Lepinox Plus UK Biological Insecticide 1kg

1. What it is & how it works

Q1: What is Lepinox® Plus and what does it do?

Lepinox® Plus is a highly selective biological insecticide based on Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies kurstaki (Btk), providing effective control of caterpillar pests across a wide range of outdoor and protected crops, with no impact on beneficial insects, pollinators, or natural enemies.

Q2: How does Lepinox® Plus kill caterpillars?

Lepinox® Plus works by ingestion - caterpillar larvae must eat treated foliage to become infected, after which feeding stops almost immediately and larvae die within days, leaving beneficial insects completely unharmed.

Q3: Which caterpillar pests does Lepinox® Plus target?

Lepinox® Plus is effective against a broad range of Lepidopteran larvae, including tortix caterpillars in top fruit, diamondback moth in brassicas, and general caterpillar species in protected crops, ornamentals, and amenity vegetation.

2. Application & use

Q4: Which crops is Lepinox® Plus approved for use on?

Lepinox® Plus holds a broad approval covering outdoor field crops, protected vegetables and fruit, brassicas, ornamental plant production, and amenity and natural vegetation - at a maximum dose of 1 kg/ha and up to three treatments per crop.

Q5: When should I apply Lepinox® Plus, and how do I time applications correctly?

Timing is the most critical factor - apply at egg hatch when early instar larvae (stages I and II) are present and still feeding on the plant surface, in cooler conditions and away from periods of high light intensity.

Q6: How do I mix and apply Lepinox® Plus?

Mix at 1 kg/ha with continuous agitation, applying in sufficient water volume to achieve thorough crop coverage - 400 to 1,500 litres/ha for outdoor crops, 400 to 2,000 litres/ha for protected crops.

3. IPM & Holistic Growing

Q7: How does Lepinox® Plus fit into an IPM programme?

Lepinox® Plus is an ideal IPM tool - its high selectivity for Lepidoptera means it can be used without disrupting beneficial insect populations or biological control programmes, and it sits naturally within Fargro's Holistic Growing framework.

Q8: Is there a risk of resistance developing to Lepinox® Plus?

Resistance to Btk-based productscan develop, particularly in sequential cropping situations, which is why Lepinox® Plus should be used as part of a broader IPM programme rather than as a repeated standalone treatment.

4. Safety, storage & handling

Q9: What PPE is required when using Lepinox® Plus?

Operators must wear coveralls, suitable protective gloves, and an FFP3 disposable filtering face piece respirator when handling and applying Lepinox® Plus - COSHH regulations may apply to professional use.

Q10: How should Lepinox® Plus be stored?

Store in the original tightly closed container in a cool, dry, ventilated place away from direct sunlight - at room temperature (20°C) the product is stable for three years.

Q11: Can Lepinox® Plus be used in amenity settings and public spaces?

Yes - Lepinox® Plus is approved for use on amenity vegetation and natural vegetation, and its biological, non-synthetic mode of action makes it well-suited to environments where pesticide use must be publicly defensible.

5. Commercial & practical

Q12: Why is Lepinox® Plus only available through Fargro, and what support do we offer?

Fargro is the sole marketing company for Lepinox® Plus in Great Britain - which means our team has direct access to the manufacturer's technical expertise and can provide agronomic support that no other supplier can offer.