Spinosad 45% SC Insecticide Uses

Spinosad 45% SC is a spinosyn insecticide (derived from fermentation of the soil bacterium Saccharopolyspora spinosa) registered for use in India under the Insecticides Act, 1968, formulated as a suspension concentrate (SC) for foliar spraying. It is registered for the control of American bollworm in cotton, fruit borer and thrips in chilli, pod borer in red gram, fruit & shoot borer in brinjal and thrips in grapes. This page lists its mode of action, key benefits and the 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

Spinosad belongs to the spinosyn class (IRAC Group 5). It acts on the insect's nervous system mainly by activating the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors at a site different from neonicotinoids, and also has effects on GABA receptors. This causes continuous, uncontrolled nerve firing, so the insect stops feeding within hours, becomes paralysed and dies. It works mainly through stomach action after the treated leaf or fruit is eaten, with some contact action, and has translaminar movement into the leaf, which helps it reach thrips and young larvae feeding on the underside of leaves.

Features & Benefits

• Effective against caterpillar pests (bollworm, fruit borer, pod borer, shoot & fruit borer) as well as thrips, as per the CIB-registered uses.
• Rapid feeding stoppage after the pest eats treated plant tissue.
• Translaminar action helps reach pests on the lower leaf surface.
• Low use rate of formulation per acre for most registered crops.
• Spinosyn mode of action (IRAC Group 5) is a useful rotation partner with diamide, oxadiazine, pyrethroid and organophosphate insecticides for resistance management.

Recommended Usage of Spinosad 45% SC Insecticide

The table below gives the recommended dose, water volume and waiting period per acre, 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): Cotton 75–100 g a.i./ha, 165–220 ml formulation/ha, 500 L water/ha, PHI 10 days; Chilli (fruit borer, thrips) 73 g a.i./ha, 160 ml/ha, 500 L/ha, PHI 3 days; Chilli (H. armigera, S. dorsalis) 56–73 g a.i./ha, 124–162 ml/ha, 500 L/ha, PHI 3 days; Red gram 56–73 g a.i./ha, 125–162 ml/ha, 800–1000 L/ha, PHI 47 days; Brinjal 73–84 g a.i./ha, 162–187 ml/ha, 500 L/ha, PHI 3 days; Grapes 25 ml/100 L, 250 ml/ha, 1000 L/ha, PHI 15 days. *For grapes, 25 ml per 100 litres is a fixed mixing concentration — the total spray volume depends on vine size and canopy. Always confirm the current dose on your specific product's label before use.

How to Use

1. Identify the pest from the symptom guide above and confirm the dose from the table.
2. Shake the bottle well, measure the required quantity, mix it in a small quantity of water first, then add it to the spray tank and top up to the full volume while stirring.
3. Spray uniformly over the crop with a knapsack or power sprayer, covering leaves, flowers, fruits/pods and the underside of leaves well.
4. Spray at the first sign of larvae, fresh bore holes or thrips damage, or at the crop stage advised by your local agricultural extension office.
5. Spray in calm weather in the early morning or late evening, and avoid spraying if rain is expected within a few hours.

Precautions & Safety

• Wear appropriate PPE — mask/respirator, gloves, goggles and full-sleeved clothing — while mixing and spraying, and avoid inhaling the spray mist.
• Follow the recommended dose strictly; do not mix with other pesticides unless specifically recommended.
• Respect the waiting period (PHI) given in the table — 3 days for chilli and brinjal, 10 days for cotton, 15 days for grapes and 47 days for red gram — before harvesting the treated crop.
• Spinosad is toxic to bees when wet; do not spray on flowering crops while bees are actively foraging — spray in the late evening when bee activity is low.
• Do not let spray wash or field water reach ponds, fish tanks, streams or drinking-water sources.
• 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 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.