Turfgrass managers face growing pressure to deliver long-lasting insect control while reducing environmental impact and increasing operational efficiency. With season-long control of some of the most damaging turf insects, across both cool- and warm-season turfgrass, Contrado is a reliable foundation for insecticide programs throughout the country. Contrado offers exceptional residual control of white grubs, turf-feeding caterpillars, billbugs, and more, often with just a single early-season application.
But Contrado is more than a standalone product. When integrated with Suprado (novaluron), turf managers unlock a comprehensive program that extends pest protection, broadens the spectrum of control, and improves operational timing from spring through fall.
How Chlorantraniliprole Works
Chlorantraniliprole belongs to the anthranilic diamide class (IRAC Group 28) and acts as a ryanodine receptor modulator, disrupting calcium ion regulation in insect muscle tissue. This leads to muscle paralysis and feeding cessation within hours of exposure, followed by death over the course of a few days.
This particular mode of action offers several technical advantages that set it apart from other chemistries:
Pest Spectrum and Application Considerations
Contrado provides reliable control of several key turfgrass pests across regions and turf types:
A key technical advantage of Contrado is its extended residual activity. When applied at higher labeled rates, Contrado can provide season-long control from a single spring application. This long-lasting performance not only improves consistency of control but also broadens the application window, allowing turf managers to adjust timing based on local conditions and operational demands.
The ability to apply Contrado early in the season offers meaningful logistical advantages:
Lawn care operators can front-load insecticide applications alongside early-season fertilizer or preemergent herbicides, reducing complexity later in the season when labor and equipment are stretched thin.
Golf course superintendents can make targeted spring applications before busy aerification schedules, tournament prep, or heavy mowing and irrigation demands.
In most regions, Contrado should be applied between April to May and followed by 0.1 - 0.2” of irrigation or rainfall to move the active ingredient into the root zone and allow for systemic uptake. Lack of post-application irrigation, typically within 1-2 weeks, can lead to reduced product efficacy due to increased risk of degradation and mowing that can remove most of the treated tissue.
Program Integration: Pairing Contrado with Suprado
For cool-season turfgrass, Suprado is the gold standard for annual bluegrass weevil (ABW) control when applied during peak adult migration, targeting early larval instars with residual activity for control of developing larvae. A subsequent application of Contrado strengthens the program by delivering suppressive activity on later-developing ABW larvae while also providing season-long control of white grubs, turf caterpillars, and billbugs. This sequential approach broadens the window of control and reduces the risk of population rebound.
In warm-season turf, Suprado delivers dependable control of bermudagrass mites and chinch bugs during early-season application windows. A follow-up application of Contrado then establishes season-long protection against grubs, caterpillars, and billbugs, rounding out the program. Used in succession, Suprado and Contrado form a comprehensive insecticide foundation that allows turf managers to address a wide range of pests with well-timed, operationally efficient applications throughout the season.
Region-specific insecticide programs featuring Suprado and Contrado are available here, offering tailored recommendations based on pest pressure and seasonal timing.
Extending Control Beyond the Lawn
In addition to its proven performance in turf, Contrado also provides control of key pests in ornamental landscapes, making it a versatile tool for lawn care operators managing both lawn and landscape health. When applied as a soil drench or foliar spray, Contrado controls a range of chewing pests such as Japanese beetles, sawflies, bagworms, and caterpillars on trees and shrubs. Because the application timing for turf pests often aligns with early-season emergence of landscape pests, LCOs can consolidate services by using a single product to treat both turf and ornamentals during the same visit. This not only streamlines scheduling but also enhances service efficiency while delivering broad-spectrum protection across the entire area.
As insect pressure becomes more unpredictable and expectations for season-long performance increase, turfgrass professionals need solutions that are both effective and adaptable. Contrado, powered by the industry-trusted active ingredient chlorantraniliprole, offers the residual strength and systemic activity needed to control the most damaging turf pests with a single, well-timed application. When used in sequence with Suprado, turf managers gain a complementary program that targets a broader range of pests across multiple life stages—all while maintaining flexibility in application timing and reducing operational burden. Together, these tools form a dependable foundation for building regionally tailored insect control strategies that deliver consistent results from spring through fall.
