies, parasitoids and lady bird beetles remain untouched,” Mr O’Grady said.

“This makes the product ideal for use early in the season, especially given the unique level of safety to European honeybees and Australian native bees. It also helps meet the demand for a quality pack-out, without disrupting the whole orchard system.”

Sivanto prime shows low toxicity to Australian native stingless bees (Tetragonula spp. and Austroplebeia spp.) and European honeybees (Apis mellifera) when used as directed and can be safely applied during the period of crop flowering.

Mr O’Grady said the use of Sivanto prime may result in transient effects on bee behaviour but is not expected to affect the performance of bee colonies or solitary bees. However, under good agricultural practice, it is recommended not to apply Sivanto prime or any other insecticides at times when bees are actively foraging.

Sivanto prime is expected to be launched into macadamias, and other crop label extensions are expected to follow later in 2022.