Using nature for pest management

Total Grower Services agronomists are trained in integrated approaches to pest management. We look at the whole system form soil health through to plant health. Our attention to detail helps growers achieve healthy crops. 

Insect populations in crops are affected by a wide array of factors including:

• weather
• crop stage
• activity of predators
• nutrition

We utilize the latest in science and management techniques and always look to sustainable solutions.

In horticulture, pest scouting is for both beneficial and harmful insects, with a focus on identifying what pests are damaging and harming the crop. We document beneficial pests as well as harmful pests, as part of IPM. Documenting beneficial predators such as californicus and SPP stethorus helps us evaluate the position of the crop and decide how to best go forward.

Pest scouting for harmful pests includes looking for damage to fruit, seeds or leaves. This detailed work requires experience and care.

Examples of our pest scouting services include:

• Red spider mite, rust thrips and banana weevil borer in banana crops.
• Swarming leaf beetle in avocados.
• Fruit spotting bug in papayas, avocados and macadamia nut

Success with natural predators and introduced predatory bugs.

We administer carefully selected predatory bugs for pest control.  The approach involves using a combination of introduced predatory mites working in conjunction with natural predators.

We use a wide variety of natural predators including assassin bugs, spiders, wasps and lace wings.

FRUIT SPOTTING BUG – we are successfully controlling Fruit Spotting Bug through careful use of Anastasia and Egg Parasitoid Wasps.

RED SPIDER MITE – by controlled use of a combination of introduced predatory mites, that work in conjunction with the natural predators, we are successfully controlling pests such as Red Spider Mite