Wheat farmers facing orange blossom midge attacks are being offered a new fully approved and cheaper control alternative to organophosphorus insecticide chlorpyrifos.

Pyrethroid Hallmark Zeon (lambda-cyhalothrin) was known to reduce adult midge numbers when used against aphids on wheat ears.

Now, with a new label recommendation, it can be applied specifically to target the midge at the best time, says Syngenta’s Bruce McKenzie.

Spray timing remains important, he warns.

“Don’t be tempted to delay application to coincide with T3 ear fungicides and possibly compromise the efficacy of both.”