How to treat apple trees with Fitoverm

What is an insecticide?

Insecticides are chemicals designed to kill harmful insects, their eggs, and larvae. Their names derive from the Latin insectum (insect) and caedo (kill). Each insecticide's action is determined by the properties of its active ingredient. Therefore, when choosing an insecticide, it's important to remember that products with completely different names but containing the same active ingredient will have the same effect on pests.

Depending on the method of penetration into the insect's body and the mechanism of action, insecticides are divided into several groups:

• contact – destroy the pest after direct contact with any part of their body;
• intestinal - enter the insect along with food and are absorbed into the stomach walls, poisoning the entire body;
• systemic – penetrate and spread throughout all plant tissues, poisoning them with a toxin that is deadly to pests;
• Fumigants are gaseous substances that enter the insect's body through the respiratory system.

According to the principle of action, insecticides are divided into 2 types:

• continuous action – destroys several different types of pests simultaneously;
• selective action - affects only a certain type of insect.

Brief description and features of the drug "Fitoverm"

Fitoverm is a fourth-generation bioinsecticide that effectively kills harmful insects without harming the environment. Fitoverm is formulated with the active ingredient avermectin, a naturally occurring chemical belonging to the avermectin class of biological pesticides. Its main advantage is its ability to maintain its original effectiveness when used for several years without causing insect tolerance.

The drug is a concentrated emulsion with an unpleasant odor. It is available in several forms:

• ampoules (2.4 and 5 ml);
• bubbles (10–400 ml);
• containers for processing large areas (5 l).

The emulsion has a broad spectrum of action and effectively controls both sucking and leaf-eating pests. Gardeners often use Fitoverm against apple tree caterpillars.

Operating principle

Avermectins, the basis for Fitoverm, are neurotoxic poisons produced by the bacterium Streptomyces avermitilis. These substances paralyze pests by blocking nerve impulses. Having lost the ability to move and feed, the insects die of starvation.

Neurotoxic poisons can enter the parasite's body in the following ways:

• through soft tissues;
• along with poisoned food.

Pests stop damaging the apple tree approximately 6-16 hours after treatment and die within 2-3 days. Complete eradication of their colonies will take one week.

When choosing an insecticide, novice gardeners often wonder whether Fitoverm will help against aphids on apple trees. This product helps control not only all types of aphids but also many other harmful insects. These include:

• leaf roller;
• codling moth;
• sawfly;
• scale insect;
• whitefly;
• mealybug;
• gall mite;
• thrips;
• geometer moth;
• apple moth, etc.

Why does an apple tree need Fitoverm?

With the onset of the growing season, harmful insects awaken and become active, capable of causing significant damage to orchards. These pests feed on the bark, buds, flowers, and leaves of apple trees. Failure to regularly apply insecticides can lead to significant yield reductions and often even to the death of the crop itself. Unfortunately, many chemicals are only allowed to be used 20 days before harvest, and traditional home remedies often fail to provide the most effective results. Fitoverm, an indispensable pest control product, can solve this problem.

The relevance of the drug before harvest is due to the following advantages:

• rapid deactivation, allowing application even 2-3 days before harvest;
• dual mechanism of action;
• destruction of many species of insects;
• absolutely safe for trees and human health;
• increased efficiency in hot weather;
• long-term protection (up to 20 days);
• good compatibility with most other drugs.

Instructions for preparing a working solution for apple trees

Before treating your garden, carefully read the instructions for using Fitoverm for apple trees, located on the packaging. Since the product does not react with metal or plastic, any container made of these materials can be used for dilution. When preparing the working solution, follow these steps:

1. Determine in advance the required amount of solution based on the area to be treated.
2. Open the ampoule and measure out the medication using a syringe or dispenser.
3. Pour the emulsion into 100 ml of water and stir thoroughly.
4. Add another 900 ml of liquid and stir well again.
5. Bring the solution to the required concentration and pour it into the sprayer.

Fitoverm is compatible with many fungicides and fertilizers. This allows you to treat plants against pests and diseases, as well as provide nutrition, in a single application. Its simultaneous use with alkaline products is prohibited, as mixing the two substances will result in a thick sediment.

Features of application

For gardeners who know how to treat apple trees with Fitoverm, this procedure is not accompanied by any difficulties.

Basic rules:

1. Use the prepared solution immediately after its preparation.
2. Carry out treatment in dry (10 hours or more before precipitation) and windless weather. The optimal time is morning or evening (after sunset).
3. When spraying, be sure to ensure that the leaf is completely wet on both sides.
4. The inner parts of the leaf blades require more careful treatment, since the preparation quickly decomposes on the upper parts under the influence of sunlight.

The number of treatments depends on the severity of the orchard's infestation. Typically, 3-4 sprayings are required per season, spaced 2 weeks apart.

Consumption rates of the drug

When preparing the working solution, it's important to know how to dilute Fitoverm for apple trees. For spraying fruit crops, the product is diluted with water at a ratio of 2 ml per 1 liter. For effective treatment of one apple tree, 5 liters of the working solution are required.

Security measures

When cultivating your garden, it is important to follow several recommendations:

1. The procedure should be carried out wearing gloves, work clothes and a protective mask.
2. During spraying, eating, drinking, and smoking are prohibited.
3. After treatment, you must remove your work clothes, wash your hands thoroughly, and rinse your mouth with water.
4. If the solution enters the body, drink activated charcoal.

Storage

Fitoverm should be stored in a dry place (at a temperature of 15–25°C), out of the reach of children and pets, and away from food and medications. The shelf life of the product (unopened) is 2 years from the date of manufacture.