Arborjet recommends a trunk Micro-infusion™ using the insecticide IMA-jet (imidacloprid) with the Tree I.V system with the Arborplug Technology.  Imidacloprid is a nicotinoid, which means that its chemical structure is similar to nicotine in tobacco.  This chemical disrupts the central nervous system in insects.  Click here to determine dosage rates for your trees.  Select the Tree I.V. system with the Arborplug Technology. Other injection devices to select for this application include the Hydraulic, and the Pro-Cap.  These systems enable the arborist or tree custodian to rapidly inject a precise dose of medicament directly into the xylem tissue, assuring a fast plant response.  IMA-jet is not currently registered for use in California.

Generally, the best seasons for Micro-infusion™ are fall and spring. Uptake occurs when trees are transpiring. The environmental conditions that favor uptake are moderate temperatures, adequate soil moisture, and high humidity.  Soil temperature should be above 40 degrees for micro-infusion™.  Tree health will influence uptake time.  Generally, hot weather or dry soil conditions will result in a reduced rate of uptake.  If treating trees in the summer, micro-infuse in the morning for the quickest uptake. A dying tree is a poor candidate for treatment.  It is the responsibility of the arborist or tree custodian to assess tree health and its potential for recovery before undertaking treatment. 

Tree recovery will be proportional to the severity of the RGLP infestation at the time of injection.  (Click here to view Arborjet’s RGLP Severity Scale).  The severity scale was developed as a tool to assess levels of infestation to indicate tree health improvement after treatment.  Provided that the tree was treated in time, IMA-jet will kill the insects and the tree will re-foliate.  New leaves produced after treatment with IMA-jet will show fewer signs of infestation and overall tree health will improve.  Click here to view research paper on IMA-jet’s efficacy against RGLP.