Imidacloprid 30.5% SC Insecticide Uses
Imidacloprid 30.5% SC is a CIB-registered systemic insecticide from the chloronicotinyl (neonicotinoid) class, used mainly on cotton, rice/paddy and chilli against sucking pests, and separately as a soil/structural termiticide. This page lists its mode of action, key benefits and the complete crop-wise recommended dosage as per the approved label.
Mode of Action
Imidacloprid 30.5% SC belongs to the chloronicotinyl (neonicotinoid) class of insecticides. It acts as an agonist at the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in the insect's central nervous system, causing uncontrolled nerve stimulation, paralysis and death. It has both systemic and contact/stomach action — after a foliar spray it is absorbed by leaves and translocated within the plant, giving protection to new growth against sucking pests, while soil application is taken up by roots for season-long systemic action. The same active ingredient, applied around building foundations, works as a non-repellent termiticide: termites pick up the residue and carry it back to the colony.
Features & Benefits
- Systemic uptake through leaves and roots gives longer-lasting protection than purely contact insecticides, including on new leaf flushes that emerge after spraying.
- Effective at low active-ingredient doses (about 21–52.5 g a.i./ha depending on crop) against key sucking pests — aphids, jassids, thrips and planthoppers.
- Dual utility: the same formulation is CIB-approved both as a crop-protection spray and as a pre-/post-construction soil termiticide for building protection.
- Fast knockdown of sap-sucking pests helps check the spread of pest-transmitted viral diseases in cotton and other susceptible crops.
Recommended Usage of Imidacloprid 30.5% SC 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. Imidacloprid 30.5% SC currently carries a comparatively narrow crop label compared with some other imidacloprid formulations — only the crops below are confirmed on the official label; do not extrapolate this dose to other crops without checking the product label.
| Crop | Target Pest(s) | Dose per Acre | Water Volume per Acre | Waiting Period (PHI) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cotton | Aphid, Jassid, Thrips | 24–30 ml | 200–300 litres | 26 days |
| Rice (Paddy) | Brown Planthopper (BPH), White-Backed Planthopper (WBPH) | 24–30 ml | 200–300 litres | 37 days |
| Chilli | Aphid, Thrips* | 51–61 ml* | ~200 litres* | 5 days* |
*Chilli is confirmed as an approved crop on the Imidacloprid 30.5% SC label by more than one source, but the exact dose/water/PHI figures above come from a single manufacturer label document and could not be independently cross-verified (unverified - single source for the precise figures). Confirm this row against the physical product label before recommending it to a farmer.
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. Always confirm against the product label/CIB registration before spraying, and follow your local agricultural extension advice.
Non-Crop Use: Termite / Structural Pest Control
Imidacloprid 30.5% SC is also CIB-approved for protecting buildings from subterranean termite (white ant) attack at both pre-construction (soil treatment) and post-construction (floor drilling) stages. The standard dilution for this use is 2.1 ml of product in 1 litre of water (about 0.075% a.i. concentration), applied to soil around and under the foundation as per IS 6313 (Parts 2 & 3). This is a structural/soil application, not a foliar crop spray, so it is not expressed as a per-acre crop dose.
How to Use
- Identify the crop and target pest, and confirm the correct dose from the table above (or the termiticide dilution for structural use) as per the current product label.
- Fill the sprayer tank one-third with water, add the calculated quantity of Imidacloprid 30.5% SC, then top up with the remaining water while agitating for a uniform spray solution.
- Spray as a fine, uniform mist over the crop canopy, ensuring good coverage of the underside of leaves where aphids, jassids and thrips typically colonise; for termite control, apply as a soil drench/drill treatment around the foundation as per label instructions.
- Spray during the early morning or late evening hours, and avoid application during high wind, rain, or peak bee-foraging periods to protect pollinators and prevent spray drift.
- Apply at the first sign of pest infestation (economic threshold level) rather than on a fixed calendar, and repeat only if pest pressure persists, keeping to the maximum number of applications and interval specified on the label.
Precautions & Safety
- Wear appropriate PPE — gloves, mask, goggles and full-sleeve clothing — while mixing and spraying, and avoid inhaling spray mist or vapour.
- Being a neonicotinoid, Imidacloprid is highly toxic to bees; avoid application during flowering/bee-foraging hours and do not spray near active beehives or blooming crops nearby.
- Store the product in its original, tightly closed container in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, food, feed and out of reach of children and livestock.
- Strictly observe the crop-specific waiting period (PHI) given in the table before harvesting treated produce, and do not exceed the recommended number of applications per season.
- Wash hands, face and exposed skin thoroughly with soap and water after spraying, and wash contaminated clothing separately before reuse.