Spear® LEP is Vestaron’s revolutionary insecticide for tree nuts, fruits, vegetables, and other high-value field and orchard crops. Targeting lepidopteran pests such as loopers, worms, and caterpillars, field trials with Spear LEP show performance that is equivalent to conventional insecticides. With no known resistance or cross resistance, Spear LEP works as a standalone or in rotation with conventional insecticides. Spear LEP is an excellent IPM and resistance management tool.
Tank mixing Bt + Spear LEP extends the residual action, resulting in good pest control, better crop protection, time and fuel savings, less wear and tear on equipment, and less environmental impact — this results in lower production costs and higher return on investment for us, and we definitely envision continued evaluation of Spear LEP as part of our regular spray program moving forward!
~ Troy Swift, owner of Swift River Pecans LLC
for use on tree nuts
almond
hazelnut
pistachio
walnut
for use on other crops
apple
blueberry
cherry
cranberry
grapes
hops
pear
potato
stone fruit
strawberry
tomato
vegetables
key facts
(must read and follow all label instructions)
- Insecticide based on a naturally occurring peptide
- Highly specific for lepidopteran larvae with very low risk to beneficials
- Control equivalent to synthetic options
- Vital new tool for sustainable pest management
- New IRAC Group 32 supporting resistance management
- Mode of Entry: Ingestion
- Mode of Action: Disruption of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor
- Spear LEP is effective when tank-mixed with a gut disrupting facilitator such as Bacillus thuringiensis (Btk) (we recommend Leprotec®)
- Excellent environmental and worker safety profile
- 0-Day PHI, 4-Hour REI, & MRL Exempt
- Low risk of phytotoxicity
quick info
EPA REG # | 88847-6 |
AI | GS-OMEGA/KAPPA-HXTX-HV1A |
FORMULATION | LIQUID |
IRAC GROUP | 32 |
SIGNAL WORD | CAUTION |
REI | 4 HOURS |
PHI | 0 DAYS |
PACKAGE SIZE | 1 GAL, 4X1 GAL CASE |
USE RATE | 2 PT/ACRE PLUS Btk |
SURFACTANT | For best performance, use with a NIS or spreader/sticker at 0.125% v/v |
btk biological insecticide
Leprotec® is Vestaron’s Btk bioinsecticide that is the ideal partner for use with Spear LEP. When ingested together, the Btk proteins perforate the insect mid-gut allowing the Spearpeptide to access the target receptor in the nervous system, killing the pest.
RESULTS
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Recognitions
Vestaron has earned global recognition for its work, including the inaugural 2015 Bernard Blum Award for novel biocontrol solutions, the prestigious Green Chemistry Challenge Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the American Chemical Society Green Chemistry Institute in 2020, as well as Best New Biologic Product in the 2021 Crop Science Awards. The company also received a Thrive Top 50 AgTech | FoodTech Award and a George Washington Carver Award in 2022.