Cartap Hydrochloride 4% GR Insecticide Uses

Cartap Hydrochloride 4% GR is a nereistoxin-analogue insecticide registered for use in India under the Insecticides Act, 1968, formulated as granules (GR) for broadcasting into the standing water of paddy fields. It is one of the most widely used granular insecticides in Indian rice cultivation, registered for the control of stem borer, leaf folder and whorl maggot in paddy. This page lists its mode of action, key benefits and the crop-wise 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

Cartap hydrochloride is a nereistoxin analogue (IRAC Group 14). After application, it is converted in the insect and plant into nereistoxin, which blocks the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor channel in the insect's nervous system. This interrupts nerve-signal transmission, so the larva stops feeding, becomes paralysed and dies. Applied as granules into standing water, the active ingredient dissolves and is taken up by the roots and moved upward in the plant (systemic action), so it reaches stem borer larvae feeding inside the stem as well as larvae feeding on the leaves.

Features & Benefits

• Ready-to-use granules — simply broadcast into the field; no spray tank, mixing or spray water needed.
• Systemic action through the roots reaches stem borer larvae inside the stem, where foliar sprays often fail to penetrate.
• Covers the three common early-season paddy pests — stem borer, leaf folder and whorl maggot — in a single application.
• Nereistoxin-analogue mode of action (Group 14) is a useful rotation partner with diamide, organophosphate and pyrethroid insecticides for resistance management.

Recommended Usage of Cartap Hydrochloride 4% GR Insecticide

The table below gives the recommended granule quantity per acre for paddy, converted from the CIB&RC-registered per-hectare rate — see the note below the table for conversion details. Always confirm against the current product label before use.

Figures above are converted from the CIB&RC-registered per-hectare rates (1 ha ≈ 2.47 acres): Stem borer — 750 g a.i./ha, 18.75 kg formulation/ha; Leaf folder and whorl maggot — 750–1000 g a.i./ha, 18.75–25 kg formulation/ha. CIB does not specify a waiting period (PHI) for this formulation, so none has been assumed — always confirm the current product label before use.

How to Use

1. Identify the pest from the symptom guide above and confirm the correct quantity from the table.
2. Weigh out the required quantity of granules for your field area — around 7.5 kg per acre for stem borer, and 7.5–10 kg per acre for leaf folder or whorl maggot.
3. Maintain 3–5 cm of standing water in the field at the time of application.
4. Broadcast the granules evenly by hand over the whole field (mixing them with a little dry sand helps spread them uniformly), wearing gloves.
5. Keep the water standing in the field and avoid draining or overflowing it for 3–4 days after application, so the active ingredient is taken up by the crop.
6. Apply at the first sign of pest damage or at the crop stage advised by your local agricultural extension office.

Precautions & Safety

• Wear gloves, a mask and full-sleeved clothing while handling and broadcasting the granules, and avoid inhaling the dust.
• Follow the recommended dose strictly; do not apply more than the label rate.
• Do not let water from the treated field flow into ponds, fish tanks, streams or drinking-water sources.
• Since CIB does not specify a waiting period for this formulation, follow the current product label and local extension advice on the gap between application and harvest.
• 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 handling, 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.