Re: Imidacloprid

I've never heard of imidacloprid, Rufino.  Is it sold under a brand name?
Do you know of a source for it?
I occasionally have a few brown scales - the kind that look like a tiny
turtle shell - on my Platys.  I can wash most of the adults away but am
never sure that I've gotten all the babies.

TIA
Donna McGraw
Houston where it's a little frosty at the moment


Rufino writes:

> Send a sample of the scale to your state agricultural department for
> exact identification and then research the availability of biological
> controls available for that particular species of scale. Or use an
> extremely low toxicity insecticide such as imidacloprid (it is extremely
> effective against scales, aphids, whiteflies and mealy bugs, including
> the dreaded root mealy bugs that do so much damage below ground, but its
> mode of action is such that it is essentially non-toxic to mammals,
> including, of course, human beings since human beings are mammals). If
> you are put off by chemicals, bear in mind that imidacloprid is
> chemically similar to nicotine, a "natural" plant toxin. However, it has
> two big differences from nicotine: (1) it is far more toxic to insects
> than nicotine and (2) it is far less toxic to mammals than nicotine.

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