Anyone with experience using Enstar?
 

I was told by a grower in Michigan that he has been using Enstar AQ in his greenhouse with good results. This product renders the young insects sterile and eventually the population dies out. It is available online, ie, Ebay etc. Can anyone else attest to using this product?

I have no idea what "Enstar AQ" is, but Enstar II (s-kinoprene) is a great addition to anyone's arsenal.

It does not render immature phases "insterile", but does prevent them from maturing, which makes it a great addition in preventing repopulation of pests. Added to a pesticide, it's wonderful.

I have used it for scale with good results. You must apply it at least three times to get all the crawlers, since it does not work on eggs or adults.

I've used it also and I thought it worked extremely well. I had no insect problems at all while I was using it. It's very expensive though and only available from commercial nursery supply companies.

I have never used Enstar AQ which is a water based formulation, but here is what one of the sellers claims on their website:

Enstar® AQ, a water-based formulation, features broad spectrum, long residual control of whiteflies, thrips, aphids,soft-bodied and armored scales, mealybugs, leaf miners, glassy-winged sharpshooters, and fungus gnats. Enstar® AQ is for use on ornamental plants in greenhouses, shadehouses, lath houses, and interiorscapes (i.e. atriums).

Enstar® AQ is an Insect Growth Regulator (IGR) that prevents target insects from maturing into adults. Once the adult insects come into contact with the active ingredient, S-Kinoprene, they lay sterile eggs.

does enstar 2 work as a systematic, or is it contact only?

I am pretty sure it is not systemic. I've been wrong before...

I use 'Distance' which has the same mechanism of action, but is a systemic. Works well. However I don't think it comes in small quantities. I had to buy a quart last time, a little goes a long way.

For mealies and thrips, lately I've been combining azradactin (however it might properly be spelled - the active component of Neem, ), spinosad (the active component of a beneficial bacterium) and Distance. A remarkable effect. Almost no phytotoxicity, and odor free. When I leave out the Distance, there is absolutely no phytotoxicity. Can spray on flowers with no damage, too.

Rob - Actually neither one is systemic, they are both contact chemicals, the big difference is that Distance has a much longer residual effect. This is from the manufacturers pamphlet: "Distance can be mixed and/or alternated with commonly used insecticides such as Orthene®Turf, Tree & Ornamental Spray or Tame®Insecticide. Distance application should be

made no more than two times per cropping

cycle, or no more than two times per six months."

I use Enstar II, as far as I know it has no systemic activity. Enstar AQ replaces Enstar II, same active ingredient, new formulation, at a higher price.

Yeah, I was forced into buying a quart of florimite last year, and have no idea how I'm ever going to use it all (it's a single application systematic, and highly concentrated ). In fact, I think I might have used a whole teaspoon since I made the purchase