Biocontrol Control Methods

Predators

The beetle Teretrius (formerly Teretriosoma) nigrescens, which is a specific predator of the larger grain borer in Central America, has been introduced into Africa. The adult and the immature stages of this beetle feed on eggs and larvae of the larger grain borer.

The predatory beetle has been released in Benin, Ghana, Guinea-Conakry, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Togo and Zambia. It became well established and spread in most countries. However, despite the successful introductions, there are still regular outbreaks of the larger grain borer and farmers still suffer losses. Nevertheless this beetle has a role to play in the management of the larger grain borer, as it is able to reduce the density of the pest.

Natural enemies: 

Natural predators include

1. ants,

2. dragon flies,

3. ground beetles,

4. some spiders,

5. bats,

6. many kinds of birds,

7. frogs, and

8. some large mammals (aardvarks, pangolins and monkeys).

Despite the large number of predators, most termites are able to maintain high populations by means of mass production of reproductive forms.

Conserve natural enemies by avoiding pesticides when natural enemy numbers are high enough to reduce the whitefly population and by providing protective habitat (flowering plants). Natural enemies are mainly:

Commercially available natural enemies are not available

Pathogens: 

Control through pathogen application is generally difficult because of their social nature and secure enclosed environments that protect them against most natural enemies. Preparations based on insect-attacking nematodes and the fungi Beauveria bassiana and two species of Metarhizium are effective when applied into the mounds. Fungi spores can act as repellents.

Neem products reportedly have a repellent effect on termites.

 Odontotermes spp. and Microtermes obesi were repelled from scarifying groundnuts pods lying in heaps on the ground, by a layer of neem cake between the surface of the soil and the pods (Gold et al, 1989). 

Neem oil and neem leaves reduced the weight loss of wood pieces exposed to termites. 

Neem seed extracts have been used against Microtermes termites on trees and Odontotermes termites on field crops with good results (Schmutterer, 2002). 

No product is registered particular for the termites or ants. 

However products registered for other insect pests are:

1. Fortune, Magneto, Nimbecidine, Ozoneem, Neemark, Achook (Azadirachtin)

2. Flower, Pesthrin, Pyagro, Pyeneem (Pyrethrins)

Conserve natural enemies (predatory thrips, green lacewings, pirate bugs (Orius), parasitic wasps and predatory mites Amblyseius spp.; Neoseiulus cucumeris) by avoiding pesticides when natural enemy numbers are high enough to reduce the thrip population and by providing protective habitat.
Natural enemies commercially available are:
Real Amblyseius Cucumeris, Thripex, Amblytech (Amblyseius cucumeris, predatory mite)
Nematech (Steinerma feltiae, parasitic nematode)
Macro_Mite (Macrochelis robustulus, predatory mite)
Bioscimitus (Hypaspis mile/ Stratiola elaps Scimitus, predatory mite)
Hypotech (Hyoaspis miles, predatory mite)
Use blue or yellow sticky trap to attract and kill adults (minimum of 8 traps per 0.5 acres) (products: Rolltech Trap, Sticktech Yellow)
Use pheromone lures in mass trappings and/or add a contaminant to kill thrips
Use of pathogens such as the fungi Entomophthora, Verticillium lecanii, Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae are also important in natural control of thrips. Spray formulations of Beauveria bassiana are used for the control of thrips. This microorganism is most effective when used early before large thrips populations have built up.
Products available are:
Beauvitech, Biopower, Botanigard (Beauveria bassiana) Spray Beauveria bassiana at the rate of 10 ml per 20L of water during late afternoon
Bio T Plus, Biokil, Halt Neo (Bacillus Thuringiensis var. Kurstaki )
Biocatch, Lecatech (Verticillium (Lecanicillium) Lecanii
Requiem Prime (Terpenoid Blend)
Biomagic (Metarhizium anisopliae)
Rhizo Protect (Metarhizium isopliae + Lecanicillium lecanii)

1. Bio-Chance 150 (Naringin)

Copper:

There are many copper compounds that are used as fungicides. The most common are derived from either copper hydroxide or copper oxychloride. These products are readily available in most third world countries and very reasonably priced. Copper products are still accepted in organic farming provided that the number of applications is strictly followed and a proper soil amendment is observed to prevent copper accumulation in the soil. However they belong to the WHO II. 

