Download Getting Started with Beneficial Insects - Applied Bio

Getting Started with Beneficial
Insects
Presented in Oregon January 2010
Starting with Biocontrols
or
Stopping with Chemicals?

What we are really talking about is
stopping, or reducing the use of chemical
pesticides.
 Bio-controls are the natural and “normal”
method of controlling pests.
 Chemical pesticides are basically a 20th
Century, temporary solution
Why Reduce using Chemical
Pesticides?
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The Government is removing some for public
safety reasons.
The Chemical industry is reducing the number of
chemicals available due to registration costs.
Inappropriate use is leading to resistance
The active ingredient, or the solvents used can
cause physical damage to the plants.
To apply chemicals legally, re-entry times may
disrupt your operation.
For your employees, and your own health.
Pros and Cons of Beneficial
Insects
 Pros:
 Cons:
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Natural and benign
No re-entry delays or
special equipment
Cost effective if used
appropriately
Won’t damage plants
No resistance risk
Provides a “cooling off”
period for Chemicals
Limited species
commercially available
 Some control is achieved
with pest persistent
 Requires thorough
scouting and identification
 Can be expensive if not
used appropriately
Starting Point or
How do I Kick the Chemical
Habit?
Stop all “routine” spray
programs
 Clean out your
Chemical arsenal by
switching to IPM
products
 Completely rethink your
position on “bugs”

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Begin extensive
monitoring
 Keep a log of when and
where pests occur
 Identify sensitive plants
or plants that act like
magnets
 Only Spot spray
The Awful Truth
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What you are trying to do is natural, but you are
working with unnatural conditions in an unnatural time
frame
You cannot afford to let nature “take its course”
You are working with some of the harshest
environments on earth
Your budget is being reduced, as we speak
You can’t keep doing what you are doing
Your customers are not sympathetic and expect healthy,
insect free plants
The New Reality

IPM is a proven system
 Many Gardens, such as Kew in England and
Butchart in Canada, are featuring Beneficial
Insects as part of the show
 Children are learning about Beneficial
Insects in school, they will be expecting you
to be using them when they become your
customers
Small Beginnings

Start with a specific
problem
 Involve all of your staff
 Get outside help, make
your supplier “buy into”
the project
 Pick something that
Chemicals can’t do well
Building on Success

Once you have achieved
a small success, involve
your Directors and your
customers. Let it become
their idea.
 Make it part of the “act”,
put signs out
 Make it a media event
The Realistic Goals
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Your nursery becomes known as one that incorporates
“correct” methods
Your pest control budget stays the same, or is reduced
Your plants are healthier and bigger (by about 15%)
especially in propagation
You and your employees are healthier and happier
The Beneficials become part of the show
You may be able to sell Beneficials to your customers,
increasing your sales potential
Introducing some of the Team

The following Beneficial Insects are proven
performers for both outdoor and indoor
 I will use specific examples of their
applications for illustration
 In most cases, they are available from
numerous producers and suppliers
Spider Mite Predator
Stethorus punctillum

Rookie of the year
candidate
 Consumes all Spider
Mites it has faced
 Flies, finds mites by smell
 Is not intimidated by high
temps and low humidity
 Excellent results in
Raspberries in Oregon,
hops in Washington,
indoor palms in Las Vegas
Spider Mite Predator
Amblyseius fallacis

Predatory mite that
controls every pest mite
 Persists outdoors
 Alternate food is pollen
 Best control for Bamboo
mite, European Red mite
 Excellent results in Mint
in Montana, Bamboo in
Oregon, Spruce in
Washington, Cedar in
B.C., Greenhouse
Tomatoes in New England
Aphid Predator
Aphidoletes aphidimyza
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Goes after all aphids and
close relatives except
“Wooly” aphid
Over winters as far north
as Sweden
Completely cleans
infested plants
Flying adults find prey by
smell
Cycles indoor and outdoor
Whitefly Predator
Delphastus catalinae
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Predator for all species of
Whitefly
 Excellent flyer, finds prey
by smell
 Prefers eggs, therefore
eliminates “hot-spots”
before they occur and
works well with Encarsia
formosa
 Is not intimidated by high
Whitefly densities
Sample Strategies
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Basic Rules;
Don’t Panic
 Identify correctly
 Consider physical
situation
 Don’t ignore history
 Keep an annual diary
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Turning a “Problem” into an
“Opportunity”
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Chronically infested plants can become “indicator” plants
for easier scouting, or, “Banker” plants for control
strategies.
Example: Whitefly; use these plants to determine when
Whitefly begins, then focus your Encarsia and Delphastus
on them. You will begin to generate large numbers of
Beneficials that will disperse.
Example: Spider Mite; use these plants to determine when
Spider Mites are breaking dormancy. Treat them with
Phytoseiulus persimilis or S. punctillum. If using P. p.,
begin dispersing leaves when control is evident.
Bamboo Mite Infestation

Apply Amblyseius
fallacis on infected
plants: 500 per plant
 Apply any time of
year
 Control will occur in
the following year;
most of the predation
is on the ground, over
winter
Spider mites on Trees
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Apply A. fallacis to
affected areas: Rate
2000 per tree
 Apply Hypoaspis
miles around tree base:
Rate 1000 / sq meter
 Control occurs in
following year
Black-vine Root Weevil

Apply H. miles around
base of plant: Rate
2500 per sq meter
 Apply any time of
year
 Control occurs in
following year