Contendor Insecticide 1L Ready to Use – Systemic Spray for Sap-Sucking Garden Pests

Contendor Insecticide 1L: Ready-to-Use Systemic Spray for Sucking Pests

Contendor is a ready-to-use systemic insecticide for controlling sap-sucking pests on flowers, shrubs, trees, fruit trees and vegetables in the home garden. It comes in a 1L trigger-spray bottle with no mixing or measuring needed, and the active constituent is 0.125g/L imidacloprid, the same active found in the well-known Confidor, which is why gardeners often reach for it as a substitute.

What sets a systemic apart from a contact spray is where the chemical goes. Contendor is absorbed through the foliage and moves through the plant's system, so it reaches sucking pests as they feed, including ones tucked into places a contact spray struggles to hit. That systemic action is also why it's aimed squarely at sucking pests rather than chewing pests like caterpillars, since it works through the sap the insect draws from the plant.

Pests It Controls

• Aphids

• Scale

• Thrips

• Whitefly

• Mealybugs

• Azalea lace bug

• Hibiscus flower beetle

• Psyllids

• Other sap-sucking bugs

Where to Use It and How It Works

Contendor is made for home garden ornamentals, roses, shrubs, trees, fruit trees and vegetables. Because it's taken up into the plant, it keeps working from the inside as pests continue to feed, rather than relying on you hitting every insect directly. It's a low-toxicity, water-based formulation. As with any systemic, apply it as a spot treatment where you actually see pest problems, and follow the bottle directions for how and how often to apply, since it's designed to be used when needed rather than sprayed routinely.

Important: Protecting Bees

Imidacloprid is harmful to bees, and this matters more with a systemic than a contact spray. The active is taken up into the plant and can end up in the flowers, where bees collect pollen, so it's important not to spray plants that are in bud or flower, and to avoid spraying when bees are active. Use it only where and when it's genuinely needed, and don't over-apply. Keep it away from waterways, and store it in its original container out of reach of children. Always read and follow the label.

Frequently Asked Questions

What pests does Contendor control?
It controls sap-sucking pests including aphids, scale, thrips, whitefly, mealybugs, azalea lace bug, hibiscus flower beetle, psyllids and other sucking bugs.

Does Contendor work on caterpillars?
No. It's a systemic aimed at sucking pests that feed on the plant's sap. Chewing pests like caterpillars are better handled by a product designed for them.

Do I need to mix it with water?
No. The 1L bottle is ready to use with a trigger sprayer, so there's no mixing or measuring.

Is Contendor the same as Confidor?
It contains the same active ingredient, imidacloprid at 0.125g/L, which is why it's commonly used as a Confidor alternative for sucking-pest control.

Can I use it on fruit trees and vegetables?
It's registered for use on flowers, shrubs, trees, fruit trees and vegetables in the home garden. Follow the label directions, including any period to observe between spraying and harvest.

Is it safe for bees?
Imidacloprid is harmful to bees. Don't spray plants in bud or flower, and avoid applying when bees are active.

Where can I buy Contendor Insecticide 1L in Australia?
It's available from BPG Supplies (Bonnyrigg Produce & Garden Supplies), with local pickup in Bonnyrigg NSW and delivery across Australia.