Beneficial Insects and Mites Guide

BENEFICIAL INSECTS AND MITES GUIDE

BENEFICIAL INSECTS AND MITES GUIDE | 1 BENEFICIAL INSECTS AND MITES

Beneficials are an essential component of healthy concern for ORO AGRI as it aims to develop the most ecosystems and sustainable crop protection. They effective and sustainableIPM and organic approaches. provide biological control services by keeping Ecological disruption, increased pest outbreaks and populations of pest organisms in check, leading to less the development of resistance can be averted based on pesticide sprays and greater yield. Thus, protecting the right choice of plant protection products. and preserving beneficial insects has become a major

ORO AGRI CARES

ORO AGRI is devoted to provide solutions for growers but not at any price. It is in our DNA to care about the environment, the user and the health of consumers. That is why we focus on developing biologically sourced solutions.

At ORO AGRI, our science is powered by nature and our products have proven to be safe for natural enemies, while showing high efficacy against crop damaging pests.

This guide was designed to showcase useful information and scientifically proven results on the impact of our orange oil- based solutions on a variety of important beneficials, in order to help growers in achieving economically-sustainable and ecologically-sound pest management strategies.

2 | BENEFICIAL INSECTS AND MITES GUIDE * PREV-AM is also marketed as PREV-AM Plus and PREVAM PREV-AM is beneficial- environment- and grower-friendly

Field and laboratory studies are fundamental for ORO The short-term residual activity of PREV-AM makes it AGRI to provide the most suitable and sustainable easier to incorporate into organic and IPM programs solutions to growers. Our knowledge, earned by 20 years compared with other long-term residual pesticides. of trials and assessments, allows us to share the most up PREV-AM has low toxicity, which allows growers to re- to date information on our naturally-sourced solutions enter treated areas after short intervals and if necessary, and their impact. permits treatments closer to harvest. As a plant extract, PREV-AM® is a multipurpose biopesticide based on the orange oil is exempted from Maximum Residue Level botanical active substance orange oil used as a contact (MRL) tolerances. solution against many insects, diseases, and mites. PREV-AM brings also other long-term benefits in Our own studies, as well as studies by independent resistance management thanks to its physical mode of bodies published in scientific journals, prove that action. Mixing it with other active ingredients or alternate PREV-AM maintains a positive natural enemy/pest spraying helps in managing pest resistance. ratio which is favorable for effective biological control. Moreover, these studies have shown that PREV-AM is much safer for beneficials and pollinators compared to other botanical and synthetic pesticides.

• Registered for use in organic farming in several countries (Regulation (EC) No 834/2007, No 889/2008)

• Helps in managing insecticide resistance

• Thanks to its short residual activity, the application of PREV-AM is possible shortly before the date of harvest

Our international flagship brand isPREV-AM . However, the results which follow are valid for all of our 6% orange oil products including those below

Always refer to your local label for registrations and restrictions regarding the use of the products. In case of any doubt please contact ORO AGRI.

BENEFICIAL INSECTS AND MITES GUIDE | 3 BENEFICIAL INSECTS AND MITES GUIDE

There are many insects and mites in agricultural ORO AGRI products follow the standard classification ecosystems, but not all are pests. Some species adopted by the IOBC-WPRS working group on are beneficial and provide invaluable services that ‘’Pesticides and Beneficial Organisms’’ and the contribute to the economic and ecological success of commission ‘’Guidelines for Integrated Production’’. agroecosystems. These beneficials comprise predators, Throughout this guide, the colors below will refer to this parasitoids, pollinators, and mites. classification forORO AGRI products, when available.

TARGETED PESTS: IOBC STANDARD CLASSIFICATION:

Moderately Harmless harmful

MITE THRIPS WHITEFLY APHID LEPIDOPTERA LEAFHOPPER MEALYBUG Slightly harmful Harmful

PREDATORY MITES

Adults are shiny, unspotted, with a pear-shaped body and can feed on all life stages of pest mites as well as on eggs and immature stages of thrips, whiteflies, and scale insects. Some adult predatory mites also feed on pollen, honeydew, fungi, and plant sap.