Available copper products are:

2. Champion 50, Amicop, Champflo, Cobox 50, Cupravit 50, Cuprocafforo Micro

Several plants have been reported to control the larger grain borer. See table below:Plant  Plant part Product/ concentration 

PlantPlant partProduct/ concentrationEffect on damage
Castor beansSeed10% ethanolic extract–
NeemSeed5-10% slurry< 10% damage
NeemOil1.5% (vol/vol)< 16% damage
PyrethrumFlower0.5% powder (w/w)Highly effective
Velvet leafLeaf, root2.5-10% slurry< 10% damage

Using plant material in the form of slurry has given better results than plant powders. The slurry can be prepared by weighing out powder into 150 ml containers and adding sufficient water to give a 10% concentration (w/w), and stirring until a smooth paste is obtained. Then, the grain is poured into prepared slurries and stirred with a rod until all grains are coated (Tierto, as cited by GTZ, and Stoll, 2003).

Neem shows considerable potential for controlling pests of stored products. Jute sacks are also treated with neem oil or neem extracts to prevent pests – particularly, weevils and flour beetles- from penetrating for several months.

Neem oil is also an extremely effective and cheap protection for stored beans, cowpeas, and other legumes. It keeps them free of bruchidbeetle infestations for at least 6 months, regardless of whether the beans were infested before treatment or not. This process may be unsuitable for use in large-scale food stores, but it is potentially valuable for household use and for protecting seeds being held for planting. The treatment in no way inhibits the capacity of the seeds to germinate.

Only one product is registered specifically for weevils which is Achook

However products registered for other insect pests are:

• Fortune, Magneto, Nimbecidine, Ozoneem, Neemark (Azadirachtin)

Galls on roots from root-knot nematodes

1. Incorporate neem cake powder into the soil if it is available.

References

2. Drench the root zone at transplanting with Azadirachtin based products e.g. Neemraj (300PPM) at 40ml/20L of water or Nimbecidine EC at 50ml/20L. Repeat this after 2 weeks

Other biopesticides available are: 

1. Ozoneem, Achook, Nemroc (Azadirachtin)

2. AMINEM XY16 Liquid Emulsion (Carvacrol 2% w/v)

3. NEMguard® (Polysulphide Formulation)

1. Natural enemies: 

Conserve natural enemies by avoiding pesticides when natural enemy numbers are high enough to reduce the whitefly population and by providing protective habitat (flowering plants). Natural enemies are :

1.1. Birds (provide bird baths)

1.2. Spiders (provide rocks under which they can hide)

1.3. Lizards (provide rocks under which they can hide)

1.4. Ducks and chicken

2. No commercially available natural enemies are available 

3. Pathogens: 

Use of pathogens are also important in natural control of caterpillars. However only bacteria seem to be efficient.

Products available are:

3.1. Nematech (Heterorhabditis bacteriophora) by Dudutech

3.2. Xentari, Baciguard (Bacillus Thuringiensis)

3.3. Capsanem paste (Steinernema carpocapsae)

1. Natural enemies: 

Conserve natural enemies by avoiding pesticides when natural enemy numbers are high enough to reduce the whitefly population and by providing protective habitat (flowering plants). Natural enemies are :

 

1.1. Predatory beetles such as ladybird beetles (Coccinellidae) or small Staphilinidae (Oligota spp)

1.2. predatory mites (Amblyseius spp. And Typhlodromus spp)

1.3. parasitic wasps (Eretmocerus spp., Encarsia spp, but mainly in greenhouses)

1.4. Lacewings (Chrysopidae)

1.5. Predatory thrips

1.6. anthocoridbugs (Orius spp),

1.7. mirid bugs,

1.8. predatory flies such as cecydomyiid and hoverflies. 

