TracerPlant Protection Product ComparisonPlant Protection Product ComparisonReport inaccuraciesReport inaccuracies

Tracer is a suspension concentrate containing 480 g/litre (44.03% w/w) spinosad.

A selective insecticide for use in TOP FRUIT and FIELD BRASSICAS for the control of CATERPILLAR PESTS and in ALLIUM crops for useful control of THRIPS.

DIRECTIONS FOR USE
IMPORTANT: This leaflet is approved as part of the Product Label. All instructions within this section must be read carefully in order to obtain safe and successful use of this product.

Other Specific Restrictions: For protected strawberry apply a maximum of 2 consecutive sprays followed by a minimum 28 day interval before any further applications. When application is made before planting to broccoli, Brussels sprout, cabbage, calabrese, cauliflower or Chinese cabbage only 2 further applications of spinosad may be made to the crop. Module drench treatments to brassica crops must not be made by hand held equipment. In protected situations the total number of applications of any spinosad containing product must not exceed 6 per glasshouse/protected structure in a 12 month period, regardless of the crop being treated (including ornamentals). Read the label before use. Using this product in a manner that is inconsistent with the label may be an offence. Follow the Code of Practice for Using Plant Protection Products

NOTES
TRACER® insecticide has a very specific pest spectrum. Only apply TRACER against pests and crops on the label. Taint tests have not been conducted using TRACER. Growers should consult processors before use. Following application allow 12 hours for TRACER to become rainfast before applying irrigation. Wash spray tank and equipment (including knapsack sprayers) thoroughly with water and a liquid detergent immediately after use. Spray out. Fill with clean water and leave overnight. Spray out again before using another product.

MODE OF ACTION
TRACER enters the insect primarily through contact and ingestion. Contact occurs by direct application or by insect movement on a treated surface. Ingestion occurs from feeding on treated surfaces. Following entry, TRACER acts on a unique neuro-receptor site of the insect. Symptoms appear almost immediately and complete mortality occurs within a few hours. TRACER is not systemic but does show translaminar movement.

CROP SAFETY
Outdoor Crops
TRACER has been tested on a wide range of outdoor crops. TRACER has good plant safety when applied at different growth stages, including flowering.
Modular drench application to brassicas
Users should refer to and follow the specific instructions for applying drench treatments.
Protected Strawberry
It is recommended to test TRACER on a small number of plants to confirm the crop safety before spraying a large area.

RESISTANCE
GENERAL
To reduce the possibility of the development of resistance:
Total reliance on one pesticide will hasten the development of resistance: Spinosad has a different mode of action from other insecticides and is most effective when applied in planned programmes with other insecticides with different modes of action.
Avoid use of the same active ingredient or mode of action on consecutive generations of insects. However, multiple applications to reduce a single generation are acceptable. If uncertain of the generation cycle, no more than three consecutive applications (two for protected crops) should be used nor should there be continuous use for more than 30 days. Do not use TRACER on consecutive generations for insects which show a high risk of resistance such as thrip species.
Restrict the number of sprays to no more than six applications per glasshouse/protected structure in a 12 month period of any spinosad containing product regardless of crop being treated (including ornamentals).
Do not use reduced label rates when applied alone or in tank mixtures

OUTDOOR CROPS
Onion thrips have shown resistance to certain chemical groups and resistance management steps should be taken as it is considered a high resistance risk pest. Carry out careful monitoring. Apply when onion thrips are first seen and repeat the application if needed after 10 days for leeks, bulb onion, salad onion, garlic and shallot. It is vital that TRACER is applied before the pest becomes well established in the crop.
Apply no further sprays of TRACER (or any other spinosad containing product) once the maximum number of foliar sprays have been applied (or a maximum of two foliar sprays on brassicas if a pre-planting modular drench application of TRACER has already been made).
If thrips are already established consider using a product with knockdown activity such as dimethoate before applying TRACER.
On brassicas, only one pre-planting modular drench application should be made per crop to protect against attack from cabbage root fly with subsequent foliar applications of TRACER restricted to two sprays per crop.
Carry out careful monitoring. For caterpillar control apply TRACER at egg hatch in top fruit and when pests are first seen in other field crops. Repeat applications at 10 day intervals only if needed.
Applications should be targeted against early insect developmental stages whenever possible.
If possible, include multiple tactics (eg cultural or biological controls) when using Integrated Pest Management Programmes.
Use TRACER in programmes with other effective insecticides of a different mode of action to reduce the possibilities of resistance occurring.

