Augmentative Biocontrol - Step 1
Step 1: Assess Your Current Pest Management Program & Needs
Overview
In order to implement a new pest management system, you will need to step back and assess how your current pest management system works and look for any inefficiencies and areas to improve. If you have not built an integrated pest management system yet, it is strongly recommended to do so. Here are some broad questions to ask yourself:
Do You Use Integrated Pest Management?
Having an integrated pest management system in place is crucial for best outcomes when using augmentative biocontrol. The following pieces should be built into your operations:
Monitoring System & Identification
Employees need to be trained to know the symptoms of plant stress and the common pests and issues for each system they are working in. Some systems to develop include:
- Scouting regularly and systematically (e.g., weekly, in the same order)
- Recording data the same way each time (e.g., physical or digital datasheets)
- Pests, diseases, and other issues are identified properly
Communication, Recordkeeping, and Assessment
It is crucial to develop a system to communicate potential pest problems in a facility, ensuring that issues found during scouting are linked to information about how problems were dealt with and how well it worked. Ideas for communication include:
- Issues (e.g., pests, disease) are always recorded with the date, zone/area, etc.
- Control measures (e.g., pesticide use, plant removal, biological control) are linked to the issue incidence
- Time is set aside each week to discuss issues, control measures, and how well they worked
- Information is reviewed annually to look for trends across time (this way you can anticipate annual or event-based issues that may arise)
Putting It All Together
Having a system and keeping records can help you learn, adapt, and predict future problems.
Integrated Pest Management Resources
- Critical Questions To Help You Manage Persistent Pest Problems (PDF) – UVM Entomology Research Laboratory
What Pests Do You Have? Are They Compatible With Augmentative Biocontrol?
Knowing the actual pest species that you are dealing with is ABSOLUTELY crucial to a successful augmentative biocontrol program (or any pest management program!).
Factors to consider:
- Price or value of the crop
- Production scale/area of cultivation
- Availability of the biocontrol agent
- Plant factors (see below, e.g., trichomes)
The table below emphasizes the importance of accurately identifying the pest species before considering augmentative biocontrol as a management strategy. Not all pests, such as thrips or aphids, behave the same way. Some species can be controlled by a variety of biocontrol agents, while others may only respond to one specific agent, or none at all, especially if certain agents are not available in your region. Please note that this table is not exhaustive and may not include all available biocontrol agents. It represents agents currently known to be available for purchase in the United States.
| Pest | Pest Group | Can Be Controlled By | Biocontrol Agent Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green peach aphid (Myzus persicae) | Aphids | Aphidius colemani, Aphidoletes aphidimyza, Chrysoperla spp., Hippodamia convergens, Adalia bipunctata, Orius insidiosus | 6 |
| Foxglove aphid (Aulacorthum solani) | Aphids | Micromus variegatus, Hippodamia convergens, Aphelinus abdominalis, Chrysoperla spp., Aphidius ervi, Orius insidiosus | 6 |
| Melon/Cotton aphid (Aphis gossypii) | Aphids | Orius insidiosus | 1 |
| Imported cabbageworm (Pieris rapae) | Caterpillars | Trichogramma spp. | 1 |
| Cabbage looper (Trichoplusia ni) | Caterpillars | Trichogramma spp. | 1 |
| Diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) | Caterpillars | Trichogramma spp. | 1 |
| Fungus gnats (Bradysia spp.) | Fungus Gnats & Flies | Stratiolaelaps scimitus, Steinernema feltiae, Dalotia coriaria | 3 |
| Shore flies (Scatella stagnalis) | Fungus Gnats & Flies | Dalotia coriaria, Steinernema carpocapsae, Hexacola neoscatellae | 3 |
| Garden fleahopper (Halticus bractatus) | Hoppers (Hemiptera) | Anagyrus pseudococci (now A. vladimiri) | 1 |
| Potato leafhopper | Hoppers (Hemiptera) | None known | 0 |
| Aster leafhopper | Hoppers (Hemiptera) | None known | 0 |
| American serpentine leafminer (Liriomyza trifolii) | Leafminers | Diglyphus isaea, Dacnusa sibirica | 2 |
| Serpentine leafminer (Liriomyza brassicae) | Leafminers | None known | 0 |
Know Your Free Biocontrols!
Sometimes certain species may find their way into your facility (e.g., plug flies from cultivators) and understanding which species you see are really important. They have even developed resistance to pesticides in some instances.