2. Natural enemies commercially available are:

2.1. Spical (Neoseilus californicus (Anblyseius californicus) by Koppert

2.2. Spidex (Phytoseiulus persimilis) by Koppert

2.3. Thripex (Amblyseis cucumeris) by Flamingo Horticulture

2.4. Biophyto (Phytoseiulus persimilis)

2.5. Amblytech (Amblyseius cucmeris, predatory mite) by Dudutech

2.6. Phytotech (Phytoseiulus persimilis) by Dudutech

2.7. Real Amblyseius Andersoni (Amblyseius andersoni) by Real IPM

3. Pathogens: 

Use of pathogens such as the fungi  Metarhizium anisopliae can help in the natural control of spidermites.

Products available are:

3.1. Achieve (Metarhizium anisopliae) by Real IPM

1. Natural enemies: 

Many birds, toads, lizards, small mammals, insects and spiders prey on the African armyworm at different stages of its life cycle: Natural enemies are mainly:

1.1. Lacewings, predatory wasps, parasitic wasps, flies, and spiders attack armyworm caterpillars.

1.2. Night birds and bats feed on the African armyworm moths.

1.3. Birds (storks and crows) may decimate small outbreaks but have little influence on larger ones.

Conserve natural enemies by avoiding pesticides when natural enemy numbers are high enough to reduce the whitefly population and by providing protective habitat (flowering plants). 

2. Commercially available natural enemies are not available

3. Pathogens: 

Only the use of Bacillus Thuringiensis is important in natural control of armyworms.

Products available are:

3.1. Halt Neo (Bacillus Thuringiensis)

4. Pheromones:

Help to attract and collect the armyworm. However no product is available/ registered in Kenya. 

1. Natural enemies: 

Conserve natural enemies by avoiding pesticides when natural enemy numbers are high enough to reduce the whitefly population and by providing protective habitat (flowering plants). Natural enemies are :

1.1. Birds (provide bird baths)

1.2. Spiders (provide rocks under which they can hide)

1.3. Lizards (provide rocks under which they can hide)

1.4. Ducks and chicken

1.5. Lacewings

1.6. Wasps (including parasitic wasps; Cotesia, Diadegma, Diadromus and Oomyzus)

Unfortunately, the locally existing wasps do not provide satisfactory control of the diamondback moth in eastern and southern Africa. For this reason, two species of wasps (Diadegma semiclausum and Cotesia plutellae) were imported and released by ICIPE in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. The former has provided almost complete control of this pest in highland growing conditions while the second is specific to mid-altitude, semi-arid areas where it also provides good control. 

2. No commercially available natural enemies or pheromones are available

3. Traps help to control the adult:

3.1. Delta Trap,

3.2. Wing Trap (by Dudutech)

4. Pathogens: 

Use of pathogens are also important in natural control of Diamondback Moth. Pathogens like Bacillus thuringiensis and Beauveria bassiana are proven to control the larvae status.

Products available are:

4.1. Halt, BN3, Delfin (Bacillus Thuringiensis)

4.2. Biopower (Beauveria bassiana) 

5. Pheromones: 

help to attract and collect the caterpillar but are not available in East Africa

1. Natural enemies: 

Conserve natural enemies by avoiding pesticides when natural enemy numbers are high enough to reduce the whitefly population and by providing protective habitat (flowering plants). Natural enemies are mainly:

 

1.1. Parasitic wasps (Diglyphus isaea, Chrysocharis parksi)

The wasps need to present in the beginning of the lifecycle of the leafminer to be able to control effectively.

 

2. Commercially available natural enemies are:

2.1. Diglytech (Diglyphus isaea) by Flamingo Horticulture

2.2. Hypotech (Hypsaspis miles)

3. Traps: 

Yellow traps attracting leafminers and can be controlled:

3.1. Delta Trap,

3.2. Rolltech,

3.3. Sticktech (by Dudutech)

3.4. Use black sticky traps (at 24 pieces/acre supplied by Koppert Biological Systems) placed at 15-20 cm above the ground to capture the adults (Tuta absoluta only)

 

4. Pathogens: 

Use of pathogens are also important in natural control of leafminers.

