Thiamethoxam 70% WS Insecticide Uses

Thiamethoxam 70% WS is a neonicotinoid insecticide registered for use in India under the Insecticides Act, 1968, formulated as a water-dispersible powder for slurry seed treatment (WS). It is used as a seed dresser at the time of sowing and is registered for early-season aphids, thrips, whitefly and jassids in cotton; aphids and jassids in okra; aphids and thrips in tomato; jassids and thrips in sunflower; termite and aphids in wheat; shoot fly and aphids in maize; and thrips and green leafhopper in rice. This page lists its mode of action, key benefits and the recommended dosage as per the Central Insecticides Board & Registration Committee (CIB&RC) official list of approved insecticide uses (Government of India).

Which Problem Is This For? (Symptom Guide)

Not sure whether the damage in your field matches this insecticide's use case? This guide helps match what you see in the field to this insecticide's approved crop-wise uses.

Mode of Action

Thiamethoxam is a neonicotinoid insecticide (IRAC Group 4A — nicotinic acetylcholine receptor competitive modulators). It binds to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the insect's nervous system, causing continuous nerve stimulation; the pest stops feeding, becomes paralysed and dies. When applied to seed, it is taken up by the germinating seed and young roots and moves upward in the plant (systemic action), so sucking and soil insects that feed on the young seedling are exposed during the early growth stage.

Features & Benefits

• Applied on the seed before sowing — protects the crop from early-season sucking pests and soil pests without a foliar spray at the seedling stage.
• Systemic: moves from the seed into the roots, stem and young leaves of the seedling.
• Registered on seven crops: cotton, okra, tomato, sunflower, wheat, maize and rice.
• Small quantities of product are used on the seed itself, which reduces the amount of insecticide sprayed in the open field at the seedling stage.

Recommended Usage of Thiamethoxam 70% WS Insecticide

The table below gives the seed-treatment dose exactly as listed by CIB&RC for this seed dresser — see the note below the table for details. Because this is a seed treatment, there is no spray water volume and the dose is not converted to a per-acre figure. Always confirm against the current product label before use.

*CIB&RC lists this product as a seed dresser "used at the time of sowing" and gives the dose only as grams of active ingredient / grams of formulation, without stating in that entry the quantity of seed the figure applies to: cotton 300 / 430 g; okra 200 / 286 g; tomato 420 / 600 g; sunflower 280 / 400 g; wheat 121 / 175 g; maize 245 / 350 g; rice 105 / 150 g. No dilution water volume or waiting period is listed. Because the seed-quantity basis is not stated, these figures are shown as given and have not been converted to a per-acre or per-kg-of-seed rate. Always confirm the exact grams per kg of seed on your specific product's label before use.

How to Use

1. Identify the crop and target pest from the tables above, and confirm the per-kg-of-seed rate on your product's label.
2. Weigh the seed to be sown and measure the product for that quantity of seed as per the label.
3. Mix the measured product with a small quantity of water to make a smooth slurry (follow the label for the slurry volume).
4. Spread the seed on a clean plastic sheet or put it in a seed-treating drum, add the slurry and mix thoroughly until every seed is evenly coated.
5. Dry the treated seed in the shade and sow it on the same day or as advised on the label; do not keep treated seed for long.

Precautions & Safety

• Wear gloves, a mask and full-sleeved clothing while treating seed, and do not handle treated seed with bare hands.
• Follow the recommended dose strictly; do not mix with other products unless specifically recommended on the label.
• CIB&RC does not state a waiting period (PHI) for this seed-treatment use — follow the waiting period, if any, given on the current product label.
• Never use treated seed for food, feed or oil extraction, and keep it away from birds, poultry and livestock; bury or destroy leftover treated seed safely.
• Thiamethoxam is highly toxic to honeybees — do not leave treated seed or dust exposed on the soil surface, and avoid dust drift during sowing.
• Do not wash seed-treatment equipment or containers in ponds, streams or drinking-water sources.
• Store in the original, tightly closed container in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, food and feed, and out of reach of children and livestock.
• Wash hands, face and any exposed skin thoroughly with soap and water after treating seed, and change out of contaminated clothing before eating, drinking or smoking.

Brand names mentioned on this page are registered trademarks of their respective owners and are referenced here for identification purposes only; FarmMate is not affiliated with or endorsed by these brands. This page is for general information only — always consult your local agricultural extension office and confirm the current product label before use.