Pyriproxyfen 10% EC Insecticide Uses

Pyriproxyfen 10% EC is an insect growth regulator (IGR), registered for use in India under the Insecticides Act, 1968, formulated as an emulsifiable concentrate (EC). Unlike conventional insecticides that kill insects on contact, it works by disrupting the normal growth and development of immature insects, and is registered primarily for whitefly control in cotton, with the same class of product also commonly recommended by manufacturers against similar sucking pests on chilli, brinjal and okra. This page lists its mode of action, key benefits and the recommended dosage as documented on manufacturer labels and independent retailer listings.

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 Lano (Sumitomo Chemical India).

Mode of Action

Pyriproxyfen belongs to the insect growth regulator (IGR) class of insecticides (IRAC Group 7C, juvenile hormone mimics). Rather than attacking the insect's nervous system for a fast kill, it mimics juvenile hormone, a natural insect hormone that must decline at the right moment for an insect to complete metamorphosis into a functioning, fertile adult. By maintaining artificially high juvenile-hormone-like activity, pyriproxyfen disrupts this process — nymphs fail to moult properly into normal adults, and any adults that do emerge from treated immature stages have significantly reduced fertility and lay eggs that often fail to hatch. Because it acts on the process of growth and reproduction rather than causing rapid nerve poisoning, it does not give the fast visible "knockdown" of adult insects seen with pyrethroids or organophosphates; control instead shows up over the following one to two generations as the pest population fails to renew itself. It works mainly through contact with immature stages (eggs and nymphs) and has some translaminar movement within the leaf, so good spray coverage of the underside of leaves — where whitefly nymphs are found — is essential.

Features & Benefits

• Targets the immature stages of whitefly (eggs and nymphs) directly, breaking the pest's life cycle rather than only reducing the visible adult population temporarily.
• Different mode of action (IRAC Group 7C) from conventional nerve-poison insecticides, making it a useful rotation partner where whitefly populations show reduced sensitivity to pyrethroids or neonicotinoids.
• Reduced impact on many beneficial insects and natural enemies compared to broad-spectrum contact insecticides, since it acts specifically on insect growth and development processes.
• Longer-lasting suppression of the pest population across generations, rather than only a short-term knockdown that pest numbers quickly rebuild after.

Recommended Usage of Pyriproxyfen 10% EC Insecticide

The table below gives the recommended dose and water volume per acre, based on the manufacturer's product label as reproduced by a major agri-input retailer, cross-checked against an independent retailer listing for the same formulation. Always spray in the recommended water volume for uniform coverage, and confirm against the current product label before use.

Two independent sources for this exact formulation gave different figures for the cotton whitefly dose — one manufacturer-associated listing stated 400 ml/acre, while another independent retailer listing stated 200–300 ml/acre at roughly 1 ml per litre of water; the range above spans both (unverified - source conflict, flagged), so always confirm the exact rate on your current product label rather than relying on this range alone. The same product listings also reference use against whitefly, aphids and jassids on chilli, brinjal and okra, but a separate numeric dose for these crops was not found in the sources checked for this page (unverified - dose not found); treat the cotton rate only as an approximate guide for these crops and confirm with your local dealer or the printed label before use. Converted using 1 ha ≈ 2.47 acres where source data was expressed per hectare.

How to Use

1. Start scouting for whitefly early, checking the underside of leaves for both adults and the smaller, flatter immature nymphs, since this product works best when applied while nymph numbers are still building up rather than after a heavy adult infestation is already established.
2. Measure the required quantity of Pyriproxyfen 10% EC and mix it thoroughly into the spray tank water, agitating well before and during spraying so the emulsion stays evenly mixed.
3. Spray with thorough coverage of the underside of leaves specifically, since this is where whitefly eggs and nymphs — the main target of this product — are found; spraying only the top of the canopy gives poor control.
4. Do not expect an immediate, visible drop in adult whitefly numbers after spraying — this product acts on the pest's growth and reproduction over the following one to two generations rather than killing adults on contact.
5. Spray during the early morning or late evening, and avoid spraying in hot, windy conditions or ahead of expected rain.
6. Where whitefly pressure is very high with large numbers of adults already present, consider combining with, or following up with, a fast-knockdown insecticide from a different mode-of-action group as advised by your local agricultural extension office, since this product alone will not rapidly reduce adult numbers.

Precautions & Safety

• Wear appropriate PPE — mask/respirator, gloves, goggles and full-sleeved clothing — while mixing and spraying.
• Because this product acts on insect growth and reproduction, it can also affect the immature stages of some beneficial and non-target insects; avoid unnecessary drift onto non-target vegetation, field margins and water bodies.
• 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; applying more than the label rate does not speed up the effect, since this product works through a hormonal disruption process rather than direct poisoning.
• Repeated, season-after-season reliance on a single insecticide mode of action can encourage resistance in target pest populations; rotate with insecticides from a different IRAC group as part of an integrated pest-management program.
• 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.