Amblyseius andersoni (Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae)

IOBC CLASS Active at a very broad temperature range (6-40 °C) 2

• Attacks Eryophid mites and spider mites, will also feed on pollen and thrips larvae, allowing it to survive when pest population is scarce and thus can be used preventively

• PREV-AM at 0.4% and 0.6% was slightly harmful to A. andersoni

• PREV-AM can be used with no restrictions along with Amblyseius andersoni A. ANDERSONI FEEDING ON MITES

A. CUCUMERIS FEEDING ON THRIPS NYMPH

Amblyseius cucumeris (Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae)

IOBC CLASS Most active in warm conditions (30 °C) 1

• Mainly a predator of thrips and mites. It disperses quickly throughout the crop and feeds on pollen, which allows long term control

• PREV-AM at 0.4% and 0.6% was harmless to A. cucumeris

• PREV-AM can be used with no restrictions along with Amblyseius cucumeris

PICTURE CREDIT : ENTOFILM PROF. WYSS

4 | BENEFICIAL INSECTS AND MITES GUIDE PICTURE CREDIT : ENTOFILM PROF. WYSS Amblydromalus limonicus (Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae)

IOBC CLASS Effective at temperatures as low as 13 °C 2

• It feeds on larvae of various species of thrips (first and second larval stages) and on eggs and larvae of greenhouse and cotton whitefly

• PREV-AM at 0.4% and 0.6% was slightly harmful to A. limonicus

• PREV-AM can be used with no restrictions along with Amblydromalus limonicus

A. LIMONICUS FEEDING ON THRIPS NYMPH

PICTURE CREDIT : ENTOFILM PROF. WYSS

Amblyseius swirskii (Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae)

IOBC CLASS Most active in warm conditions (30 °C) 2

• It is commonly used for the control of mites, whitefliesand thrips in greenhouse vegetables and ornamentals

• PREV-AM at 0.4% and 0.6% was slightly harmful to A. swirskii

• PREV-AM can be used with no restrictions along with Amblyseius swirskii

A. SWIRSKII FEEDING ON WHITEFLY CRAWLER

PICTURE CREDIT : ENTOFILM PROF. WYSS Phytoseiulus persimilis (Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae)

IOBC CLASS Functions well at temperatures 1 above 20 °C

• Commonly used for the control of the red spider mite, Tetranychus urticae in greenhouse vegetables and ornamentals

• It cannot survive for long periods of low prey density as it rarely feeds on pollen and plant sap, thus it should be introduced after pest presence

• PREV-AM sprays at 0.4% and 0.6% were harmless to this predator and can thus be used with no restrictions with this biocontrol agent P. PERSIMILIS FEEDING ON RED SPIDER MITE

BENEFICIAL INSECTS AND MITES GUIDE | 5 PICTURE CREDIT : ENTOFILM PROF. WYSS Amblyseius montdorensis (Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae)

IOBC CLASS Active at low temperature 1 2 ranges (12-18 °C) PREV-AM PREV-AM 0.4% 0.6%

• It is a generalist predator of whiteflies, thrips and mites that is commonly used in fruit crops and in protected crops and ornamentals. It is suitable for preventive pest control as it also feeds on pollen and nectar

• Spraying PREV-AM at 0.4% is harmless; at the higher dose of 0.6% it becomes slightly harmful

• At the tested rates there are no restrictions on using PREV-AM in combination with A. montdorensis A. MONTDORENSIS FEEDING ON THRIPS NYMPH

PICTURE CREDIT : ENTOFILM PROF. WYSS Typhlodromus pyri (Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae)

IOBC CLASS Functions best at temperatures 2 around 25 °C

• It is found in fruit growing regions around the world and preys on the apple rust mite, European red mite and the two spotted spider mite

• Spraying PREV-AM at 0.3% and 0.6% is slightly harmful to T. pyri

• PREV-AM can be used with no restrictions along with Typhlodromus pyri

T. PYRI FEEDING ON GALL MITE PREDATORY BUGS

True bugs, both adults and nymphs which feed by sucking the fluids from soft-bodied insects like aphids and caterpillars. They are usually not host-specific. Common families are Reduviidae, Anthocoridae, Miridae, and Pentatomidae.

