Vertento® (isocycloseram) for Lygus Management in Arizona Cotton

Abstract

The recent registration of Vertento® (isocycloseram; IRAC Group 30) introduces a novel mode of action for Lygus management in Arizona cotton. Field research under Arizona conditions demonstrates that Vertento provides excellent and consistent control of Lygus bugs at a rate of 1.6 oz per acre, with residual activity often extending two weeks or longer. Vertento is classified as a partially selective (“yellow box”) insecticide within Arizona’s biologically based IPM system, producing intermediate non-target effects on beneficial arthropods compared with fully selective and broad-spectrum alternatives. Predator community impacts are measurable but substantially less disruptive than those associated with organophosphate insecticides. When used strategically, Vertento offers an effective new option for Lygus control while supporting resistance management goals and minimizing the risk of secondary pest outbreaks. Its successful integration into Arizona cotton IPM depends on careful consideration of timing, predator abundance, and rotation with existing selective standards.