Chlorpyrifos may no longer be a sustainable option for summerfruit growers given its incompatibility with integrated pest management (IPM) practices, the current review of toxicology and restrictions imposed by some overseas markets.

The purpose of this work was to evaluate the efficacy of a Group 23 insecticide, registered for use on stonefruit in Australia, for insect pest control in summerfruit. It was also to provide a guide for the residue decay pattern of the insecticide and to determine a suitable pre-harvest interval for applications to stonefruit to comply with a maximum residue limit (MRL) of 0.1 mg/kg. Five field trials were undertaken.

Summerfruit NZ has produced a technical note for growers. This provides guidance for the use of the insecticide such as rates and timings of applications so that the resulting residues in fruit will comply with a MRL of less than 0.1 mg/kg.