Pesticides

Pesticides buying guide

Veldkraft lists 67 pesticides, priced from R30 to R6 698, from brands including Protek, Bitrad, Spanjaard. Orders are delivered to all nine provinces and to Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho and Eswatini.

Identify the pest before you buy

Start by naming the pest, because every insecticide and rodenticide is registered for specific pests, crops and situations. This category covers crawling and flying insects, ants, harvester termites, and rats and mice. Cypermethrin 200EC, Lambda EC and Protek Alphathrin are broad-spectrum concentrates for many insect pests, while termite baits, ant bait stations and rodent grain baits each target one group. Check that your pest and situation are listed on the label.

Contact, stomach or systemic action?

Contact insecticides kill insects that touch the spray or treated surface, stomach poisons work when the pest eats treated material or bait, and systemic products are taken up by the plant so feeding insects ingest them. Many products, such as Lambda EC and Protek CarbaKil, combine contact and stomach action. Systemic organophosphates such as Methamidophos 585 SL are agricultural products with strict label precautions, so read the hazard class and restrictions before buying.

Choose the formulation for the job

Pick the formulation that suits where the pest lives. Emulsifiable concentrates (EC) and suspension concentrates (SC) are mixed with water and sprayed. Dusting powders such as Protek Insectidust suit cracks, nests and dry areas. Granules such as Protek Scatterkill for Insects are spread as the label directs. Ready-to-use baits and bait stations need no mixing, and total release foggers such as Protek Nuvan Profi treat enclosed spaces while people and animals are out.

Termites and ants

For harvester termites, a stomach-action bait such as Termite Stop is applied where termites forage, while termite concentrates such as Protek Terminex 350 SC are used as the label directs. For ants, ready-to-use options include Protek AnTrap outdoor bait stations and the Spray-Kill 1 concentrate for ants, termites and cockroaches. Baits work slowly because workers carry them back to the colony, so give them time before you treat again.

Rats and mice: bait and placement

Rodent baits come as ready-to-use grain baits, such as Protek Supa-Kill, and pellets such as Protek Kill-All, a single-feed rodenticide. Single-feed baits act after one feed, while others need repeated feeding over several days. Place bait where rodents travel and feed, out of reach of children, pets, poultry and livestock, preferably in tamper-resistant bait stations. Check bait points regularly, remove dead rodents wearing gloves, and follow the label for disposal.

Labels, protective equipment and storage

Follow the product label for dilution, application and withholding periods; this guide gives no rates. Check the label for the Act 36 registration number, the registered pests and crops, and the protective equipment required, typically gloves, eye protection and covering clothing. A spray indicator such as Sprayrite Blue Colourant shows where you have already sprayed. Store pesticides locked away in their original containers, and never reuse empty containers for food, water or feed.

Pesticides: common questions

What is cypermethrin used for?

Cypermethrin is a broad-spectrum pyrethroid insecticide registered against a range of insect pests, with uses on crops, in gardens or around buildings depending on the product. The Protek 200EC formulation is an emulsifiable concentrate that is diluted with water before spraying. It is highly toxic to fish and bees, so keep it out of water and follow the label for registered uses.

What is the difference between a pesticide and an insecticide?

Pesticide is the umbrella term for products that control pests, including those aimed at insects, rodents and weeds. An insecticide is the type aimed specifically at insects, while rodenticides target rats and mice and herbicides target weeds. This category covers insect sprays and dusts, ant and termite baits, rodent baits and related items such as spray indicators and fly trap refills.

How do I get rid of rats on a farm?

Remove food and shelter first: store feed in sealed containers, clear rubbish and close gaps in buildings. Then place a registered rodenticide bait along runs and near feeding sites, in bait stations out of reach of children, pets and livestock. Check and replace bait as the label directs, and remove carcasses promptly while wearing gloves.

Can I use farm insecticide inside the house?

Only if the label lists indoor or household use. Agricultural concentrates are often registered for crops only and can be more hazardous indoors. For homes, choose a product labelled for your pest and situation, such as a dusting powder, ant bait or fogger, and follow the ventilation and re-entry instructions on the label.

How much do pesticides cost in South Africa?

Veldkraft lists 67 pesticides and related products priced from R30 to R6 698. Price depends on the active ingredient, its concentration and the pack size. Small ready-to-use baits, dusts and fly trap refills cost least, while large bags of rodent or termite bait and 20 litre agricultural concentrates sit at the top of the range.

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