The label is the law. Rates and restrictions below are taken from the product labels listed under Sources. Your product's own label governs; read it before you mix or apply. Mixing calculator · Disclaimer
- Active ingredient
- Spirotetramat
- Chemical class
- Tetronic and tetramic acid derivatives; IRAC Group 23 inhibitors of acetyl-CoA carboxylase.[2]
- Mode of action
- IRAC Group 23: Inhibitors of acetyl-CoA carboxylase: tetronic and tetramic acid derivatives[2]
- Signal word
- Spirotetramat 240 SC Greenhouse and Nursery Insecticide/Miticide (Kontos): Caution[1]
Plants to avoid
The label does not recommend it for geraniums, orchids, hoya, Dracaena, Cordyline, Schefflera, neanthebella palm or ferns. Hydrangea, impatiens, crotons, fuchsia, petunia, peperomia, stock and cyclamen get only one application per season.[1]
Because untested varieties may react, the label says to try the rate on a small number of plants before spraying widely, including any tank mix.[1]
Resistance and rotation
The label says Group 23 studies have shown no cross-resistance with other chemical classes. It still urges a block or windowed rotation with other modes of action before more Group 23 sprays on the same pest.[1]
Where it is used
After a foliar spray it is fully systemic, moving through both phloem and xylem into new shoots, leaves and roots. Insects mostly take it in by feeding, and treated adults may lay fewer eggs.[1]
Start sprays before pest numbers build or when damage is first noticed. A spreader-sticker or penetrating adjuvant may improve uptake into leaves.[1]
Mites and thrips need an early start: heavy existing mite populations won't be controlled, and only immature thrips on foliage are controlled, with thrips in buds merely suppressed.[1]
For container drenches, use just enough water to wet the potting mix without it running out the bottom, then irrigate carefully for the next 10 days.[1]
Products and registrations
| Product | Registrant | EPA Reg. No. | Active % | Formulation | Signal word |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spirotetramat 240 SC Greenhouse and Nursery Insecticide/Miticide (Kontos)[1] | Environmental Science U.S., LLC (Envu) | 101563-130 | 22.4% | suspension concentrate | Caution |
Label rates
| Product | Use | Pests | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spirotetramat 240 SC Greenhouse and Nursery Insecticide/Miticide (Kontos) | Flowers, foliage plants, groundcovers, shrubs, evergreens and trees (including non-bearing fruit and nut trees) in and around greenhouses and nurseries | Adelgids, aphids, leafhoppers, mealybugs, psyllids, scale crawlers, spider and tarsonemid mites, spittlebugs, thrips, whiteflies | 1.7–3.4 fl oz product per 100 gallons of water[1] That is 1.5 to 3.0 mL per 3 gallons of water. Reapply at 14- to 28-day intervals if needed. No more than 25 fl oz per acre per season, and no more than 5.1 fl oz per acre in one application on outdoor ornamentals. |
Safety and environmental hazards
People
Signal word CAUTION: harmful if swallowed or absorbed through skin, and causes moderate eye irritation. Prolonged or repeated skin contact may cause allergic reactions; handlers wear eyewear and chemical-resistant gloves, and the re-entry interval is 24 hours.[1]
Pets
The label's hazard statement covers humans and domestic animals alike: harmful if swallowed or absorbed through skin. It is a greenhouse, nursery and interiorscape product, not one for home use around pets.[1]
Bees and pollinators
Potentially toxic to honey bee larvae through residues in pollen and nectar, though not to adult bees. Adults that contact spray or residues on blooming plants can carry it back to the larvae.[1]
Fish and water
Toxic to aquatic invertebrates and oysters, with a high potential for runoff for several weeks after application. It can also reach groundwater in permeable soils with a shallow water table.[1]
Common questions
- How much Kontos per gallon?
- The label gives 1.5 to 3.0 mL of product per 3 gallons of water, which is the same as 1.7 to 3.4 fl oz per 100 gallons.[1]
- Is spirotetramat systemic?
- Yes. The label calls it fully systemic, moving through phloem and xylem to new shoots, leaves and roots after a foliar spray.[1]
- Is spirotetramat harmful to bees?
- The label says it can harm honey bee larvae through residues in pollen and nectar, but it is not toxic to adult honey bees.[1]
Sources
- U.S. EPA Pesticide Product Label System, “Spirotetramat 240 SC Greenhouse and Nursery Insecticide/Miticide (Kontos) label, EPA Reg. No. 101563-130 (EPA-stamped, Nov. 13, 2025).” www3.epa.gov/pesticides/chem_search/ppls/101563-00130-20251113.pdf (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Insecticide Resistance Action Committee, “IRAC Mode of Action Classification Scheme, Version 11.5 (Feb. 2026).” irac-online.org/documents/moa-classification/ (accessed 2026-10-06)