BENEFICIAL MITES ARE SUCCESSFUL IN INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS

Beneficial Mites Destroy Spider Mites

Spider mites are a major worldwide agricultural and horticultural pest. Biotactics, Inc.’s Benemite™ beneficial mite products are proven natural enemies of spider mites.

These beneficial mites, also known as predatory mites, have successfully suppressed spider mites in grapes, berries, strawberries, almonds, avocados, apples, corn, mint, and numerous ornamentals. They also do exceptionally well in greenhouses and interior landscapes.

The use of beneficial mites continues to grow as Pest Control Advisors (PCAs) discover the benefits of using beneficial mites, as opposed to pesticides, in their Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs.

Benefits of Using Beneficial Mites

Beneficial mites prolong the value of current miticides in your IPM program. With beneficial mites you can use miticides less frequently, so spider mites do not develop resistance to miticides as quickly.

Beneficial mites improve crop quality because restricting miticides eliminates the phytotoxic effects they have on crops. Restricted miticide use also reduces chemical contamination and supports natural enemies already present in the crop.

Beneficial mites have a short lifecycle. This allows them to quickly reproduce at a rate of one generation per week in warm weather. They then consume every stage of the spider mite including the eggs, giving you prolonged control of spider mite outbreaks.

Beneficial mites control spider mite populations on every leaf of a crop—a feat difficult to do with miticides.

Beneficial mites are cost-effective, user-friendly, and laborsaving; and, in most cases, they work just as well if not better than miticides.

Beneficial Mites Are More Successful Than Miticides Beneficial mites work extremely well in IPM and Organic programs. Depending on the crop, beneficial mites can be used at the same time as some pesticides.

In an IPM trial performed by Biotactics, Inc., populations of twospotted spider mites were compared during the months of November through May in two plots of a strawberry field. Both plots were treated with the usual miticides at the same time; the only difference was the addition, also known as augmentation, of beneficial mites to one plot. This Augmentative Bio-Control (ABC) plot was compared to the miticide-only plot.

As you can see in Figure 1, the ABC plot, augmented with P. persimilis, controlled the spider mite population far better than the miticide-only plot. By March, the spider mites were almost completely extinguished in the ABC plot, while they were exploding in the miticide-only plot.

Because beneficial mites reproduce so quickly in the field, consuming all stages of the spider mite, they are able to tip the balance to control spider mite outbreaks when the miticide is no longer working.

In other crops, miticides can be entirely eliminated. Beneficial mites alone can control spider mite populations in many crops, including mint, almonds, avocados, and apples.

IT’S AS EASY AS ABC: AUGMENTATIVE BIO-CONTROL

Creating a Balance

In Classical Bio-Control a beneficial insect is introduced, establishes itself, and is able to control the pest year after year. The Vidalia Beetle, which has controlled Cottony Cushion Scale in citrus since the early 1900’s, is an example of this. Yet in tilled field crops, greenhouses, and in some orchards, beneficial insects are unable to establish a permanent presence.

Using a yearly periodic release of cultured beneficial insects augments the low numbers of beneficial insects that occur naturally in the crops, but have been insufficient to control the pest. This establishes the appropriate balance of beneficial insects to suppress the pest outbreak.

Like pesticides, Augmentative Bio-Control (ABC) uses one to several applications during a crop season to suppress a pest. It requires annual use. Unlike pesticides, the application of beneficial insects does not harm beneficial insects already present in the crop. Thus, the natural and augmented beneficial insects work together to reduce the pest to below economic levels. It’s that easy. BIOTACTICS, INC. WORLD LEADER IN BENEFICIAL MITES

The Obvious Choice

Founded in 1970 by two UC Riverside Entomologists, Biotactics, Inc. has been, and remains, the leader in production, research, and consultation for beneficial mites.

Glenn Scriven and Walt White, co-founders, are true pioneers in the field. Both have experience working with beneficial mites since the 1960s, making Biotactics, Inc. the obvious choice for PCAs interested in using beneficial mites in their IPM programs. Working Together with PCAs

Scriven and White are available to consult with you to determine which one or combination of the six Benemite™ products is best for your client.

PCAs are working together with Biotactics, Inc. to supply Benemite™ products around the world. Benemite™ products have been especially successful on California’s Coast and in its Central Valley, in Oregon, Florida, Spain, and in Greenhouses in Europe and Canada. No Cost Crop Trials

Biotactics, Inc. is committed to the furthering of Bio-Control in IPM programs. If you are interested in releasing beneficial mites on a crop not mentioned in this handbook, consider consulting with us to set up a crop trial.

We will help you determine the best strategy for a particular crop and will provide beneficial mites for one-acre crop trials free of charge.