INNOVATION

Exclusively Biological control: from APC Parasitic wasps versus Anobiidae

The common furniture (Anobium punctatum) of the family Anobiidae is Life cycle of the parasitic wasp Principle of the most frequent timber pest species in churches, historical buildings and muse- A. punctatum ums. It causes severe damages by destroy- ing installations as well as inventory. control by Conventional control methods are elabo- rate, expensive and in part also harmful to parasitic wasps the environment. We are pleased to offer an effective alternative: These tiny parasitic wasps do not have Prey and predator much in common with common- ly known as “wasps”. Females reach a In , we trust in benefi- A length of 5 to 9 mm. It tracks down the cial organisms. For instance, we success- pest species within the galleries by per- fully use different parasitic wasp species to ceiving the movements of the furni- control material and stored product pests E B ture beetle . It pierces its for many years. © APC AG through the timber and initially paralyzes Now, we are working with the most effective the larva. Then it presses the flexible antagonist of A. punctatum. By means of through the ovipositor and places it onto scientific research, long lasting, own labora- the larva. Within a few days, a larva of the tory experiments and multi-year test series D C parasitic wasp hatches and feeds on the we developed an effective and practicable paralyzed furniture beetle larva, which is method to control the furniture beetle. kept alive a while longer. At that time, the destruction of the timber by feeding ac- The parasitic wasp species (Spathius ex- tivities of the furniture beetle larva has al- arator) impresses with a fascinating ready stopped. The larva of the parasitic searching performance. Our mass rearing wasps pupates. After eclosion the adult allows us the commercial application. How- parasitic wasp flies out. ever, it is not yet done with solely releasing A Female parasitic wasp B Oviposition onto paralyzed D Death of furniture beetle the parasitic wasps. Our biologists monitor detects furniture beetle furniture beetle larva larva, pupation of the all relevant parameters, evaluate them and larva, pierces its ovipositor wasp larva, eclosion into the timber and C Eclosion of a parasitic and flying out establish a concept for the efficient decima- paralyzes it wasp larva, which feeds on tion of infestation. furniture beetle larva E Adult parasitic wasp

Results from Predator-prey relationship in treated and untreated churches 4 years of practical On average, there are hatching: – one wasp and 26.5 furniture in untreated objects (25 churches) application – one wasp and 3 furniture beetles in the first year of treatment (13 churches) – one wasp and 0.37 furniture beetles in the second year of treatment (9 churches) – one wasp and 0.13 furniture beetles in the third year, in part without treatment (6 churches).

Treatment for church N.

Eclosion of A. punctatum (pewage)

Are you interested in our Recommendend by: Member of: process? Parasitization of Get more information! We are A. punctatum pleased to test the applicability (pewage) of the method for your object, free and non-binding. www.apc-ag.de

APC: Allround Pest Control