Merit 75 WSP - Questions & Answers

The amount of water you use is up to you. The manufacturer recommends that you use an amount of water that is easy for you to handle and calculate. Water simply acts as a carrier and it is important that even distribution of the product is achieved. Thus, more water may be used if the applicator feels runoff will not occur and proper penetration of the root zone is achieved. It is recommended that you use at least 5-10 gallons of water per 1,000 sq ft. After the application is complete you can then go back and irrigate the area to help the product penetrate the root systems.

Merit 75 WSP cannot be used on a citrus tree. The product can persist for about 1 year after the application inside the tree. There is another product called Imidapro 4SC which is labeled for use on citrus trees and it contains the same active ingredient as Merit just in a different formulation.

Merit 75 WSP is highly toxic to bees even if applied as a root injection. The residue can still be there when the tree or shrub blooms.

Merit works well because it contains the active ingredient imidacloprid which acts as a systemic insecticide, but as you probably know is also quite expensive. We do carry several other products that contain imidacloprid and will work in the same way as Merit, and they are less expensive. Adonis 75 WSP, Adonis 2F, Dominion 2L, Criterion 75 WSP, Fertilome Tree and Shrub Systemic, and Bonide Systemic Granules. Each of these products will work systemically to help treat for whitefly, but the application and usage rate will vary so you should read the product label of the product you are considering and make sure you are comfortable with the application before purchasing. Systemic products can take several weeks to translocate through a plant. During that time the whiteflies can cause a lot of damage so you should use a product such as Talstar P as a foliage spray to help control the infestation while the systemic product is working its way through the plants.

Merit 75 WSP will treat grubs and other turf pests that moles may occasionally eat, however, we would not recommend insect control as the primary means of treating for moles. Moles' primary food source is earthworms, which are going to be impossible (and unecessary) to eliminate. Our most popular treatment product for moles is Talpirid Mole Bait. Please see our Mole Treatment Guide for more details and tips.

Merit 75 WSP is a commercial grade insecticide and Bayer Advanced products are manufactured with the homeowner in mind. Commercial grade products such as Merit 75 WSP are typically able to cover more area with a smaller amount of product as to ensure cost efficiency. However, it is difficult to offer more of a comparison of products without knowing specifically what Bayer Advanced product you are asking about.

The coverage area of 1 envelope of Merit 75 WSP will depend entirely on the type of pest you are treating and the area that is being treated.  Here are some general guidelines:

There are 4 x 1.6 oz water soluble packets in each envelope.

For Turf grass-:  1.6 oz (1 packet) per 8,250 sq ft to 11,000 sq ft.

For Foliar applications of trees, shrubs: 1.6 oz (1 packet) per 300 gal water

For Systemic applications of trees:  1.6 (1 packet) per 24-48 cumulative inches trunk diameter

For Systemic applications of shrubs: 1.6 (1 packet) per 24-48 cumulative feet shrub height

Merit WSP label:

http://www.domyownpestcontrol.com/msds/Merit%2075%20WSP%20label.pdf

Easy to understand mixing instructions at bottom of page:

http://www.domyownpestcontrol.com/merit-75-wp-oz-jar-p-300.html

 

No, Merit 75 WSP  has not been discontinued.  It is still available for purchase. Bayer did discontinue the 2 oz. bottle of Merit 75 WP. Both products contain Imidacloprid at 75%. 

The amount of water used with Merit 75 WSP is up to you. The manufacturer recommends that you use an amount of water that is easy for you to handle and calculate. Water simply acts as a carrier and it is important that even distribution of the product is achieved. Thus, more water may be used if the applicator feels runoff will not occur and proper penetration of the root zone is achieved. It is recommended that you use at least 5-10 gallons of water per 1,000 sq ft. After the application is complete you can then go back and irrigate the area to help the product penetrate the root systems. Please see the Label for complete application instructions. Keep in mind that each water-soluble packet of Merit 75 WSP treats 12-24 cumulative inches of trunk diameter when treating for trees, and each packet is usually diluted in at least 25 gallons of water, so this may not be the right formulation for you if you are only treating a small area. You may consider Dominion 2L for smaller applications.

