The California Department of Pesticide Regulation has granted a Section 18 emergency exemption to allow the use of Rimon 0.83 EC insecticide to control lygus bugs on strawberries in Los Angeles, Monterey, Orange, San Benito, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and Ventura counties. The exemption is valid through Nov. 12.

Rimon, marketed by Chemtura Corp., is an insect growth regulator that impedes the development of immature insects at molting.

It controls lygus, while preserving predatory mites.

Rimon may be applied by ground equipment at a rate of 12 fluid ounces of product per acre, with a maximum of three applications per site per season.