• Getting a head start - The importance of scouting in winter

  January 31, 2025

  common pathogen in winter wheat, especially under cool and wet conditions during the winter months. The symptoms are apparent in winter and early spring [...] Understanding pest behaviour in winter and early spring Many pests, including aphids , mites, and various larvae, can survive the winter in various life stages [...] Plants communicate in colour and growth, so when scouting for seedling diseases look for yellowing, wilted, stunted, or dead plants. In general, certain

• Caterpillar control in greenhouse crops

  June 20, 2019

  can often live in rolled up leaves, although some species live between leaves, or flowers, that have been spun together, in holes in stems, flowers, or [...] leaves either in groups or individually. After leaving the egg, caterpillars then feed and moult. Once fully-grown, caterpillars cease to feed, and then pupate [...] Autographa gamma - Silver Y Moth The most harmful caterpillars that occur in the greenhouse belong to the Noctuidae, which is the largest of all the l

• How to protect bumblebees in cold

  place the hives above the crop. Managing humidity in winter While dehumidifying tunnels/greenhouses in winter, it's essential to keep an eye on the bumblebees [...] When temperatures drop during the winter months, bumblebees face challenges in surviving the cold conditions to maintain their productivity. We understand [...] bumblebees and their performance. Right climate for bumblebee pollination in greenhouses In tunnels or greenhouses, the morning temperature needs to rise quickly

• Licence permits release of Koppert Swirski Mite® in polytunnels in England

  January 6, 2021

  Mite® in polythene tunnels in England Koppert can announce the launch of a suite of products aimed at improving the robustness of IPM programmes in strawberry [...] Swirski Mite®, issued by DEFRA in November 2020. Until now, Swirski Mite® has been licensed in England for use only in glasshouses, not polythene tunnels [...] has been increasing in tunnel strawberry crops in recent years.” Koppert has gained many years of experience with Swirski Mite® in various glasshouse crops

• Control spidermite with Phytoseiulus in soft fruit

  May 8, 2019

  This product is supplied in bottle sizes of 2,000 and 10,000. The mite is a specialist predator of spider mites and does not feed on anything else. As a [...] to use this predator in a preventative fashion; instead it is normally introduced as soon as the first spider mites are found in the crop. Adult Phytoseiulus [...] systems in UK soft fruit crops, the introduction rates for Phytoseiulus differ according to the particular crop, e.g. being expressed per plant in strawberries

• Thrip control in Strawberry with Orius laevagatus

  May 8, 2019

  found in the flowers. Adult Orius feeding on thrips. The establishment of Orius is most effective at day temperatures in excess of 18 0 C, and in view of [...] for optimum control of thrips . It should also be borne in mind that capsids often start to occur in strawberry crops from late July, requiring the application [...] Control of thrips using the predatory bug Orius laevigatus in strawberry crops. Thrips are one of the most difficult pests for the strawberry grower. They

• Spidex Vital® sets new standards in spider control

  May 12, 2021

  Spidex Vital Phytoseiulus persimilis Spidex Vital® sets new standards in spider control In April, Koppert UK launched Spidex Vital ® for spider mite control [...] which means that Tetranychus urticae , which was the principle food source in the old rearing system, is no longer required. Predators are white rather [...] extremely positive. Growers have noticed that the new P. persimilis are white in colour rather than red. “It was important to communicate this fundamental

• Effective Wireworm Control In Potato Crops With Beneficial Nematodes

  July 19, 2024

  been banned, and those still available work poorly in the soil. These slender, cylindrical larvae feed on underground plant parts, including potato tubers [...] of wireworms include irregular or shallow holes in potato tubers, often accompanied by tunnels and feeding marks. During early growth stages, wilting or [...] adult click beetles , which lay eggs in the soil, can help predict wireworm infestations and is also a helpful protocol in which to determine the species of

• Spidex Vital Plus – Effective spider mite control in a sachet

  spider mite but prefers to feed on younger stages. Tim Bossinga, Product Manager: 'By placing the sachets strategically in and around identified hotspots [...] easy to use. Introduce the sachets in and around hotspots and repeat biweekly. Spidex Vital Plus sachets can be used in combination with Spidex Vital bottles [...] the sachets of Spidex Vital Plus allows Phytoseiulus persimilis to multiply in the sachet and disperse into the crop over a period of several weeks, extending

• Limonica: breakthrough in large-scale production of a complex predatory mite

  August 5, 2025

  combination of in-depth knowledge, technical breakthroughs, and strategic collaboration, Koppert has succeeded in making Limonica available in commercial volumes [...] produce to robust upscaling The challenge was not only in the rearing itself, but especially in scaling up to commercial volumes during peak periods. "We [...] Koppert apart is its deep-rooted expertise in the production of natural enemies, built up since its foundation in 1967. “Those years of experience form the