2021 has seen a lot of new and exciting things in the world
of IPM with some of the tools available to producers for managing
pest populations. Please find a quick summary of some of these new developments
below with their corresponding contact information – this is a list of curated
material from various sources, credit must be given where credit is due!
1)Introducing Anystis, the new generalist predator in our
toolbox
Anystis is a new generalist predator which was discovered and
trialed by Vineland Research and Innovation Centre. This predator has shown control over thrips and spider
mites as well as suppression of aphid populations. Not only that, but it also
preys on Echinothrips and mealybugs, which currently do not have effective
options when it comes to biological control agents! Not only that, but Anystis
is compatible with other commonly used biocontrol agents, meaning less stress
about adjusting your current regimes and more success overall when it comes to targeting
your problematic pests.
The use of Anystis has been validated in commercial
greenhouse trials on gerbera and sweet pepper in Ontario, and further supported
by promising results generated through recent trials at Niagara College for use
in cannabis to control aphids. The predator has been transferred to Applied
Bio-nomics Ltd for scaling up the rearing system and commercialization, and
have a limited number of mites available for growers to try.
For more information on Anystis,
contact Rose Buitenhuis, PhD Senior Research Scientist, Biological Control at
Vineland Research.
2)Slow-release method of nematodes
The current application of
beneficial nematodes is limited to sprenches, or drenches, across the surface
of the growing media. The biggest targets for beneficial nematodes are the larvae of
fungus gnats and western flower thrips, as well as onion thrips pupae. While the
product is quite effective, the current application method to the crop sees a few technical difficulties. These
drenches/sprenches are not the most effective when it comes to penetrating deeper
into the growing mix, and they must be applied on a weekly basis. Not only that,
but the current methods of distribution sees a very poor storage capacity – all
must be distributed at once, which leaves the small producers in a bit of a financial pinch!
E-Nema is a new tech company based
in Germany. They have come out with a slow-release method for these beneficial nematodes
which tackles some of the difficulties associated with the existing system. These
look similar to tapioca pearls, and are designed to be incorporated into the
growing mix before planting. Then, over time, they will slowly release
nematodes through the entirety of your growing container. These pearls are very
safe, and do not contain any harmful chemicals. In addition to that, they store
quite well, which is a win for smaller producers who may not need
massive volumes to be distributed all at once. The reintroduction and
inoculation of low doses of nematodes has proven to be more effective than
coming in hot and heavy with one dose during the cycle, and this technology allows
just that!
BioBee will be the distributer for this new product, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled for that! I want to give a huge shoutout to the Cannabis Cultivation & Science
Podcast for keeping up with the biocontrol world and spreading the word on cool
innovations like this one!
3)New rearing methodology for
Phytoseiulus persimilus
Our old reliable predatory
mite is coming at us new and improved! BioBee has re-evaluated their current rearing methods for persimilis and has landed on a product that addresses some of
the downfalls to the original release system. The original
system sees that the predators are reared on spider mites, meaning they come
out of their sachets starved and ready to tackle some serious spider mites. While that works well in heavily infested crops, it doesn’t bode well for
the low pest pressure grow room, or the preventative release strategy either.
This new product raises the predators on mite eggs, meaning that each sachet
will come with a variety of life stages, and each sachet will have a long-life
span overall as these different stages progress towards adulthood. These
sachets can see up to 12 days to release the contents, giving you almost 2
weeks of release from one purchase. The new food source sees that these mites
are not as hungry as they would be when raised on spider mites. This means
they have time to establish in the crop, as well as hunt down those low density
mites that are scattered through the room. Not only that, but there is no
carrier mixed in with these predators. This is a huge win for producers of
heavily-trichomed crops, as their plants will no longer be littered with pesky
lingering carrier bits.
Figure 1. An image of persimilis predating on a two-spotted spider mite. Photo credit: Biotactics Inc.
This new persimilis can also be
purchased in bottle form. But grower be warned! It was interestingly noted that
these predators are not their characteristic red colour when you receive them from
the insectary. That colour develops on the persimilis as they start feeding on
spider mites. This acts as an added bonus when it comes to your scouting
efforts. If you note which predators have transitioned from milky to red, you can get
a sense of the pest pressure in the space and how effective your release was at
managing the spider mite population.
I want to give a huge shoutout to the Cannabis Cultivation & Science
Podcast for keeping up with the biocontrol world and spreading the word on cool
innovations like this one!
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Posted by: Talia Plaskett