Either Merit WP or the Merit WSP will work for your needs as the only difference between these products is how they are packaged. Merit WP is a 2 oz jar which works well for small jobs and Merit WSP is an envelope that comes with 4 water soluble packets for larger larger jobs. You will need to know the height of each holly shrub and you will use 0.7 to 1.4 level teaspoons per foot of shrub height. The amount of water that is used will vary depending on soil conditions and volumes that are easy for applicators to use. The minimum amount of water that should be used is 1 pint per foot of shrub height but you may use 1 quart -1 gallon of water per foot of height as well. Denser soils such as clay do not accept water as readily, so the lower volume of water is suggested.  Since sandy soils can accept more water, using the higher volume of water is preferred.

We would recommend using Bayer Advanced Natria Multi-Insect Control for use on Roses, Flowers, Fruits and Vegetables to treat for grape phylloxera. You will use 4 teaspoons per quart of water. You will spray thoroughly until the plant is wet. You can repeat treatments 1-2 weeks if needed. You can do the treatments simultaneously. Please let us know if you have any additional questions.

Merit 75 WSP would be a great choice for treating scale on the ash trees. We have detailed instructions on how to measure your trees to find out how much you will need to purchase and how to apply properly. Please contact your local Cooperative Extension Office to learn more about the Anthracnose on your Sycamore trees. These offices specialize in the local flora and the diseases and pests associated with it and can be absoluetly invaluable to homeowners.

For foliar applications of trees, shrubs: 1.6 oz (1 packet) of Merit 75 WSP (75% imidacloprid) per 300 gallons of water. Please refer to the product label for complete application instructions.
 

Since Merit 75 WP does not list bamboo specifically on the label, we cannot give an exact rate for this plant, unfortunately. Our best recommendation would be using the ornamental plants rate, which is 1 x 1.6 oz packet per 300 gallons of water applied as a foliar spray. Since this is a systemic product, it is typically only used once or twice a year.

With Merit, it is most effective when applied prior to, or just after, egg lay. In most cases, adult emergence occurs in early summer, often after significant rainfall or irrigation, followed by mating and egg laying. This usually continues for four to six weeks. Under normal circumstances, Merit will provide residual white grub control for four months or longer in turf.

Dylox 6.2 Granules is only active and kills for 48 hours. Dylox should be watered in for at least 1 to 1.5 hours for best results to ensure the product makes it through the thatch layer to where the grubs are feeding.  Mature grubs usually require at least 2 applications, 3 to 4 days apart.

It is possible that Merit could clog your sprayer because it is a water soluble powder and the powder could settle causing a clog. We have not had any reports of Merit causing any issues when mixed well. If this is still a concern for you, please consider using a liquid formulation that contains the same active ingredient such as Adonis 2F.

Merit is not recommended for most bark beetles because the beetles are under the bark but above the level where the Merit would trans-locate through the tree. Infected trees should be cut down (before the newly hatched beetles fly out of the trees in the spring/summer) and the wood burned or chipped, while other still healthy trees should be sprayed annually to protect them. Because of the natural boring behavior of the beetle they are protected from topically applied insecticides and systemic insecticides (those injected into the tree or applied as a root drench such as Merit) have proven ineffective for pine bark beetle infestations. Healthy trees can be protected before the beetles attack by topically spraying them with a synthetic pyrethroid like Talstar or Permethrin SFR. The trees should be sprayed from the ground to 15 ft up the trunk to prevent future infestations. You should contact your local cooperative extension office to find out the best time to start spraying in your region.

We have not been able to find a product that is labeled for the hickory spiral borers. The only information that we could find only recommended breaking off the damaged branches for control of the insect. If you would like to try a systemic insecticide to see if it helps, you could try Merit 75. You can use Merit 75 as a soil drench that would be taken up by the roots of the tree and you can spray the foliage on the tree as well. We would recommend that you contact your local cooperative extension office for further information.

Unfortunately we are not familiar with a Waterboy. Please contact the Waterboy manufacturer to see if wettable powder insecticides can be used in their device. Merit is indeed very effective for mealybugs.