I haven't had trouble with thrips on my trees. If the Bayer material isn't labeled for fruits you'll have to decide.

Here what I do spray very late in evening.

SPINOSAD
(Entrust)# 1.71��"2.5 oz 0.43��"0.6 oz 4 7
(Success) 6��"8 oz 1.5��"2 oz 4 7
MODE OF ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 5
COMMENTS: To avoid development of insect resistance, do not treat successive generations of the same pest with the same product. Do not apply more than 29 oz/acre/year of Success or 9 oz/acre/year of Entrust. This product is toxic to bees for 3 hours following treatment; apply in late evening after bees have stopped foraging.

This post was edited by gator_rider2 on Tue, Feb 19, 13 at 12:19

campv,

I don't know exactly what formulation of Bayer insecticide you are using, but it sounds like one that contains imidacloprid as the active ingredient. Imidacloprid is absorbed through the roots and moves systemically throughout the plant tissues.

While some formulations of imidacloprid are approved for fruits, I would not use it in the manner you are suggesting. Applying it anywhere near bloom will most certainly result in insecticide residues in nectar and pollen. Regarding bee toxicity, Imidacloprid is one of the most toxic insecticides available. We're talking parts per billion, not parts per million. Unfortunately it is also very persistent so that an application long before bloom can still result in lethal bee residues in pollen and nectar.

I'm not at all afraid to use synthetic pesticides, and I try never to say never, but with the information now available, I'd have to think long and hard before I used imidacloprid (probably never).

I actually don't think it will be very long before imidacloprid will have it's label revoked for typical lawn and landscape use, at least not without a restricted-use label.

Thanks everyone -This insecticide does have imidacloprid in it along with fertilizer. I don't want to kill any bees or myself. Is there some kind of granuals I can use? Will Spinosad kill thrips in the ground? I don't want to spray the tree because in the past (5 years)it did not work. I need to kill the larva in the ground and stop the cycle or a least tone it down.

One application of imidacloprid can last in a tree 5 years or longer killing bees all along the way. You won't have aphid issues but I'm not sure how effective it is on thrips if at all.

Good info here...

Here is a link that might be useful: Thrips Management Guidelines

Thanks everyone- so it is Xnay the Bayer stuff and I will just use it around the roses. I guess I thought of it out of fustration. I am tired of the fruit looking bad, even the nieghborhood kids wrinkle their noses @ the scaring. I do spray the tree with dorment oil maybe I should spray it more or right before bloom?

not to poke, but bees like roses(some kinds) too if there is not a major bloom elsewhere for pollen.
Is the use on roses routine or targeted?