Remember I'm in another country and products are different. This is what I use:
The active ingredient is Imidacloprid, I found this on Wiki:
Imidacloprid is a systemic insecticide which acts as an insect neurotoxin and belongs to a class of chemicals called the neonicotinoids which act on the central nervous system of insects with much lower toxicity to mammals.
Imidacloprid is currently the most widely used insecticide in the world.[3] Although it is now off patent, the primary manufacturer of this chemical is Bayer CropScience, (part of Bayer AG). It is sold under many names for many uses; it can be applied by soil injection, tree injection, application to the skin of the plant, broadcast foliar, ground application as a granular or liquid formulation, or as a pesticide-coated seed treatment.
I'm concerned that it is toxic to bees, honey is one of the major agricultural products from the Yucatan peninsula. This is something that is readily available here so it is no doubt being used a lot, I use it sparingly when I have a huge infestation of aphids. I don't know if it kills ants as well, that would be nice. The only good ant is a dead ant in my book.
I bought it behind the main mercado here in the city. The mercado is a huge market, many blocks square and 2 stories tall, that is full of small stalls selling anything and everything. There are sections for produce, meat, fish, hardware, clothing, flowers, animals (chickens, turkeys, turtles, fish, dogs and ducks) food stalls, artisan products, and more I can't think of. Behind the mercado is what I call the 'street of poisons' - sort of jokingly. It has many stores selling all types of agricultural products. I buy fish food there, Frontline for the dogs, vet medications, fertilizers and all types of poisons. I also get advice about garden problems from the people who work there. I asked about aphids a few years ago and told them I wanted a systemic poison and that usually these things were sold for roses. The guy immediately brought me this container and I bought it, it's worked great when I need it the last few years.
I've seen people here refer to a Bayer product for pest control and now I'm wondering if this is the same stuff.
I think both of you are right, I have sooty mold as a result of aphids. I threw some of the above in the pot just now and will wash off the leaves this afternoon and see if it returns. No doubt I have a nest of ants in the pot, they love to move into large pots of soil.
