Swirskii as a beneficial to combat thrips
Swirskii solution thrips
The Dutch rose grower Paul de Groot – owner of a four-hectare large business, Flevoland Flowers – has absolutely no problems with whitefly or mealy bugs. But he does have a huge problem with thrips. He’s doing everything he can to keep the thrips under control. Consistently using Amblyseius swirskii should help him do just that.
For several years, Paul de Groot has been plagued by thrips in every season. They most likely fly in from arable crops in the surrounding area (or else they are present but dormant at the start of a new crop cycle), and they are resistant to most chemical agents.
Swirski-Mite (Amblyseius swirskii) enables him to attack the larvae. The rose grower does not want to use chemical agents, which he considers detrimental to growth, quality, and production. “I also came up against issues in terms of crop protection. Most chemical agents aren’t effective anymore against thrips. The agents which were available also killed all the natural enemies of spider mite. That doesn’t help at all.”
For this reason, he switched to Swirski-Mite last year to combat thrips. Research carried out by Wageningen University Greenhouse Horticulture indicates that swirskii is easier to control than cucumeris and as a result is more effective, and it also attacks spider mites.
Like a boomerang
Koppert is carrying out extensive tests on a large number of Dutch rose-growing companies, with the help of bi-weekly sticky trap counts, in order to develop an effective method of combating thrips. In 2009, at Paul de Groot’s company, much better results were achieved by using integrated methods than had been achieved with chemical agents in 2009. The grower distributed fifty Swirski-Mites per square metre over the entire crop every two weeks, and in highly infested areas he released as many as 100 to 300 per square metre. Conserve (Spinosad) or Match (Lufenuron) were used to extinguish thrips hot-spots as needed.
This year, he will be releasing fifty mites per square metre every week, in the hopes of reducing the population even further. The standard procedure seems to be working rather well. In that part of the greenhouse where Koppert has been taking long-term measurements, good results on thrips have been achieved.
In another part of the greenhouse, there have been some problems with thrips this year. According to Paul, this is the result of misplaced frugality. “The areas where we are now having problems are the areas where last year we temporarily tried decreasing the dosage to twenty-five swirskii mites per metre every two weeks. That didn’t turn out well. That frugality is now hitting us in the face like a boomerang. The solution for this year is very simple: fifty beneficials per square metre per week, fifty-two weeks a year, even after we’ve sprayed for other insect pests.”
Putting all the chips on swirskii
Paul de Groot has complete faith in Amblyseius swirskii. He achieved good results last year, and besides, he doesn’t see any attractive alternatives. “We’ll continue to put all our chips on swirskii, and we’ll apply it over the entire crop. In addition, we’ll keep scouting for them and we’ll hang up a lot of sticky traps.”
For more information visit: www.allaboutswirkii.com
More Koppert news
Koppert publishes a digital newsletter especially for firms in the world of practice: the Biojournal online. This newsletter provides users with a great deal of information on matters such as new and existing products, pests and...
Swirski-Mite LD has been specially developed to be used preventatively and was launched to the market at the end of 2011. The bags contain a breeding system that utilizes two different prey mites for the first time. The result is...
The new consumer website www.secretagentsinhorticulture.com created by Koppert Biological Systems offers unique and easily accessible information about biological crop protection and natural pollination.
The Floriade opened in Venlo on a site covering 66 hectares. At this 'theatre of nature,' Koppert Biological Systems will be revealing the great secret of horticulture. The story of biological crop protection and natural...
Recently, the regular packaging for Capsanem (Steinerma carpocapae) was changed and no longer consists of a small bag containing 50 million larvae. The box now contains two small bags each containing 25 million larvae of the...
In a four-minute film, two growers talk about their experiences with the use of the predatory mite Amblydromalus limonicus to combat whitefly and thrips. Koppert introduced this new predatory mite in the early part of this year.
Ten years on, the gates of the spectacular theatre of nature are due to open again! Floriade 2012 will take place from 5 April to 7 October in a stunning park in Venlo, the Netherlands. Three different exhibitions will devote...
