New products
Even though we have plenty of unique products in our assortment, we are always looking for new products. As there are enough pests that cannot be controlled with the current products available on the biological control market, there is plenty of opportunity for new product research. Developing a new product starts with life history research of the species in question. If the species is deemed interesting for application as a biological control agent, a rearing method needs to be developed. Before the species can be commercially available, we need to ask the Dutch government for permission. Examples of product that we recently have developed are the predatory beetle PROPYLEA QUATUORDECIMPUNCTATA against aphids and the predatory thrips KARNYOTHRIPS MELALEUCUS against armoured scales.

New application of existing products
Despite strict measures, new pests can emerge in a cultivation. Since growers use less pesticide, the chance occurs that they encounter a pest that has previously been suppressed by pesticides. Such ‘new’ pests all of a sudden have to be combatted with biological control. Within our company we continuously research whether such ‘new’ pests can be controlled with one of our existing products. An example of this is our product FRANKLINOTHRIPS VESPIFORMIS. First results of our research indicates that this predatory thrips can play a role in the control of the Japanese flower thrips: a thrips that recently emerged in the Netherlands.

Commissioned research
Entocare also conducts commissioned research, either for growers or any other party that would like our help, such as municipalities or other biological control companies. It mostly involves practical research, but we can also conduct lab- or greenhouse experiments. If desired, we can cooperate our research with other parties. Our specialist insect knowledge and our experience in biological control are of great value. Because of our broad experience in breeding insects, we can set up a rearing of a pest or potential biological control agent relatively quick. Therefore we are involved in several external research projects where we supply pest insects for experiments.

We are involved in the following research projects:

• Biological control of mealybugs and armoured scales in floriculture (2010 – present)
• Biological control of woolly apple aphid with indigenous biocontrol agents (2006-2008)
• Biological control of the horse-chestnut leaf miner (2006-2008)
• Biological control of thrips in floriculture in Dutch greenhouses (2010 – present)
• Biological control of caterpillars in the cultivation of rooibos (South-Africa) (2003 – 2007)
• Biological control of true bugs in several cultivations in Southeast Asia (2005 – 2009)
• Biological control of woolly beech aphid with indigenous biocontrol agents (2007-2010)
• Biological control of harmful true bugs in Dutch greenhouses and outdoor cultivations (2010 – present)
• Biological control of tarsonemid mites in shrubs (2011-2012)
• Biological control of garden symphylan in shrubs (2011-2012)
• Best practices: control of mealybugs, soft scale and armoured scale in various cultivations (2013)
• Root mealybugs in the cultivation of potted plants(2012-2013)
• Healthy greenhouse project (2010 – 2014)
• Control opportunities of common ragwort (2010 – 2013)