Products available are:

4.1. Beauvitech (Beauveria bassiana)

4.2. Lecatech (Lecanicillium Lecanii

4.3. Nematch H (Heterorhabditis bacteriophora)

1. Natural enemies: 

Conserve natural enemies by avoiding pesticides when natural enemy numbers are high enough to reduce the whitefly population and by providing protective habitat (flowering plants). Natural enemies are :

 

1.1. ladybird beetles (Coccinellidae)

1.2. predatory mites (Amblyseius spp. And Typhlodromus spp)

1.3. parasitic wasps (Eretmocerus spp., Encarsia spp, but mainly in greenhouses)

1.4. Lacewings (Chrysopidae)

1.4.1. The dusty lacewing Conwentzia africana is considered to be one of the most important predators of B. tabaci in East and southern Africa (Legg, 2003). Important to attract these in the beginning of growing season, so that whitefly eggs and nymphs can be eaten by the lacewing

1.5. Predatory thrips

1.6. Rove beetles

2. Natural enemies commercially available are:

2.1. Limonica (predatory mite, Amblydromalus limonicus)

3. Sticky traps: 

Use yellow sticky trap to attract and kill adults (1 to 4 per 300 squaremeter, replace every week). Products available are:

3.1. Rolltech Trap (Dudutech)

3.2. Sticktech Yellow (Dudutech)

4. Pathogens: 

Use of pathogens such as the fungi  Verticillium lecanii, Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae and Paecilomyces fumosoroseus are also important in natural control of whiteflies.

Products available are:

4.1. Beauvitech (Beauveria bassiana) Spray Beauveria bassiana at the rate of 10 ml per 20L of water during late afternoon

4.2. Biocatch, Lecatech (Verticillium (Lecanicillium) Lecanii

4.3. Biomagic, Campaign (Metarhizium anisopliae)

4.4. Pacyclos (Paecilomyces fumosoroseus)

1. Natural enemies: 

Conserve natural enemies by avoiding pesticides when natural enemy numbers are high enough to reduce the aphids population and by providing protective habitat (flowering plants). Natural enemies are

1.1. predatory bugs (e.g. Anthocoridae, Miridae, Nabidae),

1.2. carabid beetles (Carabidae),

1.3. soldier beetles (Cantharidae)

1.4. predatory gall midges(Cecidomyiidae),

1.5. lacewings (Chrysopidae),

1.6. ladybird beetles (Coccinellidae)

1.7. hoverflies (Syrphidae) and

1.8. parasitic wasps (parasitoids)

1.9. Controlling ants feeding on honeydew produced by aphids, as they protect the aphids from natural enemies. One option to control is to hinder them from coming up to the leaves (spraying the stem with biopesticides or putting a sticky band around the stem)

2. Natural enemies commercially available are:

2.1. Aphitech (Aphidius transcaspinus, parasitic wasp) from Flamingo Horticulture (K) Ltd., Naivasha (Dudutech)

3. Sticky traps: 

Use yellow sticky trap to attract and kill adults (minimum of 2 traps per 30m2). Products available are:

3.1. Rolltech Trap (Dudutech)

3.2. Sticktech Yellow (Dudutech)

 

4. Pathogens: 

Use of pathogens such as the fungi  Verticillium lecanii, Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae are also important in natural control of aphids.

Products available are:

4.1. Beauvitech, Biopower, Botanigard (Beauveria bassiana) Spray Beauveria bassiana at the rate of 10 ml per 20L of water during late afternoon

4.2. Biocatch, Lecatech (Verticillium (Lecanicillium) Lecanii

4.3. Biomagic, Supreme (Metarhizium anisopliae)

4.4. Pacyclos (Paecilomyces fumosoroseus)