Macrolophus caliginosus PICTURE CREDIT : ENTOFILM PROF. WYSS (Hemiptera: Miridae)

IOBC CLASS Optimal activity at 25 °C 2

• It is omnivorous, but prefers to feed on whiteflies, and will also prey on aphids, mites and lepidopterans • High populations of M. caliginosus are unfavorable as they can cause crop damage

• PREV-AM sprays at 0.4% and 0.6% were only slightly harmful to M. caliginosus

• PREV-AM can be used with no restrictions along with Macrolophus caliginosus

M. CALIGINOSUS FEEDING ON WHITEFLY NYMPH

6 | BENEFICIAL INSECTS AND MITES GUIDE PICTURE CREDIT : ENTOFILM PROF. WYSS Orius laevigatus (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae)

IOBC CLASS Optimal activity at temperatures ranging 2 from 20 to 30 °C

• It is a generalist agent released mainly for the control of thrips in horticultural and ornamental greenhouses

• PREV-AM applications at 0.4% and 0.6% slightly impacted the populations of O. laevigatus

• PREV-AM can be used with no restrictions along with this biocontrol agent

PARASITIC WASPS O. LAEVIGATUS FEEDING ON THRIPS

Parasitic wasps are tiny non-stinging hymenopteran insects that develop on or inside the various life stages of other agricultural pests (aphids, whiteflies, stink bugs…). Important parasitoid families include Ichneumonidae, Braconidae and Chalcidoidea. Some parasitoids are specialized in their choice of prey, others are generalists. PICTURE CREDIT : ENTOFILM PROF. WYSS

Aphidius ervi (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

IOBC CLASS Optimal performance at temperatures ranging 2 from 18 to 25 °C

• It parasitizes several species of aphids

• Spraying PREV-AM at 0.4% and 0.6% is slightly harmful to A. ervi

• PREV-AM can be used with no restrictions along with Aphidius ervi

A. ERVI PARASITIZING AN APHID

PICTURE CREDIT : ENTOFILM PROF. WYSS Aphidius colemani (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

IOBC CLASS Optimal performance at temperatures ranging 1 from 18 to 25 °C

• It is a generalist parasitoid of aphid species

• Both concentrations of PREV-AM (0.4% and 0.6%) were harmless to parasitized mummies and to adults, causing no significant reduction in parasitoid hatching rate and mortality

• PREV-AM reduced aphid population while maintaining a high parasitoid/host ratio

• PREV-AM is compatible with releases of A.colemani A. COLEMANI APPROACHING AN APHID

BENEFICIAL INSECTS AND MITES GUIDE | 7 PICTURE CREDIT : ENTOFILM PROF. WYSS Anagyrus pseudococci (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae)

IOBC CLASS Active at a wide range of temperatures 1 from 14 to 34°C

• It parasitizes both adults and nymphs of several mealybug species

• It has a high searching capacity in horticultural and fruit crops, making it efficient even under low pest density

• PREV-AM at 0.3% was harmless to A. pseudococci adults and larvae A. PSEUDOCOCCI PARASITIZING A MEALYBUG • At the tested rate there are no restrictions on using PREV- AM with A. pseudococci

Reference : Mansour et al. 2011 Encarsia formosa (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) E. FORMOSA PARASITIZING WHITEFLY NYMPH IOBC CLASS

Optimal performance at temperatures ranging 1 2 3 from 18 to 25 °C PREV-AM PREV-AM PREV-AM 0.1% AND 0.4% 0.6% 0.2%

• It is a parasitoid of greenhouse whiteflies with preference for Trialeurodes vaporariorum

• PREV-AM at 0.6% was moderately harmful to E. formosa; at 0.4% it slightly affected this parasitoid, whereas at 0.1 and 0.2% it was harmless

• PREV-AM led to a strong increase in parasitoid/host ratio

• PREV-AM at 0.4% is compatible with releases of E. formosa

PICTURE CREDIT : ENTOFILM PROF. WYSS POLLINATOR

Over 90% of all known flowering plants including fruits and vegetables require pollination to produce. There are four major groups of insect pollinators: bees and wasps, beetles, butterflies, moths and flies.

