• Transforming crop protection: the rise of predatory mites

  September 8, 2025

  few years, he and the team developed a reliable, proven protocol based on Amblyseius swirskii and Orius . It was a turning point. “For the first time, predatory [...] greenhouses to open fields, the success of Swirski-Mite opened the door to other applications. The team developed protocols for controlling red spider mites [...] mites now form the backbone of protocols tackling invasive pests like Thrips parvispinus and Scirtothrips in peppers. The power of mites and the role of research

• The use of Swirski-Mite brings great advantages!

  December 13, 2022

  means reduced residues on the product. There are legal rules governing the amount of pesticide residues that may be present on a product. These days, however [...] already in the starting blocks before the problems start. You're fully prepared, both for expected infestations and unexpected intruders. In short, the use of [...] crops. The damage caused by chemical plant protection is often underestimated. However, the fact is that some active ingredients - and certainly the excipients

• Caterpillars: a growth explosion in the life of butterflies and moths

  June 30, 2023

  moth or butterfly When the butterfly is fully developed, it emerges from the pupa. The butterfly first looks for a suitable place to attach itself to, and [...] stops eating and looks for a suitable place to pupate, the process by which it uses its silk glands to make a cocoon out of threads. The cocoon may be in a [...] it’s shorter and takes on a streamlined appearance. The skin is wrinkled at the beginning but splits over time and reveals the shiny cuticle. A pupa doesn’t

• Written in GrowerTalks: "BioSolutions for Propagators" by Jeremy Webber

  December 1, 2024

  can have on all stages of the propagation process, including stock plants, rooting, and bulking up for shipping. It’s an grower-centric read for propagators [...] BioSolutions for Propagators, a pest control article by Jeremy Webber, appears in the December 2024 issue of GrowerTalks magazine. He discusses the impact a [...] natural, sustainable pest control solutions for crops. Jeremy is currently the Ornamental Crop Team Manager for Koppert US. Prior to his work at Koppert,

• Enhancing the efficiency of biocontrol applications with Natutec Airobreez

  January 8, 2025

  Phalaenopsis orchids as its flagship product. As one of the first adopters of the Airobreez, the company has benefited from this advanced application device [...] across the greenhouse is exceptional, ensuring optimal distribution of the biocontrol products." Thanks to its innovative double duct system, the Airobreez [...] convenience, the Airobreez enhances biocontrol effectiveness by evenly distributing natural enemies across the crops, reducing time spent on pest management

• Beneficial nematodes; the natural move towards biological crop protection

  April 5, 2023

  lettuce. Click here for a full overview of the targeted pests. For growers, one of the main incentives to use nematode products is the diminishing role and [...] they are the best candidates for summer use, for instance. In addition, the Steinernema carpocapsae nematodes use an ambushing tactic to combat the pests [...] layer or a leaf and wait for a pest insect to pass by. When the prey passes by, the nematodes curl up and propel themselves onto the passing host. Easy to

• Swirski-Mite: the do’s and don'ts in a nutshell

  February 1, 2023

  company, preferably on the same day. If you can't, store the product in a cool (10-15 °C), dry place for no more than one to two days. Use the swirskii predatory [...] choose the right product for the right situation. This means Swirski-Mite in bottles when fast action is needed or predatory mites in breeding bags for prevention [...] predatory mites at the right time when the population size is still low. In principle, predatory mites work preventatively. Monitor the infestation level using

• Fusarium opens the door to other diseases and pests

  June 27, 2022

  potatoes if there are also nematodes in the soil. The nematodes puncture the tubers, creating little wounds that allow the fungi to penetrate. In other crops [...] such as Fusarium can also have a devastating impact on plant resilience. This opens up the door for other diseases and pests to strike. Plants have a natural [...] Fusarium infection can still cause the plant to weaken, opening the door to parasites that target weakness, such as the pathogen Pythium . But there is a

• Earth Day 2022: Koppert’s ongoing investment in the planet

  April 21, 2022

  doing at Koppert for the past 55 years. Established in 1970, Earth Day is an international day devoted to the planet. It draws attention to the environment [...] doing at Koppert for the past 55 years. Established in 1970, Earth Day is an international day devoted to the planet. It draws attention to the environment [...] security and safeguarding the environment and biodiversity. On the operational side, Koppert has actively reduced or compensated for its use of fossil fuels

• The Swirski-Mite Revolution: A Game-Changer in Pest Control

  November 8, 2024

  once again boosted the popularity of the predatory mite. The fact that the sachet is industrially compostable is a further advantage for users. After use [...] is still no reason for that to change. The predatory mite Amblyseius swirskii has brought growers around the world huge success. ‘The fact that Swirski-Mite [...] Not long after, the product range was expanded with a rearing sachet, Swirski-Mite Plus . Then the Long Duration variant came on the market; due to a