Overview. Trends in predatory mite production and delivery systems. Plant based production systems. Rearing without plants

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1 Overview Trends in predatory mite production and delivery systems Clear trends in mite production Move from plant based rearing to factitious host rearing A move towards generalists Developments in formulation Developments in delivery systems New factitious host species Intellectual Property rights Dr Richard GreatRex Syngenta Bioline Possible future trends Regulatory pressure (biodiversity) restricts use of new species Regulatory pressure (crop protection) encourages IPM Plant based production systems Limited yield per unit area dependent upon:- Plant health pest carrying capacity where pest is used Rate of growth and cycle time Light intensity and seasonality Plant density Limited capacity for treatment per unit area of production High costs Land and facility costs Energy consumption for heating/cooling, lighting Increasing rapidly High labour costs for production and harvest Essential for specialist predators Rearing without plants Use a factitious host a stored product mite Use a rearing substrate bran, vermiculite Rear in controlled environments Yield per unit volume advantages Yield consistency and quality Bulk processing reduces labour requirements Higher yield/unit area Lower facility and energy costs per mite/unit control Less seasonality Poor for specialist predators good for generalists

2 Rearing on factitious prey Amblyseius (Neoseiulus) cucumeris and A.(N) barkeri reared on Acarus siro in bran Move to Tyrophagus putrescentiae more vigorous mite, higher yield potential Works very well for N. cucumeris Major improvements in production yield and uniformity Capacity expansion partial mechanisation of processes Has been an industrial scale process for >15 years Development of delivery systems to improve product use and performance Development of a Biological control product Amblyline cu CRS Development and introduction of CRS sachet by Bunting Biological Control Unique product giving continuous release of mites over 6 weeks - predator does not need to establish No intellectual property rights Competitor copies within 6 months No market recognition of the difference between products: It s all Amblyseius cucumeris Products are not the same! Impact of formulation and environment on emergence of A. cucumeris from sachets Number of mites Growth room new formulation Greenhouse new formulation Growth room previous formulation Days

3 You can blow them So how do you distribute mites in different crops? 31 49% survival of Phytoseiulus persimilis You can distribute them manually You can distribute them mechanically

4 You can re-invent the sachet - Gemini sachets Grower reaction? Not really impressed Too much labour needed for distribution of the product Introduction needs 20 hours/hectare Labour costs are 50% of the total production costs of chrysanthemums Pest control (total) is 2-3% maximum Water resistant contents stay dry More predatory mites, better thrips control Gemini Standard Patented delivery system An alternative system Percentage ICM in Dutch chrysanthemums Uses existing spray booms for crop placement 80% reduction in labour Entire bed treated in 5-10 minutes Better distribution of the predatory mites No trauma to the mites Water resistant Per crop cycle produces 8,500 mites/m 5,000 mites/m² Design Design is is protected by by our our existing patent! patent! Growers have financial problems 700 ha total in ha using ICM Bioline share = 80%

5 Other distribution systems Factitious prey Tyrophagus putrescentiae A very useful Astigmatid mite Long history of use even a Chinese Patent! Permits high density rearing of a few Phytoseiid mite species Other species will eat them too, but:- T. putrescentiae is too vigorous Completely overwhelms cultures Mass production is not consistent or economically feasible So how do we move on? Other food sources Artificial diets? Pollen? Other stored product mites? An expanding range of predators and target pests Pre Prey mites Acarus siro Tyrophagus putrescentiae T. tropicus Predatory mites Neoseiulus cucumeris Targets Thrips Post Acarus siro Tyrophagus putrescentiae T. tropicus Dermatophagoides farinae Carpoglyphus lactis Lepidoglyphus destructor Thyreophagus entomophaga Suidasia spp +++ Neoseiulus cucumeris Typhlodromips swirskii T. montdorensis Neoseiulus californicus Amblyseius andersoni Thrips Whitefly Spider mites Eriophyid mites

6 Adaptive radiation? Iphiseus degenerans x Pollen Phytoseiulus persimilis Neoseiulus californicus Tetranychus spp Dermatophagoides farinae Carpoglyphus lactis Lepidoglyphus destructor Thyreophagus entomophaga Tyrophagus putrescentiae Neoseiulus cucumeris Typhlodromips swirskii Neoseiulus californicus Amblyseius andersoni Typhlodromips montdorensis Development of intellectual property rights Research to develop new species, new rearing systems, and new delivery systems is expensive Companies need a return on that investment Rapid copying on new ideas destroys value Removes incentive to innovate Patenting protects investment Maintains value and income stream Facilitates new research and development Provides employment for Patent Attorneys! Euseius ovalis? Typhlodromalus limonicus? Acarus siro Suidasia spp Neoseiulus barkeri Changing regulation Where next? View of biological control is changing Seen as a threat to biodiversity More countries implementing regulation Increasing stringency of risk assessments Increasing cost for producers At the same time, regulation of conventional crop protection is changing Directive 2007/128/EC and Regulation 1107/2009 demand implementation of integrated solutions IPM is compulsory National action plans due for implementation in 2014 Conflicting demands Increasing demand for solutions, increasingly difficulty to bring them to market Genetic modification? Expanding the range by understanding the biology? Greater use in outdoor cropping systems? Movement into the crop protection mainstream?

7 Summary Key trends Move from specialist to generalist predatory mites Increasing range of factitious hosts Increasing range of predatory mites Increasing range of target pests and crops Development of delivery systems More efficient and more scaleable production systems Increasing IP Increasing regulatory challenges