Systemic insecticides are substances that are absorbed by the roots, bark or leaves into the tissue of a plant and kill or repel insects that feed upon it. These insecticides translocate or move through all plant parts, so the entire plant is protected from the attack of insects. These products have a long term control since once they are absorbed, are not exposed to the rain, irrigation, sunlight which are factors that diminish the persistence of conventional insecticides.

Recent insect losses workshops and insecticide usage surveys done by the University of Arizona show that these products are an important tool in our vegetable IPM programs (to see the 2005-2010 lettuce survey results click here). Therefore the efficacy of new systemic insecticides and different rates are been evaluated to increase our arsenal for combating our current pest complex. Below you will find a video demonstration of an evaluation of systemic insecticides conducted by Dr. John Palumbo at the Yuma Agriculture Center.

To contact Marco Peña go to: marcop@ag.arizona.edu

For questions or comments on any of the topics please contact Marco Pena at the Yuma Agricultural Center.
College of Agriculture, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ.