Spidex - quality matters

It may be our oldest product, but we continue to spend a great deal of time and effort to ensure that Spidex remains at the top of growers’ options when it comes to the most effective biological control of spider mite.

‘The discovery and commercial production of Phytoseiulus persimilis that got underway more than 50 years ago is the foundation on which our company was built,’ Total Quality Control Manager, Saskia Inghels reminds us. ‘Today it is still one of our best selling products at Koppert thanks to its great results and the high egg-laying performance of our Spidex mites. Reason enough for it to be a prime product to keep improving and controlling relentlessly.’

Above average quality

At Koppert, the general quality control of Spidex is conducted once a week and each batch is checked. ‘While the standard average egg-laying performance for Phytoseiulus persimilis is 10 eggs per female every 5 days, our Spidex mites average significantly more,’ Saskia explains. ‘The 10 eggs per female norm for a healthy mite was set by the Organization for Biological Control (IOBC) of which Koppert is a member. The IOBC standard was set almost 20 years ago, but our mites now perform far better, so we can maintain a higher standard than the norm. These mites are very vulnerable and require special care to ensure that they are healthy and comfortable enough to reproduce. We are continuously looking for ways of optimizing their living conditions to improve their egg-laying capacity,’ Saskia says.

No rights can be derived from the below graph. The numbers are indicative but they give a realistic overview of the differences.

Graph_quality_Spidex_IOBC.png

Growers are demanding

‘It will not surprise anyone that our customers have become increasingly knowledgeable and discerning when selecting the best biological pest control products and this is why they opt for Spidex,’ says Product Manager, Tim Bossinga, who has been involved with this product for 6 years: ‘The above average egg-laying performance of our Phytoseiulus persimilis breeding stock is a prime quality factor when the mites are released. It ensures that the next generations establish themselves well in the crop so they can do their valuable work. With their great appetite they can devour spider mites with the greatest ease, keeping the natural balance in the crop. This is why growers continue to opt for Spidex.´