Imidacloprid 70% WG Insecticide Uses

Imidacloprid 70% WG is a neonicotinoid insecticide (IRAC Group 4A), registered for use in India under the Insecticides Act, 1968, formulated as a water dispersible granule (WG). It is used as a foliar spray against sucking pests such as jassids, aphids, thrips, whitefly and plant hoppers in field crops including cotton, paddy, tomato and potato. 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 this insecticide's approved crop-wise uses.

Mode of Action

Imidacloprid 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. Imidacloprid is systemic, meaning it is absorbed by the plant and moves upward through the xylem (water-conducting tissue) after a foliar spray or soil/root application, giving season-long protection from a single well-timed application against sucking pests that feed on plant sap, including those hidden on the underside of leaves or at growing points that spray droplets do not always reach directly.

Features & Benefits

• Systemic, xylem-mobile action gives protection against sucking pests even in plant parts not directly hit by the spray, including new growth that emerges after application.
• Broad activity against the key sucking-pest complex of jassids, aphids, thrips, whitefly and plant hoppers across multiple crops.
• Water dispersible granule (WG) formulation that disperses readily in water for uniform tank application and is generally easier to measure and handle than liquid concentrates.
• Helps limit the spread of insect-transmitted plant viruses (such as those carried by whitefly and aphids) by controlling the vector insects themselves.

Recommended Usage of Imidacloprid 70% WG Insecticide

The table below gives the recommended dose and water volume per acre for each crop and target pest, based on the Central Insecticides Board & Registration Committee's (CIB&RC) official list of approved insecticide uses (Government of India) — see the note below the table for the per-hectare-to-per-acre conversion. 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 the notably longer 30-day waiting period specified for potato compared with the other crops — plan spray timing accordingly. 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.
2. Measure the required quantity of Imidacloprid 70% WG and mix it thoroughly into the spray tank water, agitating well before and during spraying so the granules disperse evenly.
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 concentrate.
4. For brown plant hopper and white backed 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 15–20 days between sprays, and do not exceed 1–2 applications per season on the same crop to help manage resistance, since imidacloprid's systemic action already gives extended protection from a single application.

Precautions & Safety

• Wear appropriate PPE — mask/respirator, gloves, goggles and full-sleeved clothing — while mixing and spraying.
• Imidacloprid is highly toxic to bees; do not spray during crop flowering when bees are actively foraging, and avoid drift onto flowering weeds near the field, since systemic neonicotinoids can be taken up into pollen and nectar.
• 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 — note this is notably longer for potato (30 days) than for the other crops listed.
• 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.