Insecticide – Eating Fruit after Use

Q: I am in a dilemma! Recently we put a product containing the systemic insecticide imidacloprid around some blueberry bushes and figs. Will we be able to eat the fruit from these plants this year?

A: My research reveals that the homeowner version of imidacloprid is labeled only for apple, crabapple, pear, pecan and quince. However, entomologist Dan Horton says that commercial imidacloprid is labeled for use on most fruits, including “day of harvest” application to peach.

It’s probable that the skin of a fruit holds more of the material than the flesh. However, the bottom line is that the material you used is not labeled for use on figs and blueberries, so I can’t advise whether to consume the fruit..