Thiamethoxam 70% WS Insecticide Uses

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    Thiamethoxam 70% WS is a neonicotinoid insecticide registered for use in India under the Insecticides Act, 1968, formulated as a water-dispersible powder for slurry seed treatment (WS). It is used as a seed dresser at the time of sowing and is registered for early-season aphids, thrips, whitefly and jassids in cotton; aphids and jassids in okra; aphids and thrips in tomato; jassids and thrips in sunflower; termite and aphids in wheat; shoot fly and aphids in maize; and thrips and green leafhopper in rice. 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.

    Crop Other Names What You'll See in the Field
    Cotton — Aphid, Thrips, Whitefly, Jassids (seedling stage) माहू / चेपा, थ्रिप्स, सफेद मक्खी (Safed Makkhi), हरा तेला (Hara Tela) Aphids: colonies of small, soft-bodied green, yellow or black insects on tender shoots and the underside of leaves; leaves curl and crinkle, growth is stunted, and sticky honeydew on the leaves turns black with sooty mould. Jassids: small, wedge-shaped green insects that move sideways quickly on the underside of leaves; leaf edges turn yellow, then reddish-brown, and curl downwards ("hopper burn"), and the plant looks stunted. Thrips: tiny, slender, straw-coloured insects hidden in leaf folds, buds and flowers; leaves show silvery streaks or patches, curl upwards and become crinkled and brittle. Whitefly: tiny white-winged insects fly up when the plants are shaken; they and their nymphs suck sap from the underside of leaves, causing yellowing and curling. Sticky honeydew on the leaves turns black with sooty mould.
    Okra (Bhindi) — Aphids, Jassids माहू / चेपा (Mahu / Chepa), हरा तेला (Hara Tela) Aphids: colonies of small, soft-bodied green, yellow or black insects on tender shoots and the underside of leaves; leaves curl and crinkle, growth is stunted, and sticky honeydew on the leaves turns black with sooty mould. Jassids: small, wedge-shaped green insects that move sideways quickly on the underside of leaves; leaf edges turn yellow, then reddish-brown, and curl downwards ("hopper burn"), and the plant looks stunted.
    Tomato — Aphids, Thrips माहू / चेपा, थ्रिप्स Aphids: colonies of small, soft-bodied green, yellow or black insects on tender shoots and the underside of leaves; leaves curl and crinkle, growth is stunted, and sticky honeydew on the leaves turns black with sooty mould. Thrips: tiny, slender, straw-coloured insects hidden in leaf folds, buds and flowers; leaves show silvery streaks or patches, curl upwards and become crinkled and brittle.
    Sunflower — Jassids, Thrips हरा तेला (Hara Tela), थ्रिप्स Jassids: small, wedge-shaped green insects that move sideways quickly on the underside of leaves; leaf edges turn yellow, then reddish-brown, and curl downwards ("hopper burn"), and the plant looks stunted. Thrips: tiny, slender, straw-coloured insects hidden in leaf folds, buds and flowers; leaves show silvery streaks or patches, curl upwards and become crinkled and brittle.
    Wheat — Termite दीमक (Deemak) Plants wilt, turn yellow and dry up in patches, from seedling stage onwards; affected plants pull out easily and the roots and base of the stem are eaten away and often filled with soil.
    Wheat — Aphids माहू / चेपा (Mahu / Chepa) Colonies of small green insects on leaves and, later, on the ears; leaves turn yellow and sticky with honeydew and grain filling is poor.
    Maize — Shoot fly तना मक्खी / प्ररोह मक्खी (Tana Makkhi) In seedlings about 1–4 weeks old the central leaf withers and dries ("dead heart") while the outer leaves stay green; the dead central shoot pulls out easily and rots at the base.
    Maize — Aphids माहू / चेपा (Mahu / Chepa) Colonies of small, soft-bodied green, yellow or black insects on tender shoots and the underside of leaves; leaves curl and crinkle, growth is stunted, and sticky honeydew on the leaves turns black with sooty mould.
    Rice (Paddy) — Thrips थ्रिप्स (Thrips) In nursery and young transplanted rice, leaf tips roll inwards and turn yellow, then reddish-brown and dry; in heavy attack the young field looks scorched.
    Rice (Paddy) — Green leafhopper हरा फुदका (Hara Phudka) Small, bright green insects that hop away from the leaves when disturbed; leaves turn yellow from the tip, plants are stunted, and the insect spreads the tungro virus (orange-yellow, stunted plants in patches).