Bombus terrestris dalmatinus (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

IOBC CLASS Foragers prefer ambient temperatures 1 2 of around 25 °C PREV-AM PREV-AM 0.4% 0.6%

• It is the most commercially available pollinator species that is most widely introduced in European, African and Asian greenhouses

• Application of PREV-AM as oral pollen concentrate was harmless to B. terrestris at 0.4% and 0.6%

• When administered in the sugary water, both PREV-AM doses were harmless to bumblebee workers and slightly affected the formation of new drones B. TERRESTRIS FORAGING FOR NECTAR • A topical application of PREV-AM at 0.4% was harmless to bumblebee workers and to the formation of new drones, • At the tested doses PREV-AM can be used together with whereas PREV-AM 0.6% was only slightly harmful to the bumblebees in nectar producing crops* formation of new drones * Refer to the label of your country for restrictions regarding bees

8 | BENEFICIAL INSECTS AND MITES GUIDE OTHER BENEFICIAL INSECTS

Other chrysopid and coccinellid insects are also voracious predators of several pest species, including aphids, mites, thrips, caterpillars and many more. They usually lay their eggs in the vicinity of the host, so that upon emergence their progeny has an available food source.

Chrysoperla carnea PICTURE CREDIT : ENTOFILM PROF. WYSS (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae)

Active at a broad range of temperatures (20-30 °C)

• It is efficient againstseveral agriculturally important pests

• PREV-AM at half the recommended field rate (0.2%) did not negatively affect adult longevity, while pyriproxyfen, neem oil and Beauveria bassiana significantly shortened adult longevity

• PREV-AM recorded the highest adult emergence among tested biocontrol agents

• PREV-AM is compatible with C. carnea

Reference: Youssif and Ramadan 2020 C. CARNEA LARVA FEEDING ON APHID

C. MONTROUZIERI FORAGING FOR PREY Cryptolaemus montrouzieri (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

Active at temperatures ranging from 16 to 33 °C

• It is effective againstmealybugs and scale insects

• PREV-AM (0.6%) had a minimal impact on adults and larvae of C. montrouzieri while also causing high mortality in cochineal scale, Dactylopus opuntiae, a pest that causes severe damage to prickly pear cactus

• PREV-AM is effective in an IPM program for the control of D. opuntiae and is compatible with the predator C. montrouzieri

Reference: El Aalaoui et al. 2019

PHOTO BY: GILLES SAN MARTIN

The above list is only a small excerpt of all available independent studies on the impact of PREV-AM on beneficial arthropods. Generally, PREV-AM is also friendly to other beneficials such as ladybugs, mirid predators, hymentopteran parasitoids and pollinators. 20 years of experience with the product have shown its excellent compatibility with IPM.

Bibliography:

El Aalaoui, M., Bouharroud, R., Sbaghi, M., El Bouhssini, M., Hilali, L. and Dari, K., 2019. Comparative toxicity of different chemical and biological insecticides against the scale insect Dactylopius opuntiae and their side effects on the predatorCryptolaemus montrouzieri. Archives of Phytopathology and Plant Protection, 52(1-2), pp.155-169.

Mansour, R., Suma, P., Mazzeo, G., Lebdi, K.G. and Russo, A., 2011. Evaluating side effects of newer insecticides on the vine mealybug parasitoid Anagyrus sp. near pseudococci, with implications for integrated pest management in vineyards. Phytoparasitica, 39(4), pp.369-376.