The palm moth and the red palm weevil are major pests affecting palm trees. When these pests are not controlled effectively the trees will soon wilt. Koppert offers an effective biological solution with the product Palmanem.
Minipol is a compact bumblebee hive specially developed for use in smaller cultivation areas. The Minipol ensures a good balance between the area to be pollinated and the supply of food. Koppert has developed Minipol specifically...
With its new formula, Koppert Biological Systems has produced an even more effective variant of the predatory mite Amblyseius swirskii. The product is called Swirski-Mite LD (Long Duration). The product is now available.
From now on, Amblydromalus limonicus will be known by the product name Limonica. This name is the result of a promotional action which Koppert launched during the HortiWeek trade fair in November, in which customers and...
Early 2012 Koppert will be participating in several international fairs: IPM Essen, Fruit Logistica and BioFach, where we will present our recent innovations for sustainable crop protection.
The printed version of the Biojournal is now also available to read online.
With the presentation of a cheque worth 1000 euros, Koppert Biological Systems concluded the trade fair campaign for the Heart for the Nations Foundation.
With a new formula and new packaging, the soil-dwelling predatory mite Macrocheles robustulus (Macro-Mite) is now even more effective. Now Koppert Biological Systems can guarantee even better integrated control of soil...
Last week Koppert introduced the new predatory mite Amblydromalus limonicus at both the Horti Fair and the IFTF. The predatory mite will be available from 2 January 2012, but as yet no product name has been chosen. Visitors to...
Koppert Biological Systems is raising the biological control of thrips and whitefly to a higher level with the new predatory mite Amblydromalus limonicus. The company has devoted over ten years to research in the development of...
With its new formula, Koppert Biological Systems has produced an even more effective variant of the predatory mite Amblyseius swirskii. The product is called Swirski-Mite LD (Long Duration). After the initial introduction, this...
Koppert Biological Systems has reached an agreement with Bayer CropScience AG to take over the exclusive worldwide rights on the marketing, registration and production of the new product Shemer, a biological fungicidal product...
During the Horti Week in the Netherlands Koppert will be present with a stand at the Horti Fair and IFTF. This year there will be numerous reasons to visit us.
Horti Fair stand 0113 in hall 8
IFTF stand B5.07
Koppert and Horti Week: more than just one stand
During the International Horti Week, Koppert will have stands at both the Horti Fair (08.0113) and the IFTF (B5.07).
Admission tickets are free of charge. If you register to...
Koppert Biological Systems is launching the compact bumblebee hive Minipol this month. The hive is the “little brother” of Natupol and Tripol, and contains a bumblebee colony that offers a better balance with the amount of food...
Natural enemies are the first choice in the biological control of aphids. Now that more and more beneficials are becoming commercially available, it’s not always easy to make the right choice. It’s important to find the right...
Visitors to the Horti Fair who register via the special registration link on the Koppert website will be helping contribute to the implementation of a water project in the Ghanaian capital, Accra. Through this campaign, Koppert...
Syrphidend contains Episyrphys balteatus (marmalade hoverfly) pupae. This hoverfly combats various species of aphids in all stages of the life cycle. If there is a great deal of hyperparasitisation of parasitic wasps, this...
Koppert USA celebrates grand opening Friday, August 26, 2011
Koppert USA celebrated the grand opening of its new facility for production in Howell, Michigan. Koppert USA began its move into the production facility in early...
Since February 2011, Koppert has been supplying the market with the little predatory beetle Delphastus catalinae under the brand name Delphibug. This beetle is proving to be a godsend in situations in which predatory mites and...
Spical-Plus contains the predatory mite Amblyseius californicus. The predatory mites are supplied in slow-release bags allowing predatory mites to crawl out of the bags gradually over a period of approx. 6 weeks. This makes...
The new predatory mite Amblydromalus limonicus eats more and reproduces faster than other generalist predatory mites. Koppert will be bringing this mite onto the market at the end of this year. That is particularly good news for...
Koppert B.V. The Netherlands | Phone: +31 (0)10 5140444 | Fax: +31 (0)10 5115203 | Disclaimer