Beneficial Insects in CEA

Leveraging Nature Against Threats In Controlled Environment Agriculture

Author

Corenthin (Félix) Chassouant
September 25, 2024

The use of beneficial insects in agriculture, particularly in controlled environment agriculture (CEA), has revolutionized pest management strategies and contributed to more sustainable farming practices.

This approach, which harnesses nature's pest control mechanisms, has become increasingly popular.

What We Are Covering Today?

Thank you, Anatis Bioprotection, for your valuable expert input in this Newsletter edition.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT
Leveraging Insects To Control Pest Is Not New

The concept of using beneficial insects for pest control in agriculture dates back to ancient times, with Chinese farmers using ants to control citrus pests as early as 304 AD (Xerces Society, 2020). However, the modern application of beneficial insects in controlled environments began in the early 20th century. In the 1920s, European greenhouse growers started experimenting with predatory mites to control spider mites on cucumbers. This marked the beginning of biological control in CEA. The practice gained momentum in the 1960s and 1970s as concerns about pesticide use grew and research into alternative pest management strategies intensified.

Source: Green Grasshopper on Unsplash

Beneficial Insect Market in North America

The North American beneficial insect market is experiencing a remarkable surge, with projections indicating it could reach over $300 million by 2025. This growth is particularly exciting for controlled environment agriculture (CEA) growers, who are at the forefront of adopting these natural pest control solutions.

The North American market represents significant growth potential (2nd highest in the world) due to its size and changing consumer habits, which demand greater transparency and traceability in the goods they consume (MarketsandMarkets, 2023). Concern about the negative health impact of chemical products is a major preoccupation for some families.

The market in North America is driven by factors such as:

  • Increasing adoption of integrated pest management (IPM) techniques

  • Growing consumer awareness of the benefits of organic products

  • Rising environmental concerns and a shift towards sustainable agriculture

  • Well-established infrastructure for production and distribution of beneficial insects

  • Strong focus on reducing chemical pesticide use

INSECTS IN CEA
Top 5 Pests in the CEA Industry

1. Aphids

Aphids are small, soft-bodied insects that feed on plant sap, causing stunted growth and leaf distortion. They can also transmit plant viruses. Beneficial Insect Solution: Ladybugs (Coccinellidae) are voracious aphid predators. Both adult ladybugs and their larvae can consume up to 50-60 aphids daily (OKState, 2022). Lacewing larvae (Chrysopidae) are also effective aphid controllers, earning them the nickname "aphid lions" (Orisha, 2021).

2. Spider Mites

These tiny arachnids cause stippling on leaves and can severely damage plants if left unchecked. Beneficial Insect Solution: Predatory mites, such as Phytoseiulus persimilis, are highly effective against spider mites. These beneficial mites can consume up to 20 spider mites or 30 eggs daily (OKState, 2022).

3. Thrips

Thrips are small, slender insects that cause silvery patches on leaves and can transmit plant viruses. Beneficial Insect Solution: Predatory bugs like Orius insidiosus (minute pirate bugs) are excellent thrips controllers. They can consume up to 80 thrips per day (GrowerTalks, 2014). Additionally, soil-dwelling predatory mites like Stratiolaelaps scimitus can target thrips pupae in the growing medium.

4. Whiteflies

These small, white, winged insects feed on plant sap and excrete honeydew, which can lead to sooty mold growth. Beneficial Insect Solution: The parasitic wasp Encarsia formosa is highly effective against whiteflies. Female wasps lay their eggs inside whitefly nymphs, using them as hosts for developing larvae. Predatory beetles like Delphastus catalinae also feed on whitefly eggs and nymphs (UC IPM, 2024).

5. Fungus Gnats

These tiny flies lay eggs in moist soil, and their larvae feed on plant roots, potentially causing significant damage to young plants. Beneficial Insect Solution: Soil-dwelling predatory mites like Stratiolaelaps scimitus (formerly Hypoaspis miles) feed on fungus gnat larvae in the growing medium. The beneficial nematode Steinernema feltiae is also effective, parasitizing fungus gnat larvae in the soil (Koppert, 2024).

