Emamectin Benzoate 5% SG Insecticide Uses
Emamectin Benzoate 5% SG is a CIB & RC registered insecticide from the avermectin class — a semi-synthetic derivative of abamectin, produced by fermentation of the soil bacterium Streptomyces avermitilis. In India it is registered mainly for control of the bollworm complex in cotton and the diamondback moth (DBM) in cabbage, with additional labelled uses on chilli, okra, brinjal, red gram, chickpea, grapes and tea against various caterpillar, borer and thrips pests. This page lists its mode of action, key benefits and the complete crop-wise recommended dosage as verified against the CIB label and cross-checked with the TNAU Agritech Portal and manufacturer label data.
Mode of Action
Emamectin Benzoate 5% SG belongs to the avermectin class of insecticides (IRAC Group 6). Once ingested by the target insect, it binds to and activates glutamate-gated chloride channels in nerve and muscle cells, causing an uncontrolled influx of chloride ions into the cell. This leads to irreversible paralysis of the insect's muscles — affected larvae stop feeding almost immediately and typically die within 2–4 days. The molecule also shows translaminar movement: it penetrates leaf tissue and forms a reservoir just beneath the upper leaf surface, giving some protection against larvae feeding on the underside of treated leaves, though it is not truly systemic and does not move through the plant's vascular system to untreated growth. Because it works mainly by ingestion rather than by direct contact, thorough spray coverage of the crop canopy is essential for good control, and it is particularly effective against lepidopteran larvae (caterpillars) such as bollworms, diamondback moth and fruit/shoot borers.
Features & Benefits
- Translaminar (quasi-systemic) movement into leaf tissue gives some protection to larvae feeding on the leaf underside, unlike purely contact insecticides that wash or weather off quickly.
- Highly effective against the bollworm complex in cotton and diamondback moth in cabbage/cole crops, as well as other caterpillar pests such as fruit and shoot borers in vegetables.
- Very low use rate (as little as 6.75–11 g a.i./ha across labelled crops) delivers effective caterpillar control, so small pack sizes go a long way per acre.
- A distinct avermectin mode of action makes it a useful rotation partner in resistance-management and IPM programmes, especially where pyrethroid or organophosphate resistance is already established in Helicoverpa or Plutella populations.
Recommended Usage of Emamectin Benzoate 5% SG Insecticide
The table below gives the recommended dose, water volume and waiting period (PHI) per acre for each crop and target pest, as per the CIB-approved label, cross-checked with the TNAU Agritech Portal's approved crop-wise pesticide list and manufacturer label data (e.g. Crystal Crop Protection "Proclaim" and other CIB-registered 5% SG brands). Only crops with dosage data corroborated across at least two independent sources are listed.
| Crop | Target Pest(s) | Dose per Acre | Water Volume per Acre | Waiting Period (PHI) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cotton | Bollworm complex (American, spotted & pink bollworm) | 76–88 g | ~200 litres | 10 days |
| Cabbage (cole crops) | Diamondback moth (DBM) | 60–80 g | ~200 litres | 3 days |
| Chilli | Fruit borer, thrips & mites | 80 g | ~200 litres | 3 days |
| Okra (Bhindi) | Fruit & shoot borer | 54–68 g | ~200 litres | 5 days |
| Brinjal | Fruit & shoot borer | 80 g | ~200 litres | 3 days |
| Red gram / Arhar (pigeon pea) | Pod borer | 88 g | 200–300 litres | 14 days |
| Chickpea (Bengal gram/Chana) | Pod borer (Helicoverpa) | 88 g | ~200 litres | 14 days |
| Grapes | Thrips | 88 g | 200–400 litres | 5 days |
| Tea | Tea looper | 80 g | ~200 litres | 1 day |
Doses above are converted from the official CIB label rate, which is expressed per hectare (1 ha ≈ 2.47 acres), rounded to practical spray-tank quantities. Cotton and cabbage are the best-established, most widely used registrations on the Indian label for this molecule; the remaining crops (chilli, okra, brinjal, red gram, chickpea, grapes and tea) are also present on the CIB-registered label and were corroborated across the TNAU Agritech Portal and/or manufacturer label documentation, but are comparatively less central to most farmers' spray programmes. Some retailer websites also list additional off-label uses on rice, soybean and tomato — these could not be verified against a CIB label, TNAU or PAU recommendation at the time of writing and have therefore been excluded from this page. Always confirm against the product label/CIB registration before spraying, and follow your local agricultural extension advice.
How to Use
- Identify the crop and target pest, and confirm the correct dose from the table above — do not exceed the labelled rate, as emamectin benzoate is effective at very low concentrations.
- Prepare the spray solution by first making a paste/slurry of the required quantity of Emamectin Benzoate 5% SG in a small amount of water, then add this to the spray tank and top up to the full water volume while agitating continuously, since SG (water-soluble granule) formulations must be fully dissolved before spraying.
- Since the product works mainly by ingestion, spray to thoroughly wet the entire canopy — including new growth and the underside of leaves where caterpillars feed and hide — using a fine nozzle for uniform coverage.
- Spray during early morning or late evening hours, avoiding the hottest part of the day, rain, and periods of strong wind; avoid spraying during flowering when bees are actively foraging, as emamectin benzoate is toxic to bees.
- If a repeat spray is needed, follow the recommended interval and rotate with an insecticide from a different mode-of-action (IRAC) group rather than spraying emamectin benzoate repeatedly, to help delay resistance development in bollworm and diamondback moth populations.
Precautions & Safety
- Wear appropriate PPE (mask, gloves, goggles, full-sleeved clothing) while mixing and spraying, and avoid inhaling spray mist or splashing the concentrate on skin or eyes.
- Check compatibility before tank-mixing; avoid combining with strongly alkaline pesticides or fertilizers, and do a jar test first if mixing with an unfamiliar product.
- 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.
- Strictly observe the waiting period (PHI) given in the table for each crop before harvesting, to keep pesticide residues within safe limits.
- Wash hands, face and exposed skin thoroughly with soap after spraying, and wash contaminated clothing separately before reuse; do not eat, drink or smoke during application.
- Avoid using Emamectin Benzoate 5% SG in consecutive sprays within the same crop cycle — resistance to emamectin benzoate has been reported in some diamondback moth and Helicoverpa populations in India, so rotate with insecticides from a different mode-of-action group as part of an IPM/resistance-management programme.