PROTECTED STRAWBERRY CROPS
Western flower thrips have shown resistance to certain chemical groups and resistance management steps should be taken as it is considered a high resistance risk pest in protected crops/plants.
Before undertaking a spray programme with TRACER establish whether incoming plant material has previously been treated with TRACER or another spinosad containing product.
Carry out careful monitoring and apply when Western flower thrips are first seen making repeat applications at 7 day intervals only if needed, with a maximum of two consecutive spinosad sprays to protected strawberry. Leave at least 28 days before any further applications of TRACER (or any other spinosad containing product) in the structure (even if only treating some of the plants).
For protected strawberry crops restrict the total number of sprays to no more than four applications of TRACER per strawberry crop. In multi-cropping situations restrict the total number of sprays to no more than six in a 12-month period in the same glasshouse or structure of any spinosad containing product regardless of the crop being treated (including ornamentals and all year round (AYR) chrysanthemums).
DO NOT EXCEED SIX APPLICATIONS OF ANY PRODUCT CONTAINING SPINOSAD PER GLASSHOUSE/PROTECTED STRUCTURE IN A 12-MONTH PERIOD • Apply in programmes with other insecticides with a different mode of action and use no further sprays of TRACER (or any other spinosad) containing product) once the maximum number of sprays have been applied.
If the final insecticide application to a crop was spinosad, choose a different insecticide active ingredient to begin spraying on the next crop.
Applications should be targeted against early insect developmental stages whenever possible.
Do not use reduced label rates.
Whenever possible use an Integrated Pest Management programme.
Choose resistant cultivars.

INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT
Whenever possible use an Integrated Pest Management programme.
For further information and the latest advice on beneficial insects and mites and their integrated use with TRACER consult Landseer Limited.

BEES
Do not apply in the heat of the day when bees may be foraging as contact with direct spray may be harmful. Remove the hive during spraying as exposure to direct spray may be harmful to bees. Dow AgroSciences take the most restrictive approach and recommend that a period of 24 hours after application and all spray deposits are thoroughly dry before exposure of bees. Water pools with residues of spinosad will continue to pose a risk and should be avoided.

OUTDOOR CROPS
TRACER can be used in an integrated pest management strategy in top fruit as it has been found to have no long term adverse effects on predatory bugs Anthocoris spp or the predatory mite Typhlodromus pyri.
Overall applications of TRACER to control pests in field brassicas, leeks, onions and strawberry are of low risk to predatory insects and mites both in the plant canopy and on the soil below. There is risk to parasitic Hymenoptera but these effects are of short duration (2 weeks) as the persistence of TRACER is low and recovery of these highly mobile species would be rapid.
TRACER, when used according to good agricultural practice is unlikely to pose an unacceptable risk to honeybees and beneficial arthropods.

MODULAR DRENCH APPLICATION
It is best practice to make module spray applications in a specific spray area away from other plants where beneficial insects may be present. If this is not possible then do not make an application of TRACER where populations of beneficial insects and especially parasitic wasps are present in high numbers.
If module plants are raised as part of an integrated pest management system then follow the directions given for protected crops.

PROTECTED CROPS
As part of an Integrated Pest Management programme.
Inspect all incoming plant material for presence of Western flower thrip and treat if necessary.
Monitor stock routinely to determine the need for control measures.
Use screens or barriers to prevent insects migrating.
Use predators and parasites.
Exposure to direct spray is harmful to bumble bees, but dry spray deposits are harmless.
Carefully choose any chemical products used in the pesticide programme and consider any side effects on bees and beneficial arthropods.

TRACER has been tested on a wide range of predators and parasites used to control pests in protected crops. The active ingredient, spinosad has been shown to be of low impact to many insect and mite predators but harmful to adults of most parasitic wasps (Hymenoptera).

When applied to plants where insect and mite predators are present TRACER may cause a temporary reduction in abundance.

For susceptible predators (parasitic hymenoptera) re-introduction is possible after 7 days following application (with perhaps 14 days in winter months). For most other predators introduction is possible 24 hours after application. Re-introduction of Orius laevigatius is advised one week later

APPLE, PEAR, CRAB APPLE, QUINCE
NOTES
To avoid variable performance, timing of application should be optimised and good coverage of the foliage should be achieved. Optimal timing of application of TRACER post-blossom for control of caterpillars is when first egg hatch is predicted based on threshold counts in pheromone traps being reached. It is important when making all applications to top fruit to use sufficient water volume to achieve effective cover and penetration of the foliage. Where tree height and/or canopy density is reduced, the dose (and water volume) should be adjusted in accordance with an appropriate dose adjustment scheme. Consult your specialist advisor for further information. Further information on the PACE scheme is available from HDC, or see the HDC leaflet (Orchard Spraying: Opportunities to reduce rates) available on the CRD website at http://www.pesticides.gov.uk/HDC.pdf.