INTERVIEWING THE EXPERTS
Expert Input and their Predators Solutions

In this Newsletter edition, we have the chance to have input from Greg Welfing, Professional Agrologist and Key account manager with Anatis Bioprotection

From his experience, Greg confirms that four main insect groups negatively affect vegetable and fruit greenhouse growers: aphids, spider mites, whiteflies, and thrips. Multiple species are also within these groups. Anatis Bioprotection carries controls for all of these and more!

We focus on providing Biocontrol solutions to growers. We do this with two main product categories:

The first is Macrobiologicals, a.k.a. beneficial insects. These are insect predators and parasitoids that eat pest insects on crops. They are released in preventative programs to protect crops ahead of time from pest invasions.

A glimpse of the Anatis Bioprotection available predators list:

The 2nd category is Microbiologicals. These are microscopic organisms like beneficial nematodes or the beneficial fungus Beauveria bassiana found in our BioCeres™ and BioTitan™ line of products.

We provide weekly scouting services and pest ID training to support the CEA growers. Training client scouts to recognize pests and beneficials is essential to our services. We often help growers fine-tune their biocontrol programs to their unique growing situations. This is essential as no one-size-fits-all approach works well with pest biocontrol. Moreover, growers often reach out to us with pictures of unknown insects and ask us to ID them. We are more than happy to assist with this.

Welcome to The Anatis Knowledge Academy!

Anatis Bioprotection has recently launched our Anatis Academy! where growers can learn from industry experts in-person and online. The link to sign up for the Anatis Knowledge Academy can be found here.

Greg Welfing, technical expert with Anatis Bioprotection

BENEFITS OF INSECTS
Benefits of Using Beneficial Insects in CEA

Source: oktavianus mulyadi on Unplash

The use of beneficial insects in CEA offers numerous advantages:

  1. Reduced Pesticide Use: Beneficial insects provide effective pest control without the need for chemical pesticides, reducing environmental impact and potential health risks.

  2. Continuous Protection: Unlike pesticides that degrade over time, beneficial insects provide ongoing pest control as they reproduce and establish populations within the growing environment.

  3. Resistance Management: Pests are less likely to develop resistance to natural predators compared to chemical pesticides.

  4. Improved Plant Health: By controlling pests naturally, beneficial insects help maintain overall plant health and vigor.

  5. Cost-Effective: While initial costs may be higher, the long-term use of beneficial insects can be more economical than repeated pesticide applications.

  6. Consumer Appeal: Using biological control aligns with growing demand for sustainable, pesticide-free produce.

FUTURE INNOVATION
Innovations Driving the Market

The beneficial insect market is experiencing a surge of innovation, driving its growth and effectiveness in controlled environment agriculture (CEA) and beyond. These advancements make biological pest control more accessible, efficient, and reliable for growers.

  • Advanced Rearing Techniques: Improved methods for mass-producing beneficial insects increase availability and reduce costs.

  • Targeted Release Systems: New technologies allow for precise distribution of beneficial insects within CEA facilities, optimizing their impact.

  • Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Software: Digital tools are helping growers monitor and manage beneficial insect populations more effectively. Integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning is revolutionizing pest management strategies. Smart monitoring systems can now detect pest outbreaks early and recommend precise beneficial insect interventions. These systems learn from data over time, improving their accuracy and effectiveness.

These innovations are making beneficial insects more effective and accessible to a broader range of growers. As technology advances, we can expect even more exciting developments in this field, further cementing the role of beneficial insects in sustainable agriculture.

LOOKING AHEAD
Future of Beneficial Insects in CEA

As the CEA industry continues to grow, the use of beneficial insects is likely to expand. Research into new beneficial species, improved rearing techniques, and more efficient release methods will further enhance their effectiveness.

Additionally, integrating beneficial insects with other biological control agents, such as beneficial microbes, holds promise for even more comprehensive pest management strategies.

In conclusion, beneficial insects are crucial in modern CEA, offering practical, sustainable pest control solutions. As the industry moves towards more environmentally friendly practices, these tiny allies will continue to be integral to successful greenhouse and indoor farming operations.

Complementary Sources: