Using Beneficial Insects from Koppert Biological Systems

January 25, 2018

Using Beneficial Insects from Koppert Biological Systems

One of the best ways to control pests organically and to maintain a healthy garden is through the use of beneficial predatory insects.

Last summer, I decided to enlist the help of Koppert Biological Systems to assess my greenhouses and gardens, and to create a treatment program that would keep some of the more common pests away. In December, we received our first shipment of beneficial insects - some are sprinkled over the crops, some are released through cards or small sachets hung on branches and strong stems, and others simply crawl their way out of specially designed cardboard boxes. It is a very interesting process that keeps bad bugs at bay without the use of harmful chemicals.

Enjoy these photos.

: Here is our first box of living beneficial organisms from Koppert Biological Systems, a 50-year old company that uses natural solutions to help growers and commercial farm owners keep their crops pest and chemical free. https://www.koppert.com

: The box contains several types of beneficial insects specially selected to use in my gardens and greenhouses – to prevent pests and to eliminate a few we have seen.

: This is called Cryptobug-L, which is used to eliminate pesky mealybug species in all stages of development.

: Koppert provides these specially designed boxes for the release of these bugs.

: These beneficial insects are actually predatory beetles, Cryptolaemus montrouzieri. Once they are comfortable in their surroundings, they start emerging in search of their favorite food.

: Ryan hangs a box on a branch of several trees in my citrus greenhouse, where some of these critters have been found. Because I have such a large collection of plants, it is important to make sure there are enough beneficial insects protecting these specimens.

: The larvae and the predatory beetles eat the mealybugs in their entirety.

: Because biological beneficial insects have short lifespans, it is crucial to introduce them to the crops as soon as possible so they can start searching for food.

: We were also sent some Aphidend. This bottle contains the black pupae of 2000-gall midges which target a wide range of aphid species – another common garden pest.

: The bottle is simply opened and placed on the soil among the plants. After the gall-midges hatch, they leave the bottle to hunt for aphids.

: Here is the opened bottle of Aphidend – the bedding is wood chips.

: Ryan also hangs several sachets of Ulti-Mite Swirski for eliminating the eggs and larvae of whitefly – a very annoying and damaging insect in the garden.

: Whiteflies are small Hemipterans that typically feed on the undersides of plant leaves. Here is one on the top of a plant leaf.

: These 100-percent compostable foil sachets contain 250-predatory mites and storage mites which feed on various thrips species and the eggs and larvae of whitefly. These are used as a preventative method and when the first signs of whitefly appear.

: Ryan hangs these opened sachets on various plant stems and branches. The adult predatory mites search for their prey or wait for it to pass by them.

: Here is an opened sachet just sitting on the soil within the plant bed in my vegetable greenhouse.

: Ryan then sprinkles some beneficial Swirski-Mite over all the crops in the vegetable greenhouse.

: Here is the inside of the container which also holds hundreds of beneficial mites that feast on a variety of damaging pests.

: Ryan then goes into our smallest greenhouse to treat the topiaries, so that whiteflies do not populate on these specimens.

: And here is Ryan sprinkling it in the main glasshouse, where I store many of my precious staghorn ferns, begonias, orchids, succulents and other potted plants.

: Yesterday, Koppert field expert, Jeremy Webber, returned to the farm to check up on how the program was working.

: Using a special magnifier, Jeremy closely examines several leaf samples.

: He also brought along a box of Enermix cardboard strips.

: Each of these strips contain Eretmocerus eremicus and Encarsia formosa, also known as parasitic wasps. They also target select whitefly species.

: The program is doing very well in keeping these pests away from our crops. The key is to start any pest control treatment plan early to prevent infestations and to maintain the wellness of the garden. Remember Benjamin Franklin’s popular quote – “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”.