International Pest Control – September/October 2015 – Vol 57, Nr.5
Cover Photo: Dr Minshad Ansari, Founder and Managing Director of Bionema and Dr Gerry Ronan, Research, Engagement & Innovation Services, Swansea University. Among other activities, Bionema is developing a biopesticide to control Western Flower Thrips, which cause an estimated £15m worth of damage to strawberries per annum in the UK alone.
I was always told that studying Latin would be good for a science career so I have for a long time now believed pheromones are not biopesticides. The word pesticide is derived from Latin – ‘pestis’ meaning ‘plague’ and ‘cide’ from caedere ‘to kill’. Semiochemicals do not kill when used as control agents –they simply interfere with the natural biology of the target pest. They are however naturally occurring or derived substances that control pests so they fall into the biopesticide category from a regulatory standpoint. Sadly this means we have very few semiochemical pest management products on the market today thanks to the time and financial costs involved of satisfying the regulators.
There is no one globally accepted definition for biopesticides but the market for these products is growing rapidly. It is comforting therefore to know that the associations and companies who operate
in this area are very active in working with regulators to agree better (and faster) ways of managing their arrival and use in the market.
Our special feature this issue looks at biological pest control (a catch-all phrase that includes biopesticides, parasites, predators and other natural control agents) with news and technical reports from companies and organisations who are active in this area. We report from a September conference at Swansea, Wales and preview the 10th anniversary of the ABIM; two events where specialists from around the world shared and will share experiences.
Whilst nematodes can be considered beneficials, we have two articles detailing their bigger role as pests against outdoor and protected solanaceae and whilst Autumn may be a time in the UK for foraging fruits in hedgerows, we have a report from the Galapagos Islands where invasive blackberries are a threat and CABI are on the hunt for a classical biological control solution. Not leaving out the public health market we have news on a new Braconid wasp that could help control woodworm.
Staying with the UK, rats and rodenticides remain high on the agenda. Bayer have recived a new approval for their difethialone product while the industry and users are still working through the implications of stewardship of how such products can and should be used and what users need to do to keep using them. If you are in a country without such a programme – pay attention – as the future rodent control depends on successful implementation.
Whilst Autumn has not quite arrived and there are still leaves on the trees, we conclude our issue with a look at how to manage trees in London suburbs. We have a legacy in Britain of living in leafy streets and it is important to deal with trees in a cost effective manner. As budgets become squeezed – technology comes to the rescue.
We look forward to the conference season ahead and in our last issue of the year we will report back from ABIM, Pest World , FAOPMA and PestTech. See you then.
David Loughlin, Editor International Pest Control Magazine
Email David on editor@international-pest-control.com
Contents of International Pest Control September/October 2015
Volume 57, Number 5
International News in Brief
Association News
- New gamekeepers rodenticide course.
- Amenity Forum Conference 2015.
- Report raises fresh fears for UK pest population.
- Malaysia host successful FAOPMA convention.
- CEPA Certified keeps rolling.
- New Director of Public Affairs at ECPA.
- CPA’s fresh perspective on pesticides.
- IBMA work hard to define low-risk products.
Special Feature: Biological Pest Control
- Nematode management in greenhouse tomato – Dr Terry Mabbett.
- Allicin – an all round natural pesticide.
- Invasive blackberry threatens iconic Galapagos Islands.
- Real farmers unite to invest in biopesticides.
- Joint celebrations planned for ABIM 10 years and IBMA 20 years in Basle – David Loughlin.
- Biopesticides – new solutions for old problems – David Loughlin.
- Braconid wasps versus Anobiidae: A new biological control method for the common furniture beetle – Alexander Kassel and Judith Auer.
Focus on Public Health
- Rodenticide with no known resistance approved for use in and around buildings.
- China factory breeds tweaked mosquitoes to fight dengue.
- Rodenticide stewardship’s complex timelines clarified.
- New online platform has string of benefits for pest control industry and beyond.
- Population dynamics of the sandfly species (Diptera: Psychodidae) of Sanliurfa province in Turkey – Sahin Toprak
Focus on Horticulture
- Resistant potato varieties key to fighting PCN.
- Indian ceremony opens Koppert’s joint research venture in Hyderabad.
Focus on Forestry and Plantations
- Dealing with the Horse Chestnut tree legacy in southern England – Dr Terry Mabbett
International Pest Control calendar of events
Published in International Pest Control – September/October 2015 issue.
Category: Issue Editorial & Contents
