Re: IMIDACLOPRID UPDATE

I'm new to this whole Giant Pumkin growing business.  Does one have to use
chemicals to have our GP keep gropwing?  I can't bring myself to use
ANY pesticides and herbicides, regardless of how good the marketing is for
these products.  The reasons have been pointed out clearly in the last few
emails I've read here.  I'd rather take my chances with planting flowers
around the garden patch that will attract beneficial insects and such.  Am I
wrong in having this strict organic mindset?
Haydn

--- On Mon, 7/21/08, Stephen Jepsen <ctpumpkin@optonline.net> wrote:

From: Stephen Jepsen <ctpumpkin@optonline.net>
Subject: IMIDACLOPRID UPDATE
To: pumpkins@hort.net
Date: Monday, July 21, 2008, 10:55 AM

***IMIDACLOPRID UPDATE***

I just checked some new toxicity data on Imidacloprid. The tables have
turned.

Here is the latest I can find:

"Imidacloprid is acutely toxic to earthworms with an LD50 of between 2 and
four parts per million in soil.  While extremely low doses of 0.2ppm and
0.5ppm have been shown to cause deformed sperm and DNA damage
respectively."

Acutely doesnt suggest it is more or less toxic than another insecticide.
It refers to the mortality of a single exposure event. Chronic is the
long-term effect. This study didn't include long term exposure presumably
because worms move around & die from many other factors as well (heat,
drought, other chemicals, etc).

Either way, the tables are turning on Bayer who for years has claimed that
Imidacloprid was practically non toxic to worms when used as directed.
Apparently this has not been the case.

As usual toxicity is relevant to timing & rate of exposure.

My apologies for having quoted old data.

Stephen Jepsen
GPC Committee Member

Grow 'Em BIG


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