Altacor is registered for use in Wisconsin on pome fruits, including apple, crabapple, pear, and quince as well as stone fruits, including apricot, sweet and tart cherry, nectarine, peach, and plum. It was first registered around 2008 so you may have some experience with it. It is marketed by Dupont® under the formulation 35WG (35% of active ingredient as Water dispersible Granules). Altacor is in the class of the anthranilic diamides with a different mode of action acting on the insect ryanodine receptors in the muscles, causing an uncontrolled release of calcium in the cells. Altacor contains the active ingredient Rynaxypyr also known as chlorantraniliprole. Altacor is most effective through ingestion of treated plants but also has contact activity.  Affected insects will rapidly stop feeding, become paralyzed and eventually die within 1-3 days. Applications should be timed to the most susceptible insect stage, typically egg hatch and/or newly hatched larvae. Apply at or before egg deposition for best results.

Altacor is registered for control of green fruitworm, spotted tentiform leafminer, codling moth, eastern sawfly, European corn borer, oblique banded leafroller, oriental fruit moth, red banded leafroller, tufted apple bud moth, variegated leafroller, omnivorous leafrollers, peach twig borer, and katydid (nymphs).

In our previous trials conducted at the Peninsular Research Station in 2014, Altacor showed good activity against green fruitworm and codling moth 1^st and 2^nd generations. Damage from other insect pests were not assessed or the insects were not present in the plot tested.

Altacor may be applied by ground equipment, overhead chemigation, and by air (see label for specific application regulations). For ground applications, use a minimum of 30 gallons per acre and do not apply dilute applications of more than 200 gal water per acre. Apply 100-150 gal water per acre for best results.

A chemical is considered toxic to bees if its toxicity (measured as the LD50 or Lethal Dose required to kill 50% of the test population) is below 11 μg/bee. Altacor has an LD50 of 119μg/bee, thus it is not considered toxic to bees. While Altacor is safe to spray during bloom, as a general rule, avoid spraying pesticides when bees are actively foraging and concentrate your spraying earlier or better later in the day.

Altacor is toxic to aquatic invertebrates and must not be applied directly to water.

As always, make sure to read the label before using any pesticide. You can find the label of Altacor at the following link: www.agrian.com/pdfs/DuPont_Altacor_Insect_Control_Label1z.pdf

This article was posted in Insects, WFN, Vol. 1-4 and tagged Altacor, Christelle Guédot, Insecticides, insects, reduced risk.