Commercial Biological Control

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Commercial Biological Control

• Norm Leppla
• UF, IFAS, IPM Florida

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Milestones in Commercialization of Biological
Control

• 1895- Farming Trichogramma proposed
• 1926- Fillmore, mass prod. NE citrus pests
• 1929- Trichogramma on factitious host
• 1949- Chrysoperla colonization
• 1956- Predaceous mites, mites on strawberry
• 1968- Koppert established
• 1975- Trichogramma, European corn borer
• 1981- IOBC WGQC (AMRQC)
• 1988- Whitefly parasites, Europe glasshouses
• 1990- ANBP established in California
• 1995- Commercial artificial diet for predators
• 1995- IBMA established in France

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Biological Control Organizations with Commercial
Affiliations
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Guidelines for Purchasing and Using Commercial
Natural Enemies and Biopesticides in Florida and
Other States (EDIS IPM-146 IN849)
The Association of Natural Biocontrol Producers
(ANBP) is a professional, non-profit association
representing the biological pest management
industry. Members of ANBP are expected to adhere
to a code of ethics which encourages the highest
standards in the production and marketing of
natural enemies. www.anbp.org
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Commercial Natural Enemies and Biopesticides in
Florida

• 56 commercial invetrebrate biological control
  products available in Florida (230 species
  invertebrates globally)
• 21 biopesticides available in Florida
• 51 suppliers for Florida (250 globally)
• 20 producers in North America, 0 in Florida
  (5/20 produce gt3 species, 10 employees average)
• Revenue 20-25 million for invertebrate
  products produced in North America , 3 companies
  gt 1.5 million (200 million globally)

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Global Sales
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Table 1. Habitats, pests, natural enemies and
reference number
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Tables 2-7. Number of natural enemy products and
sources

• Table 2- Nematodes (8, 30)
• Table 3- Predatory mites (10, 26)
• Table 4- Predatory insects (15, 31)
• Table 5- Parasitic wasps (23, 31)
• Table 6- Biopesticides (21, 29)
• Table 7- Companies and websites (51)

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Nematodes and Mites

• NEMATODES
• Heterorhabditidae- Heterorhabditis (2 spp)
• Steinernematidae- Steinernema (3 spp)
• ARACHNIDS
• Laelapidae- Hypoaspis (1 spp)
• Phytoseiidae- Amblyseius, Galendromus,
  Mesoseiulus, Neoseiulus, Phytoseiulus (9 spp)

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Predatory Insects

• Coleoptera
• Coccinellidae- Cryptolaemus, Delphastus,
• Hippodamia, Rhyzobius, Stethorus
• Cybocephalidae- Cybocephalus
• Histeridae- Carcinops
• Staphylinidae- Dalotia (also called Atheta)
• Diptera
• Cecidomyiidae- Aphidoletes, Feltiella
• Hemiptera
• Anthocoridae- Orius
• Pentatomidae- Podisus
• Neuroptera
• Chrysopidae- Chrysoperla

Thysanoptera Thripidae- Scolothrips
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Parasitic Wasps

• Hymenoptera
• Aphelinidae- Aphelinus, Aphytis, Encarsia,
  Eretmocerus (5 spp)
• Braconidae- Aphidius, Cotesia, Dacnusa (5
  spp)
• Encyrtidae- Leptomastix, Metaphycus (2 spp)
• Eulophidae- Diglyphus, Pediobius (2 spp)
• Pteromalidae- Muscidifurax, Nasonia,
  Spalangia (6 spp)
• Trichogrammatidae- Trichogramma (3 spp)

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Major Commercial Natural Enemies
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Major Commercial Natural Enemies
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Predators!
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Comparison of Chemical and Biological Control
Aspect Chemical Control Biological Control
Number of ingredients tested gt3.5 million 3,500
Success ratio 1140,000 110
Developmental costs 256 million 2 million
Developmental time 10 years 10 years
Benefit/cost ratio 21 2.5201
Risks of resistance Large Nil/small
Specificity Small Large
Harmful side-effects Many Nil/small
Van Lenteren, J. C. 2011. The state of
commercial augmentative biological control
plenty of natural enemies, but a frustrating lack
of uptake. Biocontrol.
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Incentives to Use of Biological Control

• Effective against pest
• Safe for environment
• High benefit/cost
• Reduced long-term cost
• Reduced risk to growers
• Reduced compliance
• Attitude of consumers
• Residue demands by food retailers
• and supermarket chains

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Limitations to Use of Biological Control

• Attitude of the pesticide industry
• Attitude of farmers
• Attitude of governmental institutions
• Influence of guidelines and regulations
• Attitude of biological control community

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Requirements for Commercialization

• Incorporation into IPM system
• Distirbution system and marketing
• Expertise (training)
• New markets and products
• Research support (team versus solo) Improved
  rearing and release methods
• Field tests to determine effectiveness
• Compatibility with pesticides
• Taxonomic expertise
• Quality control
• Supportive regulatory structure

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IPM Transition
Resistant Crop Competitors Natural enemies
Resistant varieties
Invasive Pest
Vulnerable Crop

• Integrated pest management program
• Cultural practices
• Scouting, ID of pests NEs
• Conservation of NEs
• Augmentation of NEs
• Reduced-risk insecticides
• Resistance management

• Pesticide program
• New insecticides
• New formulations
• New application methods
• Resistance management

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Natural Enemy Sales Increases

• Pesticide resistance
• Transgenic crops
• Loss of pesticides (regulatory)
• New more selective pesticides
• Cost of pesticides (registration)
• Alien invasive species
• Cropping systems (pollinators, organic)

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New Product Development
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Amblyseius swirskii
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Western Flower Thrips Control in Cucumbers
Mite Species
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Bemisia tabaci Control on Hibiscus
Release dates
A. swirskii per plant B. tabaci with A.
swirskii B. tabaci without A. swirskii
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Amblyseius swirskii Effectiveness

• Very high numerical response to availability of
  food
• Highly efficacious against western flower thrips,
  greenhouse whiteflies and tobacco whiteflies
• In combination with
• Orius spp. against western flower thrips
• Whitefly parasites against whiteflies
• P. persimilis or A. californicus against
  two-spotted spider mites
• Good establishment on pollen
• Whiteflies can substitute for pollen in peppers
• Good results in North and South Europe
• May replace A. cucumeris, depending on release
  permits

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Pesticide Side Effects
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Global QC Programs

• Individual CompaniesCustomers
• International StandardsISO 9000 IOBC Guidelines
  (European Community)
• The Marketplace Quality Products

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Customer Service

• Many companies provide detailed information on
  how to use their products.
• The best companies deliver excellent customer
  service for site-specific biocontrol.
• The marketplace ultimately determines the
  usefulness of commercial natural enemies.

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Information on Commercial Biological Control