The active ingredient GS-omega/kappa-Hxtx-Hv1a, branded as the SPEAR® technology by Vestaron Corporation, was classified as a new IRAC group 32 in November 2018. Derived from a naturally occurring peptide, SPEAR targets the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor in a different way than any existing class of insecticides. The novel mode of action brings an important tool to insecticide resistance management (IRM). The product, Spear-Lep, works synergistically with low label rates of Bt for field performance that matches conventional insecticides. Recent field research results will be shared to demonstrate Spear-Lep’s versatility across cropping systems and lepidopteran pest species, as well as its positioning as a new IRM tool.
