Testing Avaunt eVo Part 2: Efficacy and Tanking Mixing Results, 2025

In grower meetings, I have said that Avaunt eVo will likely need to be tank mixed due to its field performance when compared to insecticides that knock the population down below the action threshold. The label says “suppression” only for Lygus. Based on this summer’s research, I think Exponent (an insecticide synergist) and Prev-Am could be possible tank mix partners. That’s not my final verdict because I have more work to do. The data between 2024 and 2025 have been contradictory to say the least.

We conducted two conventional L. hesperus trials between July and September of 2024. Avaunt eVo performed decently compared to the controls. In that trial we noticed large week-to-week variability of the product’s efficacy. The best explanation I have currently is that either the field population of L. hesperus on the east side of Santa Maria at that time was particularly susceptible to Avaunt eVo or the heat wave at the time helped expedite the demise of the pest.

What did we learn in 2025?

Despite the low numbers of Lygus we were still able to glean some useful information. The product does work best on small nymphs (1st-3rd instars) (Fig. 1) compared to later stage nymphs (Fig. 2).

**Figure 1.** Data from October 2025 trial in Santa Maria focusing on performance of Avaunt eVo (6 oz/ac), Sefina (14 oz /ac), and Plinazolin (2.1 and 3.1 fl oz/acre) against *Lygus hesperus*. Data shows small nymph mortality, Pre = presample 6 DAT1 = 6 days after 1st spray, 6 DAT2 = 6 days after second spray. Bars with different letters are statistically significant according to Tukey Kramer HSD test (P<0.05). (Graphs prepared by C. Koubek.)

**Figure 2.** Data from October 2025 trial in Santa Maria focusing on performance of Avaunt eVo (6 oz/ac), Sefina (14 oz /ac), and Plinazolin (2.1 and 3.1 fl oz/acre) against *Lygus hesperus*. Data shows large nymph mortality, Pre = presample 6 DAT1 = 6 days after 1st spray, 6 DAT2 = 6 days after second spray. Bars with different letters are statistically significant according to Tukey Kramer HSD test (P<0.05). (Graphs prepared by C. Koubek.)

**Figure 3**. Data from September 2025 trial in Santa Maria focusing on performance of Avaunt eVo (6 oz/ac), Brigade WSB (32 oz/acre), Brigade WSB + Exponent against *Lygus hesperus*. Data shows large nymph mortality, Pre = presample 6 DAT1 = 6 days after 1st spray, 6 DAT 2 = 6 days after second spray. Bars with different letters are statistically significant according to Tukey Kramer HSD test (P<0.05). (Graph prepared by M.A. Aghaee)

Avaunt eVo is a challenging chemistry to work with because its active ingredient (indoxacarb) requires ingestion in sufficient amounts to kill the target pest. Although not a problem with caterpillars and moth larvae, this presents challenges with L. hesperus. This problem is compounded by issues of spray coverage. Given that the label for Avaunt eVo states “suppression”, the best option is to tank mix it with a synergist or other insecticide at a lower carrier volume to maximize its efficacy.

If you want to read more about both sets of trials on Avaunt eVo that were completed in 2025, they were recently published in Arthropod Management Tests, the carrier volume trial can be found here and the efficacy trial can be found here.

Citations:

Koubek, C.T. and Aghaee, M.A. 2026. Influence of adjuvant and carrier volume on indoxacarb efficacy for control of Western tarnished plant bug (Lygus hesperus) in strawberry, 2025. Arthropod Management Tests 51:tsag020. https://doi.org/10.1093/amt/tsag020

Aghaee, M.A. and Koubek, C.T. 2026. Indoxacarb tank mix efficacy trial against western tarnished plant bug (Lygus hesperus) in strawberry, 2025. Arthropod Management Tests 51:tsaf147. https://doi.org/10.1093/amt/tsaf147

Author

Mohammad Amir Aghaee

Mohammad is the Entomology Program Leader at the Strawberry Center, where he leads research efforts focused on the biological control of key pests in strawberry production, including twospotted spider mites and Lygus hesperus. He joined the Strawberry Center in 2023. He earned his Ph.D. and M.S. in Entomology from UC Davis and holds a B.S. in Environmental Sciences, Genetics, and Plant Biology from UC Berkeley with a minor in Forestry. His work integrates laboratory and field research to improve integrated pest management (IPM) strategies, evaluate pesticide compatibility with beneficial arthropods, and assess novel technologies and their applicability in the ever-tightening economic climate.