    Mode of Action

    Thiamethoxam is a neonicotinoid insecticide (IRAC Group 4A — nicotinic acetylcholine receptor competitive modulators). It binds to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the insect's nervous system, causing continuous nerve stimulation; the pest stops feeding, becomes paralysed and dies. When applied to seed, it is taken up by the germinating seed and young roots and moves upward in the plant (systemic action), so sucking and soil insects that feed on the young seedling are exposed during the early growth stage.

    Features & Benefits

    • Applied on the seed before sowing — protects the crop from early-season sucking pests and soil pests without a foliar spray at the seedling stage.
    • Systemic: moves from the seed into the roots, stem and young leaves of the seedling.
    • Registered on seven crops: cotton, okra, tomato, sunflower, wheat, maize and rice.
    • Small quantities of product are used on the seed itself, which reduces the amount of insecticide sprayed in the open field at the seedling stage.

    Recommended Usage of Thiamethoxam 70% WS Insecticide

    The table below gives the seed-treatment dose exactly as listed by CIB&RC for this seed dresser — see the note below the table for details. Because this is a seed treatment, there is no spray water volume and the dose is not converted to a per-acre figure. Always confirm against the current product label before use.

    Crop Target Pest Dose (as listed by CIB&RC) Method Waiting Period (PHI)
    Cotton Aphid, Thrips, Whitefly, Jassids 430 g* Seed dresser at the time of sowing Not stated by CIB
    Okra (Bhindi) Aphids, Jassids 286 g* Seed dresser at the time of sowing Not stated by CIB
    Tomato Aphids, Thrips 600 g* Seed dresser at the time of sowing Not stated by CIB
    Sunflower Jassids, Thrips 400 g* Seed dresser at the time of sowing Not stated by CIB
    Wheat Termite, Aphids 175 g* Seed dresser at the time of sowing Not stated by CIB
    Maize Shoot fly, Aphids 350 g* Seed dresser at the time of sowing Not stated by CIB
    Rice (Paddy) Thrips, Green leafhopper 150 g* Seed dresser at the time of sowing Not stated by CIB

    *CIB&RC lists this product as a seed dresser "used at the time of sowing" and gives the dose only as grams of active ingredient / grams of formulation, without stating in that entry the quantity of seed the figure applies to: cotton 300 / 430 g; okra 200 / 286 g; tomato 420 / 600 g; sunflower 280 / 400 g; wheat 121 / 175 g; maize 245 / 350 g; rice 105 / 150 g. No dilution water volume or waiting period is listed. Because the seed-quantity basis is not stated, these figures are shown as given and have not been converted to a per-acre or per-kg-of-seed rate. Always confirm the exact grams per kg of seed on your specific product's label before use.

    How to Use

    1. Identify the crop and target pest from the tables above, and confirm the per-kg-of-seed rate on your product's label.
    2. Weigh the seed to be sown and measure the product for that quantity of seed as per the label.
    3. Mix the measured product with a small quantity of water to make a smooth slurry (follow the label for the slurry volume).
    4. Spread the seed on a clean plastic sheet or put it in a seed-treating drum, add the slurry and mix thoroughly until every seed is evenly coated.
    5. Dry the treated seed in the shade and sow it on the same day or as advised on the label; do not keep treated seed for long.

    Precautions & Safety

    • Wear gloves, a mask and full-sleeved clothing while treating seed, and do not handle treated seed with bare hands.
    • Follow the recommended dose strictly; do not mix with other products unless specifically recommended on the label.
    • CIB&RC does not state a waiting period (PHI) for this seed-treatment use — follow the waiting period, if any, given on the current product label.
    • Never use treated seed for food, feed or oil extraction, and keep it away from birds, poultry and livestock; bury or destroy leftover treated seed safely.
    • Thiamethoxam is highly toxic to honeybees — do not leave treated seed or dust exposed on the soil surface, and avoid dust drift during sowing.
    • Do not wash seed-treatment equipment or containers in ponds, 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 treating seed, 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.

    Disclaimer

    The dosage and usage information on this page is based on the Central Insecticides Board & Registration Committee (CIB&RC), Government of India, document "Major Uses of Pesticides" (registered under the Insecticides Act, 1968; updated up to 31.03.2026). As stated in that document, it has been compiled on the basis of available information for guidance and not for legal purposes. Likewise, this page is for general information and guidance only; it is not intended for any legal purpose and has no legal validity.

    Before using any product, always read and follow the instructions on its label and leaflet. If in doubt, consult your local agricultural extension officer.

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