A Better Pesticide Alternative: Biological Agents

If you’re dissatisfied with chemical pesticides consider biological control agents (BCAs) instead. Pesticides are not the only avenue to success— predatory mites and beneficial fungi are peer level alternatives that don’t involve coating plants with chemicals. Forty or fifty years ago biological controls were considered outside-the-box thinking but now natural solutions are mainstream pest management options.

Better For You, Better For The Plants

Chemical pesticides do their job but can be a health hazard for the plants and the people working with the plants. Poisons that affect insects affect people as well, especially in concentrated solutions. Natural biological controls are better in this regard because they don’t require personal protective equipment (PPE) like goggles, gas masks, or a special suit when handling or applying them. Also, time is not lost due to restricted entry intervals (REIs) so you can get the rest of your work done.

Some pesticides can be toxic to beneficial insects. Also, because some pests have built up a resistance to traditional pesticides, it can be necessary to use even more of these products. Biological controls get rid of pests in a natural way while helping to restore and protect vital ecosystems, laying the foundation for healthy crops and a balanced growing environment.

Don’t Fight The Wave, Surf The Crest

When you let nature do the heavy lifting, BCAs can get rid of plant pests quickly and more efficiently. Koppert Biological Systems is a leader in the field. They’re working with growers to optimize existing solutions and develop fresh innovations to make those solutions easier to apply.

For example, Koppert brought Limonica predatory mites to market to combat the invasive pest thrips parvispinus. They’ve also developed Koppert predatory insect sachets that simply need to be hung on large house plants or hanging baskets. Made of mylar, Koppert sachets retain humidity that helps the biological product inside last longer. Scaling it up, Koppert’s Natutec Airobreez blower gun is the next generation device for large-scale BCA deployment.

BCAs offer a complete approach to pest control. Natural enemies such as predatory mites and parasitic wasps are used to combat pest infestations once they occur. In the meantime, biostimulants like amino acids and beneficial microbes support and strengthen crops above and below the soil as preventatives. That extra boost enhances the plants’ resilience to pests and pathogens.

Getting To Know Your BCAs

Predatory mites, like Swirski-Mite, knock down a rise in pest pressure quickly. They hunt down specific pests and don’t stop until they’ve rapidly knocked out the bad bug population. Honing in on their prey only, predatory mites leave the rest of the ecosystem unharmed.

Fungicidal spores in Isarid™ Mycoinsecticide abide for a long time in the soil or on the plant, until a pest comes by and touches them. When this happens the spores become activated and neutralize the pest. As a result, pests can’t get a foothold because they keep getting intercepted.

Soil enhancements like the natural rhizobacteria in Microflora SA keep plants healthy and strong so they’re resilient to pests and pathogens. Beneficial microbes boost the biome health and armor up the roots to keep out bad bacteria.

BCAs are not an either/or decision—they can be used together with pesticides in some situations. When you work with BCAs you can trust Natural Enemies to provide high quality Koppert products. We offer a wide range of predatory insects, beneficial fungi, and soil enhancements to improve plant health. If you have questions about our biological products you’ll find extensive information on our website and a live chat to provide expert technical support.