These organisms can find their way into your greenhouse through:
- Plug flies from cultivators
- Open greenhouses
The top five friends:
- Hunter flies
- Syrphid (hover) flies
- Snout mites (Bdellidae)
- Aphidius spp. and other aphid parasites
- Lacewings (green and brown)
- Ladybird (ladybug) beetles
What To Do When You Can’t Figure Out an Identification?
Don’t fret, insect and other small noninsect arthropods can be extremely difficult to identify, and there is a learning curve. Depending on your location, the following are likely to be available for free or for a low fee. To find these in your location, an internet search should get you to these services if you copy/paste the bullet point into a search engine and add your state or location:
- State University Insect or Pathogen Identification Services – Typically offered through cooperative extension services, often with mail-in options available for convenience.
- State Agency Departments – Various departments or divisions may offer pest identification services, including Agriculture, Plant Health, Pesticide Control, Agricultural Experiment Stations, Plant Industry, Environment, Sustainability, Pest Detection, Invasive Species, Nursery, etc. To find the appropriate service in your area, we recommend visiting your state’s Department of Agriculture website and navigating from there. Look for sections dedicated to Integrated Pest Management programs, best management practices for growers, and other relevant resources.
- Private Laboratories (Paid for Service) – You can find insect identification labs by searching online for “insect identification testing laboratory” or by consulting your supplier. You may need to browse several results, as many structural pest companies may appear in the search. For a reliable vetting process, consider asking your supplier or peers for recommendations.
- USDA ARD Systematic Entomology Laboratory Insect & Mite Identification Service – A trusted resource for insect and mite identification from the USDA Agricultural Research Service.
- Biological Control Company Supplier Representative – If you have an established relationship with a biological control supplier, they may be able to help with pest identification issues. Some suppliers even offer on-site support to help growers address pest problems in person.
Crop Check: How Your Plants Affect Augmentative Biocontrol Effectiveness
Not all crops create the same environment for beneficial insects and mites. Understanding the physical and biological traits of your crops can help you predict how successful augmentative biocontrol is likely to be, and how to adapt your program accordingly.
Features of Crops That Work Well
Crops that support successful augmentative biocontrol programs tend to share some of these characteristics:
- Open or accessible canopy: Easier for both scouting and even distribution of BCAs.
- Smooth leaf surfaces: Beneficials can move freely and hunt effectively.
- Longer crop cycles: More time for biocontrol agents to establish and maintain control.
- Consistent microclimate: Stable temperature and humidity can support beneficial insect survival and reproduction.
- Predictable pest pressure: When common pests are well known and arrive on a schedule, it’s easier to plan timely releases.
Examples might include leafy greens, many herbs, or floriculture crops with compact growth.
Features of Crops That Pose Challenges
Other crops may require more effort to manage with augmentative biocontrol due to traits like:
- Heavy trichome coverage: Dense, sticky hairs (as on cannabis or some ornamentals) can physically trap or block beneficials.
- Tall, vining, or sprawling growth habits: Make it difficult to scout thoroughly and release BCAs evenly.
- Short production cycles: Don’t allow enough time for BCAs to establish and impact pest populations.
- Highly variable microclimates: Can reduce survival or performance of sensitive beneficial species.
These crops aren’t necessarily incompatible, but they may require specialized tools, modified release methods, or tighter integration with other control strategies to be successful.
Pesticide Use & Augmentative Biocontrol
Using Augmentative Biocontrol does not mean you have to entirely stop pesticide use, however you will need to take several factors into consideration. These include, but are not limited to:
Pesticide and Biocontrol Agent Suitability
The vendor or supplier of BCAs should provide a compatibility chart. For example, the brand Koppert has historically maintained a side effects database that is free and searchable online.
Timing of Release and Pesticide Application
- Consider residual activity – what has been sprayed in the past and how long is it lasting on the plants
- Check propagated materials for older chemistry and potential residue
- Potential for pesticide spray to drift into an area with active biocontrol agents
Budget Considerations When Comparing Augmentative Biocontrol Costs
When evaluating the cost of implementing augmentative biocontrol, it’s important to consider not only the direct expenses but also the related costs associated with traditional pesticide use, such as:
- Pesticides and adjuvants
- Pesticide application equipment (sprayers, nozzles, hoses)
- Personal protective equipment (PPE) required for pesticide application
Additional factors that can complicate pesticide use include:
- Potential phytotoxicity to your crops
- Reentry interval times that limit labor availability
- The often-higher cost of a reactionary pest management approach
For a more detailed breakdown and to help with your budgeting, see the comprehensive budget section below in step 3.