Youssif, M.A. and Ramadan, M.M., 2020. Influence of different pest control agents on some biological aspects ofChrysoperla carnea (Stephens). Zagazig Journal of Agricultural Research, 47(2), pp.507-518.

BENEFICIAL INSECTS AND MITES GUIDE | 9 SUMMARY

PREV-AM is registered for use in many countries around the world on a wide range of pests and crops and can IOBC STANDARD CLASSIFICATION: easily be incorporated into integrated pest management programs. Harmless Moderately harmful

Slightly harmful Harmful Tests conducted by IPM Impact (independent body) according to IOBC standards in 2012-2015.

ARTHROPOD SPECIES DOSE TESTED (% v/v) TOXICITY CLASS (IOBC) PREDATOR / PREY RATIO GROUP

Amblyseius andersoni 0.4% - 0.6% 2 positive

Amblyseius cucumeris 0.4% - 0.6% 1 positive

Amblydromalus limonicus 0.4% - 0.6% 2 positive

Amblyseius swirskii 0.4% - 0.6% 2 positive PREDATORY MITES Phytoseiulus persimilis 0.4% - 0.6% 1 positive

Amblyseius montdorensis 0.4% 1 positive

Amblyseius montdorensis 0.6% 2 positive

Typhlodromus pyri 0.1% - 0.6% 2 positive

Aphidius ervi 0.4% - 0.6% 2 positive

Aphidius colemani 0.4% - 0.6% 1 positive

Encarsia formosa 0.1% - 0.2% 1 positive PARASITIC WASPS Encarsia formosa 0.4% 2 positive

Encarsia formosa 0.6% 3 positive

Anagyrus pseudococci 0.3% 1 positive

Macrolophus caliginosus 0.4% - 0.6% 2 positive PREDATORY BUGS Orius laevigatus 0.4% - 0.6% 2 positive

Bombus terrestris male 0.4% 1

Bombus terrestris male 0.6% 2 contact toxicity

Bombus terrestris female 0.4% - 0.6% 1

POLLINATORS Bombus terrestris male 0.4% - 0.6% 2 oral toxicity (sugary water) Bombus terrestris female 0.4% - 0.6% 1

Bombus terrestris male 0.4% - 0.6% 1 oral toxicity (pollen) Bombus terrestris female 0.4% - 0.6% 1

10 | BENEFICIAL INSECTS AND MITES GUIDE How can PREV-AM be beneficial-friendly?

PREV-AM has a unique physical mode of action. It Under high pest pressure, an application of PREV-AM penetrates into the waxy, water repellent layer that will quickly knock down the population of the pest protects most insects, breaks through this protective to a level below the threshold and create a positive layer and destroys the soft living tissues underneath. It predator/prey ratio. causes dehydration and distortion of the cuticle of soft- Moreover, PREV-AM weakens the physical barrier of bodied insects leading to desiccation and death. pests, rendering them more accessible and susceptible Most importantly, the fast breakdown of PREV-AM and to predators and parasitoids. its short persistence under field conditions provides temporary selectivity favouring non-target species.

Our recommendations to use PREV-AM in combination with beneficial insects :

Close greenhouses before PREV-AM sprays to reduce the migration of beneficials CHOOSE THE OPTIMAL TIMING TARGET

Release beneficial insects HOTSPOTS after PREV-AM application (i.e. 1 hour or more) Treat hotspots of pest infestation to reduce risk to beneficials Evening sprays minimize the risks to beneficials

Regular 7 to 10 days PREV-AM Spray low doses of PREV-AM to sprays maintain a positive natural make pests more susceptible to enemy/pest ratio beneficials

Gradually increase PREV-AM dose according to the target pest

Mix PREV-AM with ADAPT beneficial-friendly products to improve pest control and THE DOSE manage resistance

BENEFICIAL INSECTS AND MITES GUIDE | 11 SCIENCE POWERED BY NATURE®

+ 31 50 820 04 11 [email protected] www.oroagri.eu