Instar Granular Insecticide

Instar Granular Insecticide is a non-repellent Fipronil based specially graded silica carrier granule for use in the control of Argentine stem weevil in golf greens, red imported fire ants, yellow crazy ants and funnel ants in lawns, commercial turf farms, parks, recreational areas, golf courses, bowling greens, sports fields and nuisance ants in external surrounds of buildings and structures.

Features of Instar Insecticide

• 0.25g/kg Fipronil active ingredient
• Non repellent formulation. Ants won’t know what hit them
• Fast acting - Kills ants quickly & effectively
• Low rate of active ingredient Fipronil
• Includes Smart Kill Technology
• Efficient localised colony elimination
• Registered for a broad range of nuisance ant species. Sugar, oil, protein or carbocarbohydrate-feeding
• Comes in a handy 20kg bucket, with a dispenser for treatment of smaller areas. Convenient and ready to go

Mode of Action of Instar Insecticide

Fipronil, the active ingredient in Instar Granular Insecticide is a disruptor of the insect central nervous system via the GABA channel, acting with contact and ingestion action. It blocks the GABA-gated chloride channels of neurons in the central nervous system preventing chloride uptake. Due to the excess chloride, neural overstimulation occurs preventing feeding, resulting in the eventual death of the target insect.

Application Rates and Directions for Use

The rate of application of INSTAR is 75-150kg/ha (750g-1.5kg/100m2). Broadcast INSTAR Granular Insecticide with suitable application equipment to ensure uniform coverage over the treatment area. The treatment area must be irrigated with up to 4 mm of water immediately after application. Inspect treatment areas for continuing activity. If required, repeat applications may be made at 2 month intervals up to a maximum of 5 applications per year.

It is important when assessing an ant treatment to establish the potential ‘biomass’ of the ant colony. For example, the volume of INSTAR required to control a small infestation of black house ants will be substantially different to that required to remove a large meat ant (Iridomymex) colony. Prior to treatment, a thorough inspection of the area should be made to identify the ant highways, nests, locations, food and moisture sources in order to effectively treat each situation. By identifying these ant highways, and establishing the potential biomass to be treated an effective targeted application of Instar along garden edging, garden beds, between pavers, rockeries ant trials and nests can be made.

A Unique Granular Fipronil Formulation

INSTAR Granular Insecticide utilises a graded quartz silica particle to ensure an even size of granule. Unlike other silica products on the market, Instar has all dust and fine particles screened and removed to ensure the optimum sized carrier to deliver the fipronil active where it is needed.

Proprietary sticking agents are used to evenly coat the silica granule and an even application of the highly effective active ingredient fipronil is then applied using an electrostatic process. Deadly to ants, they only need come into contact through normal trailing over granules, movement of particles or the subsequent dispersion of fipronil after rain or physical water application to a broader surface area.

A Non repellent Formulation – Undetectable technology

Fipronil is well documented as a non-repellent active ingredient widely used in pest control for the treatment of termites, ants and other nuisance pests. Strategically, in an insect management program, the use of non-repellent formulation technology is becoming more important to avoid issues related to insecticide avoidance as well as being able to distribute insecticide to greater insect population for colony eradication. This is particularly important for the control of social insects such as ants, which through their interaction can distribute an insecticide throughout a colony to have maximum effect. INSTAR utilises the effectiveness of fipronil in its granular delivery mechanism to introduce a lethal dose into a colony situation leading to the eventual eradication of a colony with sufficient exposure.

Contains Smart Kill Technology

INSTAR was developed specifically taking into advantage of the unique properties of the active ingredient, fipronil so that ants, through their normal social interaction can unsuspectingly come into contact with it, and spread it throughout the population with a view to eliminating it.