Pesticide application companies seem to promote “Merit” to kill grubs. What is Merit?
The grub-killing insecticide imidacloprid (dubbed “Merit”) is a chlorinated nicotine-like chemical. It acts upon the nervous system, as do many insecticides. Imidacloprid is also used as a deterrent to birds eating seed, and may similarly curtail control of grubs by birds, which would be counter-productive. Imidacloprid is highly toxic to bees. Imidacloprid is soluble, mobile in some soils and may pollute water. It is persistent. The half-life is widely variable and the PMRA has stated that the half-life is more than 700 days. Imidacloprid has been seen to build up with repeated yearly applications, and to induce pesticide resistance within a few years. A break-down product, 2-chloropyridine, is extremely toxic and persistent, but the PMRA has not adequately addressed this issue. For more info, click here. A safer alternative to “Merit” are Nematodes which eat grubs. For more information on Nematodes, please click here.
