Spain: identify insect for biological control of agricultural pests
A biotechnology company, born at the University of Alicante (UA), breeds an insect native to the Mediterranean that serves for the biological control of aphids. This company exports its product to farmers, individuals and municipalities throughout Europe.
The scientific name of the insect is Sphaerophoria rueppellii and it is bred in San Vicente del Raspeig. This species feeds on aphids and is helping to control this pest, also eliminating the molasses left on the ground by trees such as jacarandas when they are attacked by aphids.
Everything was born as a result of the studies and investigations that were developed in the department of zoology of the UA. María Ángeles Marco, professor and promoter of this biotechnology company, after several theses and investigations, saw the potential of the insect to solve the serious problem that occurs in greenhouses. Eduardo Galante, president of the company Bionostrum, who is developing the reproduction of this insect, states that: "The plagues of aphids are the most difficult to control in crops and gardening and María Ángeles discovered that this insect is capable of attacking them and that , in addition, it resists the high temperatures of the invernadero ".
At the same time, the director of production of Bionostrum, Javier Cabañas, highlights the importance of the use of insects, since they are a natural product that is oriented to replace chemical pesticides.
This business initiative, promoted by members of the university community, is an original company that belonged to the Science Park and now occupies an area of 700 square meters in the industrial area of Canastell, in Alicante, Spain, where the production of thousands of These insects, which are already beginning to fight more pests, such as tomato and other crops.
Bionostrum can produce up to 200.000 insects a week. The breeding for obtaining eggs is done in isolated areas called breeding room. There they are fed with an artificial compound that was also devised by the company and that is unique in the world, which allows them to reduce costs. The insect is commercialized in two ways, in pupa as a preventive method or to fight against an imminent pest or the eggs are sold, if the pest has already spread. Galante notes that 100 pupae cover about one hectare and the doses must be repeated several times.
Comment
The Agricultural and Livestock Service (SAG) currently leads several national pest control programs, such as the National Lobesia botrana Program. In August of 2017, the SAG launched the strategy 2017-2018 to continue fighting the grape cluster moth that affects grapes, blueberries and plums.
The Minister of Agriculture, Carlos Furche, who led the launching ceremony, explained that from 2014-2015 a common plan was implemented with the private sector and that it has proven to be effective, allowing to significantly reduce this moth, through the use of the sexual confusers.
For this season, the SAG increased the coverage of sexual confusion, having Esonores de Confusión Sexual (ECS) Isonet L, to cover a productive area of 45.000 hectares, prioritizing the vine.
In parallel, Chile is being a pioneer in the investigation of Lobesia botrana, starting the first trial of experimental release of sterile moths for the control of the pest at urban level, during September of 2016. This was a joint initiative between the SAG, the Foundation for Fruit Development (FDF), the Fruit Exporters Association of Chile (Asoex) and the Chilean Nuclear Energy Commission (CCHEN), with funding from the Foundation for Innovation Agraria (FIA). The objective was to use the Sterile Insect Technique (TIE), known for its great effectiveness in combating the fruit fly, using it in this opportunity with this moth.
Source: Diario Información - SAG - Agrimundo
ARTÍCULOS RELACIONADOS
