Acetamiprid 20% SP Insecticide Uses

Acetamiprid 20% SP is a neonicotinoid insecticide (IRAC Group 4A), registered for use in India under the Insecticides Act, 1968, formulated as a soluble powder (SP). It is used as a foliar spray against sucking pests such as aphids, jassids, whiteflies, thrips and plant hoppers in field crops including cotton, vegetables and paddy. This page lists its mode of action, key benefits and the complete crop-wise recommended dosage as per the Central Insecticides Board & Registration Committee's (CIB&RC) official list of approved insecticide uses.

Which Problem Is This For? (Symptom Guide)

Not sure whether what you're seeing in the field matches this insecticide's use case? This guide helps match pest damage symptoms to insecticides sold under brand names including Dhanpreet (Dhanuka).

Mode of Action

Acetamiprid belongs to the neonicotinoid class of insecticides (IRAC Group 4A, nicotinic acetylcholine receptor competitive modulators). It works by binding to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the insect's nervous system, causing continuous, uncontrolled nerve stimulation that leads to paralysis and death. Acetamiprid is systemic and translaminar, meaning it is absorbed into leaf tissue and moves within the plant, giving it good activity against sucking pests such as aphids, jassids, whiteflies and thrips even where spray coverage is not perfectly uniform, as well as reaching hidden sucking pests on the underside of leaves. It has relatively fast knockdown action and also has some ovicidal (egg-killing) and larvicidal activity against certain pests.

Features & Benefits

• Systemic and translaminar action gives protection against sucking pests hiding on the underside of leaves, where spray coverage is often incomplete.
• Broad activity against the key sucking-pest complex of aphids, jassids, whiteflies, thrips and plant hoppers across multiple crops.
• Fast-acting with relatively quick knockdown of target pests after application.
• Soluble powder (SP) formulation that dissolves readily in water for uniform tank application.

Recommended Usage of Acetamiprid 20% SP Insecticide

The table below gives the recommended dose and water volume per acre for each crop and target pest, converted from the official rate published in the Central Insecticides Board & Registration Committee's (CIB&RC) list of approved insecticide uses (Government of India), which is expressed per hectare (1 ha ≈ 2.47 acres). Always spray in the recommended water volume for uniform coverage, and confirm against the current product label before use.

Doses above are converted from the official rate published in the CIB&RC's list of approved insecticide uses (Government of India), which states the rate in grams a.i./formulation per hectare; converted here to a practical per-acre spray-tank quantity (1 ha ≈ 2.47 acres) and rounded. Note that cotton has two separate rates depending on target pest — a lower dose for aphids/jassids and a higher dose for whiteflies — so confirm which pest you are targeting before mixing. Always confirm the current product label and consult your local agricultural extension office before use.

How to Use

1. Identify your crop and target pest from the table above, and confirm the correct dose per acre and water volume — note that cotton doses differ between aphids/jassids and whiteflies.
2. Measure the required quantity of Acetamiprid 20% SP and dissolve it thoroughly in a small quantity of water first, then add this to the spray tank and top up to the required volume, agitating well.
3. Apply as a fine, uniform spray covering the entire crop canopy, paying particular attention to the underside of leaves and growing tips where sucking pests such as aphids, jassids and whiteflies concentrate.
4. For brown plant hopper control in paddy, direct the spray towards the base of the plant where hoppers cluster, and ensure good penetration into the crop canopy.
5. Spray during the early morning or late evening when pest activity and pollinator activity are both lower, and avoid spraying in hot, windy conditions or ahead of expected rain.
6. Repeat only if pest pressure resumes, allowing at least 10–15 days between sprays, and do not exceed 2 applications per season on the same crop to help manage resistance.

Precautions & Safety

• Wear appropriate PPE — mask/respirator, gloves, goggles and full-sleeved clothing — while mixing and spraying.
• Acetamiprid is toxic to bees; do not spray during crop flowering when bees are actively foraging, and avoid drift onto flowering weeds near the field.
• 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.
• Do not exceed the recommended dose or spray frequency; repeated, back-to-back use of the same insecticide class can lead to resistance development in target pest populations, so rotate with insecticides from a different mode-of-action (IRAC) group where possible.
• Respect the waiting period (PHI) given in the table above before harvesting the treated crop.
• Wash hands, face and any exposed skin thoroughly with soap and water after handling or spraying, 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.