How to by BIOLOGICAL Control Agents

There is no doubt the bio control industry is growing, so there are many jumping into the business to try and cash in. There are a few terms that are important to understand, so you know whom you are buying from. First there are insectaries, they are the companies that product / grow the bio control agents. There are not many and most will sell direct to growers. I have provided a list of these companies here.  Next there are distributors, these are companies and buy and resell the beneficial insects ,mites and nematodes. If is important if you use a distributor that they have a relationship where the beneficials are dropped shipped directly from the insectary to your door. The longer the beneficials are in transit, the greater the chances a problem will occur, impacting the quality of the beneficial.  Also, depending on the distributor, they sometimes do not know the beneficials as well as the insectaries do. 

• List of Insectaries on Buglady Consulting
• Industry Trade Shows
• Talk to Other Growers
• The Internet (buyer be-where) 

•  Do they provide consulting services to help set up a program prior to selling you beneficials?
• What is their background that qualifies them to give you advice?
• Does the company provide written literature prior to the arrival of product so the growers know how to handle and release the beneficials before arrival of the product? 
• Do they ship overnight in insulated containers?
• What is company policy on product that arrives late?
• Are they the insectary or are they a distributor? 

•  Where are the beneficials going? Just like plants, insects cannot survive in all conditions.
• Temperature highs and lows?  Temperature affects life cycle development.
• Humidity level?  Humidity makes a difference with life cycle development.
• Pest being targeted?  There are many species of pest insects, you need to know what pest you are dealing with specifically.  Predators and parasites can be host specific.
• Crop?  Different plants have different pest complexes.
• Length of crop cycle?  Short term crops may not be cost effective.
• Type of production?  Greenhouse, field, hydroponic, or Interiorscape, landscape?
• Pest population levels?   
• Irrigation? Different irrigation schedules and methods can call for different release methods.
• Size of area to treat.  Different beneficials have different release rates.  There are many variables here.  Let the supplier, after hearing about your operation, develop rates for you.
• Chemicals that have been used on crop?  #1 killer of biological programs, most pesticides are not that selective: their residual can kill many beneficial insects and mites.