Beneficial insects for pest control

Although chemical pesticides are widely used in many agricultural systems, complete dependence on chemicals is no longer a viable approach to pest control for the following reasons:

Resistance

A major drawback that continues to reduce the effectiveness of conventional insecticides is the ability of pests to develop resistance. About 500 insects and related pests (mites) showed resistance. In fact, some of them cannot be controlled with today's chemical arsenal.

Secondary pest problem

Even chemicals that are effective against pests often kill or interfere with beneficial insects and other organisms. The situation then created allows the insect (not an ordinary pest, but another insect taking advantage of the available food) to quickly increase in number, since there are no predators in the field that could prevent a population explosion. Sometimes the resulting (long-term and economic) damage from a secondary pest is greater than that from the pest originally targeted.

Shop our large selection of beneficial insects, including live ladybugs, at BezTarakanov's. Half pints - 4,500 ladybugs - treat the average sized garden, and FedEx delivers within two days. IS FREE! Are there pests? Visit our pest solution tool to see photos, descriptions and a complete list of eco-friendly pest control solutions.

Economy

A combination of resistance, secondary pests, and legal restrictions caused by safety and environmental concerns has increased the cost of insecticides. Also an economic issue for commercial producers is the demand for pesticide-free food (major supermarket chains advertise independent testing of their products in response to consumer pressure).

The solution is to optimize rather than maximize insect control:

1. Identify the Pest – Not all insects are pests!
2. Set the right level of acceptable damage – not all pests are economically important.
3. Monitor the pest situation regularly; sometimes no control is required.
4. If the pest population is large enough to cause economic loss, use all available and acceptable means of control, including cultural, biological, mechanical, and natural or botanical pesticides.
5. Regular releases of beneficial insects (as a preventive and control measure) are now part of 'traditional' IPM in agriculture and should be considered and properly implemented.
6. Record results for use in future strategy – preventive measures require advance planning.

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend"

Today, many large farmers and gardeners use beneficial insects, bacteria and other organisms. Those of you familiar with the biological pest control arsenal already know the importance of proper planning. For those of you just joining us, you can save time, money and frustration by learning the importance of:

1. Choosing the right type
2. Right time
3. Correct application
4. Favorable environment

When we farm or garden (especially in monoculture), we change the environment to favor what we want to grow. We can remove weeds, fertilize the soil, provide additional water, etc. However, this new food will certainly attract our first visitors. Typically, plants attract many feeders, which ultimately attract predators and parasites. The time between the arrival of pests and the appearance of an enemy can be costly. Scientists around the world are constantly searching for natural enemies that can be used in pest situations.

Commercial insectarians mass produce a range of beneficial insects that have already proven effective in reducing pest populations sufficiently to significantly reduce or eliminate chemical controls.

Whiteflies are harmful to both outdoor and indoor plants by sucking plant sap. Under certain conditions, they can also transmit diseases. whitefly parasite lays eggs—50 to 100—in both the pupae and later larval stages of the whitefly, destroying them before they can become adults.

1. The right types

• Identify the primary pest (secondary pests are often as important as primary pests, but are usually “created” in response to chemical control attempts directed at the primary pest).
• Identify the enemies of the pest.
• Incorporate this information into your pest control strategy.

If possible, choose a more specialized predator/parasite. For example, the Trichogramma wasp parasitizes the eggs of more than 200 species of moths and butterfly eggs, thereby preventing the emergence of harmful caterpillars. But once the caterpillar has hatched, it falls prey to various common feeders, a variety of parasites, possibly viruses and even vertebrates. Your main line of defense is the egg parasite. By reducing the initial number of caterpillars that damage the plant, other natural pest control measures may be sufficient to maintain pest populations below the level of economic damage. Predatory mites are well suited for introduction to control mite pests. It is very important to make the right choice (see literature on ticks). Most natural predators/parasites are not commercially available; many of them are actually still unknown. But information is available to help you make the best choice among the predators/parasites available today.

2. synchronization

Proper timing is a critical aspect of natural pest control when releasing beneficial insects. A host must be accessible to parasites. In some cases (eg Trichogramma spp.) regular releases are possible because multiple hosts are available, allowing the parasite population to increase before the target pest emerges. But when using a parasite of a certain life cycle stage (Trichogramma - egg parasite), the parasite must be present in sufficient quantities when the target pest is present. For example, Trichogramma will not help if caterpillars have already hatched from all the eggs. Whitefly parasite Encarcia formosa, on the other hand, should not be administered without the presence of whiteflies.

And while some predators are able to survive periods without a food source, most require a constant supply of food. Thus, if the predator is specific (i.e., predatory mites for spider mite control), introductions must be made while the pest is present (or even with the pest), but before the pest population becomes too high to achieve adequate control. On the other hand, if the predator is nonspecific, introduction can be made if a food source is available. Beneficial insect releases over a period of time will increase the predator population.

3. Correct use

Deliver sufficient numbers of beneficial insects in good condition as close to the target area as possible.

In some cases, proper application is just a matter of good planning and handling of the load. Always take proper precautions to obtain the organisms and maintain a proper sane environment before they are released into your field, garden, greenhouse or orchard. After all, proper handling is necessary for these organisms to survive, function and thrive.

Speed ​​of application can be very important. Recommendations are available for any commercially available beneficial insect. Again, DO NOT wait until the pest population gets too high. You can save money if you time your release correctly.

Application methods range from manual ground release to aerial release over large areas. Much is missing in the practical application of current delivery systems. However, the increased interest in large-scale delivery systems is very promising.

These predatory mites are predatory relatives of leaf-eating spider mites and other plant-eating pest mites. Spider mite predators about the size of a two-spotted spider mite, orange or brown in color, unspotted, and more shiny and pear-shaped than their prey.

4. Favorable environment

One of the most important aspects of natural pest control is maintaining an environment that is as conducive to beneficial insects as possible. In some cases, properly maintained cover crops can become a source of many predators and parasites. The introduction of commercially farmed natural predators/parasites will be most successful if temperature and humidity factors are considered. Optimal conditions are maintained during production; attention is paid to ensuring proper transport conditions (beneficial insects are usually transported at the most protected stage of their life cycle); It is very important to handle the goods correctly at the destination, i.e. do not leave it in a hot mailbox or car; Proper application includes consideration of temperature (do not apply during the hottest part of the day). Also, when choosing a species, consider known requirements (for example, some predatory mites require a minimum relative humidity of 60%, others 40%).

Application

We can draw on extensive experience combining beneficial insect release into fields, field monitoring and advice on the many stages of natural pest control.

When dealing with live beneficial insects that have a short “shelf life,” advance planning is essential. It is equally important to have a reliable source of natural predators and parasites once you decide to use them. Please contact us as soon as possible to “reserve” your order.

Quality control

One of the most important aspects of supplying beneficial insects is quality control (QC). Every day (and sometimes at night) insects are checked for appearance, breeding rate, aggressiveness, etc. Samples are taken before shipment to ensure optimal quality. New technologies developed by our insectariums, the USDA and universities can be immediately implemented into production to improve quality and efficiency. Our insects are raised in environmentally friendly buildings. However, tests have shown that when insects are raised in unnatural conditions, their search ability, aggressiveness, etc. may decrease after several generations. To ensure maximum insect efficiency, we obtain "starter" cultures directly from Mother Nature and begin the process all over again. Our goal is to provide you with the best possible product to help you control your pests safely, effectively and economically.

Warranty

Without Cockroaches guarantees timely delivery of a quality product.