U.S. Growers Reaping Benefits of Diamond Insecticide

Since it was introduced in 2004, Mana Crop Protection’s Diamond insecticide has helped U.S. cotton growers better manage damaging pests — especially when it is used as an early-season treatment.
According to new information released by MANA Crop Protection, studies completed at Mid-South universities showed a consistent net increase in cotton yields when Diamond was applied for control of plant bugs during the third week of squaring, or first week of bloom.

“Cotton yields showed a positive response when Diamond was applied earlier in the season,” says Keith Miller, insecticide product manager with MANA Crop Protection. “In lab studies where adult plant bugs were directly exposed to Diamond, the chemistry not only reduced egg lay counts but also reduced the hatch count of eggs that were laid by treated female Lygus.”

Diamond is a third generation chitin inhibitor whose unique mode of action interferes with insect growth development. Unlike conventional insecticides that attack the nervous system, Diamond impacts chitin development, which causes the target insect to produce a weakened or malformed exoskeleton. When applied early during the larvae/nymph stage of the life-cycle, Diamond prevents juvenile tarnished plant bugs, clouded plant bugs, armyworms, loopers, cotton leaf perforators and saltmarsh caterpillars from reaching the next stage of growth. And, because Diamond is safe to most beneficial insect species, it is highly compatible with integrated pest management programs.