• Transforming crop protection: the rise of predatory mites

  July 21, 2025

  biological control in Spain. A passion for insects – and a new beginning in Almeria After studying biology in Granada with a focus on entomology, José moved [...] shift in mentality in Almeria.” Scaling up: strawberries, citrus, and beyond From greenhouses to open fields, the success of Swirski-Mite opened the door [...] marketed as Spical — marking a milestone in expanding biocontrol beyond the greenhouse. In recent years, the team has introduced two more powerful allies:

• Trianum effectively controls Pythium in cucumber

  Trianum-G in 2020. Based on the fungus Trichoderma harzianum T-22, the product colonizes the plant’s root system and keeps pathogenic fungi away from the roots [...] sorts of conditions have a bigger impact on the beneficials than on the thrips, which means I need to be alert. The same goes for caterpillars , since there’s [...] grams of Trianium-G on each mat before putting out the new plants in ‘duo’ pots (two plants in one rockwool cube). He decided to do this in response to his

• Spidex Vital® sets new standards in spider control

  May 12, 2021

  not congregate around the rim of the applicator bottles when applying the product manually. The fact that they remain within the carrier is a positive [...] system The ultimate outcome of the Spidex Vital ® project was the birth of a new P. persimilis product, but fundamental to this outcome, was the development [...] persimilis rearing system. The rearing method is centred on the use of an undisclosed artificial diet, which significantly increases the rearing capacity of P

• Thrip control in Strawberry with Orius laevagatus

  May 8, 2019

  stages of the pest, including the adults. The presence of pollen enhances the rate of development of Orius, hence they are frequently found in the flowers [...] feeding on thrips. The establishment of Orius is most effective at day temperatures in excess of 18 0 C, and in view of this, the introduction of the predatory [...] forms the backbone of the biological programme to control thrips on strawberries. However, the pest can nevertheless become problematic during the summer

• Control spidermite with Phytoseiulus in soft fruit

  May 8, 2019

  largely rely on biological control of spider mites in their crops. Control of spider mite control is achieved with the use of predatory mites , the most effective [...] 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 [...] spidermite. Due to the wide variety of growing systems in UK soft fruit crops, the introduction rates for Phytoseiulus differ according to the particular crop

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

  August 5, 2025

  production, they reviewed the entire process, from the type and quantity of feed to the composition of the rearing medium and the design of new production [...] accepts the best food. It is a diva. And that makes its production complex.” From unstable produce to robust upscaling The challenge was not only in the rearing [...] especially in scaling up to commercial volumes during peak periods. "We have been working on this since we started with Limonica in 2012. The breakthrough

• How a little predatory mite laid the foundation for biocontrol today

  June 5, 2024

  that’s in our genes. The commitment to finding solutions for growers – it was our driving force in the past, still is today, and will be in the future,’ [...] location to start Operating from the largest vegetable and flower cultivation area in the Netherlands, the Westland offered the company a ready market – almost [...] long time… ‘Back in the 60s, my father was a cucumber grower battling with persistent spider mite infestations when he struck on the idea of a natural

• Natutec Drive – ‘In a class of its own!’

  June 4, 2021

  Natutec Drive – On the road to precision biological control Natutec Drive takes centre stage Half a year ago, Dyson Farming in the UK took the decision to [...] Farming is the biggest private landowner in the United Kingdom and grows a variety of crops. The family-owned agricultural company prides itself on its innovative [...] tool unfold over the crop to blow the live products accurately and uniformly over the strawberry plant foliage without harming the insects. We are really satisfied

• Natutec Drive – ‘In a class of its own!’

  June 4, 2021

  Farming is the biggest private landowner in the United Kingdom and grows a variety of crops. The family-owned agricultural company prides itself on its innovative [...] Drive – On the road to precision biological control Angel Angelov, Glasshouse Manager – Dyson Farming, UK Half a year ago, Dyson Farming in the UK took [...] tool unfold over the crop to blow the live products accurately and uniformly over the strawberry plant foliage without harming the insects. We are really satisfied

• Trianum-P improves open field pepper production in Portugal

  out with the company Sociedade Agrícola Militão, in the town of Ribatejo, in a pepper crop for the processing industry. Pedro Militão is one of the two owners [...] for the processing industry, which are very important in Portugal. Around 80% of the total production of vegetables for the processing industry in Portugal [...] Aubergine (90 ha). The great challenge facing the production of crops for the processing industry is to work at a low price in which the fruit and vegetable