So is it similar to Spinosad?
No, Sinosad is from bacteria found around sugarcane (had to check the spelling)
saccharopolyspora spinosa. It's developed from 2 forms of Spinosa isolated by fermentation....
The 2 are combined as a major and a minor..
spinosyn A and spinosyn D. The ratio is a trade secret but, it's listed at around 17:3.
It makes a bugs nervous system go into "
overdrive" and it kills it. Works most effectively in the larval stage. Exposure does begin in the egg if they are there. Adults tend to live through an application and therefor you use it in intervals that would apply it before progressive egg hatchings..Works best on Thrips. Mites do succumb to it. You must use it every 5 days, 3 times would be my minimum, and then keep a close eye out for any that may have slipped past - for the mites...
I have not researched any half life or effective use times. It is systemic and most likely degrades past it's effective life quickly do to it's acid/sugar formulation. It does not get any "tolerance" by exposure - insect wise!
Because it requires no synthetic binders or additions. It's fully accepted as organic. It is another acid too.
Oh,yeah...forgot - It's used as a soil drench for fire ants and that points to it
possibly being effective on the dreaded ROOT APHID.....I would guess that would take drenching regularly for around 4 weeks to be effective. I think I read somewhere it was about 60% effective at 1 use, for that.
