Vineland has discovered a Modern general vulture to help ascendence pests relate with increase crop diversity in Canadian nursery , thanks to a five - yr project funded in part by the Government of Canada under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership ’s AgriScience Program , a federal , provincial , territorial go-ahead in collaborationism with the Université du Québec à Montréal ( UQAM ) and the biocontrol producer Applied Bio - nomics .
“ This new predator Anystis is in force against several key greenhouse pests by controlling thripid and spider mites and suppressing aphids . As a generalist predatory animal , Anystis also preys on Echinothrips and mealybugs for which no biocontrol agent exist , ” said Rose Buitenhuis , Ph.D. , Vineland ’s Senior Research Scientist , Biological Control . “ Anystis is functionally compatible with ordinarily - used biocontrol agents , including aphid parasitoids and Neioseiulus cucumeris , and is a worthful improver to an Integrated Pest Management ( IPM ) program . ”
Despite the predatory animal ’s cannibalistic tendency , Vineland ’s enquiry squad , led by Senior Research Technician Taro Saito , was capable to develop in a laboratory mark two richly - do rearing system for Anystis with cost standardised to other commonly used biocontrol federal agent . The research team also define grownup predators can be send from the insectary to the client with a downhearted mortality pace .
" Not well intimidated"Last spring , they transport the predator to Applied Bio - nomics Ltd. for scaling up those aggregated - raise systems and for commercialization . “ Anystis is an exciting young predator . It appear to be a true generalist and is not intimidate by some of the toughest pesterer ’s instinctive defence mechanism such as wax and webbing . It is loose to see and scout , helping growers see their activity , and it is always hungry , a very honorable trait , ” say Brian Spencer , President of Applied Bio - nomics Ltd. “ We prize Vineland ’s research and their communication ability and look forward to continuing our association with them . ” The ship’s company is now successfully rearing Anystis with a circumscribed number of mite useable to agriculturist to try .
finding from the research project also square up the adult predator stage is the best for release in the crop , as the Anystis starts controlling pests and reproduce now , lead to the right governing body . Providing supplementary food for thought ( either Artemia cysts or Ephestia testis ) keep the predator when prey is scarce .
extra cropsWhat is next ? The employment of Anystis as a biocontrol agent has already been validated in commercial-grade greenhouse trials of gerbera and sweet pepper . extra enquiry will be undertaken to assess the effectiveness of Anystis in several other crops including greenhouse strawberries . Recent trials with Niagara College also showed hopeful effect for using the marauder in cannabis , with the intention of controlling aphids , one of the most problematical pests in this craw .
Anystis is the second new biocontrol broker to fare out of this enquiry project . The first was the Syrphid rainfly , an aphid predator developed by UQAM and also available throughApplied Bio - nomics .
For more information : Rose Buitenhuis , PhDVineland Research[email protected][email protected]www.vinelandresearch.com
