Premium persimilis

persimilis is a predatory mite that feeds upon the common pest; two spotted mite or red spider mite (Tetranychus urticae & ludeni)

It is suitable for cut flowers, nursery crops, strawberries, vegetables, deciduous fruits in coastal areas & tropical fruits.

Breeding persimilis for over 20 years

Bio Works is a persimilis predatory Mite breeding business located near Coffs Harbour on the Mid North Coast of NSW.

The Coffs Harbour climate provides us optimal persimilis breeding conditions which allows us to maintain a close to nature approach that exposes our predators to normal climatic changes that occur and help them withstand these fluctuations within your crop. Various selection pressures are also placed upon the persimilis to maintain a quality "stud" of stock ensuring you recieve fit and healthy breeders ready to establish themselves in your growing environment.

Manage Fungus Gnats with Predatory Mites

It is possible to protect your roots from fungus gnats or black flies biologically while still spraying plant foliage for other pests.

Fungus gnats or black flies can be a difficult pest to manage in a cucumber growing system, however you are able to manage this pest easily with the introduction of the predatory mite Hypoaspis from Bio Works. Normal spray applications can be made to the plants without interfereing with the Hypoaspis fungus gnat predators provided the pots are not drenched with chemical.

How it works?

Hypoaspis miles is a soil inhabiting predatory mite that preys on insects within the top layers off media/soil. Hypoaspis eat the eggs and early stages of fungus gnats thus preventing the establishment of large numbers of adult flies. They can even feed on algai and fungi to maintain themselves. Early application of the mites is critical so as to prevent a build up of fungus gnats through the crop cycle. Generally one application about 1 week after plant emergence is recommended at a rate of a 2 litre bucket (30000 mites) per 1000 plants. The Hypoaspis arrive blended through a mix of coccopeat and vermiculite, about a teaspoon needs to be added to each pot, the predatory mites then establish themselves in the pot and experience has shown that they will last the life off the crop.

Less Disease:

Fungus gnats can also transfer disease from pot to pot plant to plant, ensuring fungus gnats are effectively controlled along with clean water will drastically reduce the incidence of root diseases such as pythium, phytophoria and fusarium.

Lasioseius queenslandicus (Zed)

Due to a continued complication with the mass rearing of the “zed” mite we have been unable to conduct any more trials. Efforts are ongoing in an attempt to turn this predator culture around.

Lasioseius queenslandicus (ZED) is an Australian native predatory mite of which very little is known. It was originally bred from wild mites on the mid north coast of NSW that had invaded another predatory mite culture. The current culture was re established from collections taken from a rose farm in Melbourne where Lasioseius queenslandicus (Zed) had been previously sent. Bio Works has re established the culture after favourable reports from the rose farm where they had been initially trialled.

Bio Works has been conducting a release trial of the predatory mite Lasioseius queenslandicus (Zed) into a cucumber crop in Coffs Harbour. The aim of the cucumber release trial is to asses the effectiveness of this predatory mite on thrips (Western Flower Thrips). The poly tunnel where it has been released has had a history of thrips problems. Results from the first release in the Autumn crop have been very encouraging. During the winter crop one release was made when the cucumbers were at about 3ft high. However thrips pressure this winter is low due to a combination of cold wet weather and low levels of thrips late in the previous season. More releases will be made moving into the spring and hopefully we will have a better idea of how this predator may be used for Western Flower Thrips management whithin an IPM package.

Lasioseius queenslandicus (Zed) are also being released weekly in a few rose farms, targeting Western Flower Thrips WFT in both tropical and temperate climates.

Matthew Parker

IPM Consultant & Premium persimilis Breeder

I have extensive experience working in IPM systems and I am contactable 7 days a week via mobile phone, 0428 68 3555. Please do not hesitate to call as I welcome any questions or discussion on plant pests and their management.

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