OUTDOOR BRASSICA CROPS (BROCCOLI, BRUSSELS SPROUT, CABBAGE, CALABRESE, CAULIFLOWER, CHINESE CABBAGE)
Application is a three stage process:
a) moisten the leaves of the plants to be treated immediately prior to treatmentb) apply the TRACER drench
c) wash off the TRACER drench from leaves of plants with water

It is important that the total volume of water used in these three stages does not exceed the water holding capacity of the modules, otherwise leaching of the TRACER will occur which may reduce cabbage root fly control and lead to contamination of underlying glasshouse soil (see ‘Notes’ below).
The water volumes below are given as a guide for modules of 11 to 13 mL capacity (the minimum size and hence the minimum volume recommended). Larger volumes can be used with larger modules.
Leaves of the plants should be wetted with a light spray of water immediately before treatment using 2 litres per 5,000 plants.
Immediately after treatment the insecticide must be thoroughly washed off the leaves of the plant with clean water, using 5 litres of water per 5,000 plants.

NOTES FOR MODULE APPLICATION
TRACER MUST BE APPLIED ALONE. Tank mixing of TRACER for this use is may produce severe leaf scorch.
TRACER will provide partial or useful control of cabbage root fly between 6 to 8 weeks after treatment, and will improve plant establishment and reduce root damage with the resultant marketable yield benefits.
If plants are still vulnerable and there is a risk of further infestation after this time then a follow up application in the field may be required with a suitable product. This is particularly important if plants are treated before the start of April and the arrival of the first generation.
Breakdown of TRACER in soils inside glasshouses is rapid and spinosad does not accumulate or leach in soils. However, best practice should avoid applying TRACER in such a large volume of water that it passes through the compost. Also prevent the spray contaminating the pathways and covered areas surrounding the trays being treated. This can be done in a number of ways eg interceptor trays, polythene sheeting, use of correct water volumes etc. After use, remove plastic sheeting, wash down and dispose of safely.
When handling recently drenched trays of plants it is best practice to wear protective rubber gloves and coveralls.
Modules should generally be transplanted as soon as possible after treatment. However, TRACER can be leached out of the compost if the modules are over watered and so best practice is to not move the plants for the first 24 hours after application. If plants are to be despatched freshly watered, TRACER should be applied a few days beforehand to ensure that it is not leached from the module during the final watering.
Transplanting of treated blocks and modules to a depth which brings untreated soil into contact with plant stems above the top of the block or module will lead to reduced control.
Further treatments to control cabbage root fly larvae may be required in areas of high activity.

OUTDOOR BRASSICA CROPS (BROCCOLI, BRUSSELS SPROUT, CABBAGE, CALABRESE, CAULIFLOWER, CHINESE CABBAGE) 

MIXING
To ensure thorough mixing of the product invert the container several times before opening. Half fill the spray tank with water, begin agitation and add the required quantity of TRACER. Fill up the spray tank, agitating continuously to ensure thorough mixing, and maintain agitation until spraying is complete. Use only clean water for mixing. Use the spray solution immediately after preparation

SPRAY VOLUME
Water volume should reflect the need for uniform cover and penetration of the leaf canopy.

Apple, pear, crab apple, quince Min : 300 litres/ha Max : 1500 litres/ha It is particularly important when spraying post-blossom to achieve full penetration of the leaf canopy and uniform coverage of the foliage and blossoms or fruitlets

Broccoli, Brussels sprout, cabbage, calabrese, cauliflower, Chinese cabbage, leek, bulb onion, salad onion, garlic, shallot Min : 200 litres/ha Max : 600 litres/ha Ensure good penetration of the foliage.

Strawberry (protected) Min : 200 litres/ha Max : 1000 litres/ha Ensure good penetration of the foliage.

APPLICATION EQUIPMENT
Apply TRACER using a horizontal boom sprayer or a broadcast air assisted sprayer. For protected strawberry crops, apply TRACER by conventional hydraulic sprayer or by hand-held applicators. Ensure spray equipment is in good working order and has been calibrated according to the manufacturers’ recommendations.

Dow AgroSciences Conditions of Supply
All goods supplied by us are of high grade and we believe them to be suitable but, as we cannot exercise control over their storage, handling, mixing or use, or the weather conditions before, during or after application which may affect the performance of the goods, all conditions and warranties, statutory or otherwise, as to the quality or fitness for any purpose of our goods are excluded. No responsibility will be accepted by us or re-sellers for any failure in performance, damage or injury whatsoever arising from their storage, handling, application or use. These conditions cannot be varied by our staff or agents whether or not they supervise or assist in the use of such goods.

COMPANY ADVISORY INFORMATION
Use in Organic Crops
Spinosad has met the necessary criteria to allow it to be included in Annex II of the EU Organic Regulation 2092/91/EC and is compatible with Organic Farming Standards. Organic growers should consult their organic authorisation body for derogation to use TRACER for on label and off-label approved crops. For further information please contact Dow AgroSciences.