Should I Use a Systemic Insecticide on My Fruit Trees?

Q. Several weeks ago I noticed whiteflies on my dwarf orange tree. I went to Lowes where they recommended the following product: Bayer Advanced Tree & Shrub Protect and Feed. Upon reading the instructions it states: Do not use on plants grown for food but does not mention trees or shrubs. Can you please tell if this product is safe to use and if not what would you recommend?



Picture can be found at
Bayer link to this insecticide and the label
 

A. I cannot tell you if it is safe to use on edible crops or not. I went back and looked at the product label online. Some formulations of the product the manufacturer claims you can use on SOME edible crops including fruit trees.

            The manufacturer also claims 12 month control of some insect pests using this product. Some formulations say you can spread the granules under the tree. The tree in turn takes up this product through its roots where it spreads through the plant where this poison then gives 12 month control to pests listed on the label.

            This means that the product has spread through the entire plant systemically to provide enough of this product inside the tree to control these insects for 12 months. This also means the poison should ALSO be in other plant parts as well, such as fruit.

            These products undergo extensive testing for so-called “safety” issues that must be done before receiving a label approved by EPA. So our EPA is saying that this product has met its tolerances of “safety” (the feds do not like you to use the word “safe” in instances like this because they do not guarantee any pesticide is “safe”) and have approved this label. The product is supposed to be at such low levels in the plant that the government considers it safe to eat.

            Now, in my opinion, I would NEVER eat fruit from a fruit tree that has been treated with a systemic insecticide, period. Particularly when the manufacturer has claimed 12 month control of insects after its application! It does not make any sense to me to eat fruit from this tree in the same year it was treated with this type of pesticide. I hope this helps.