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THE GREEN SPOT 



r^e Question (recently submit 

 ted by a New Hampshire 

 grower): "When should preda- 

 tors be introduced? Is it too late 

 after an insect population has 

 appeared?" 



The Green Spot's Answer: 

 "Predators, as the name suggests, 

 prey on smaller or less capable — 

 and tasty — organisms. (For ex- 

 ample, a ladybug is a predator 

 which feasts on aphids.) Taking 

 this into account, it is in the 

 predator's best interest to have 

 prey available when released. 

 Therefore, it is not TOO late. 

 However, it is often in the 

 grower's best interest to release 

 very early on in the infestation. 

 Don't wait until pest populations 

 are massive — it may be too late 

 to effectively and economically 

 turn the situation around. This 

 logic applies not only to biologi- 



cal pest control, but to any form 

 of control, including that ob- 

 tained by chemicals. 



"Parasitoids (parasitic mini- 

 wasps, etc.), on the other hand, 

 since they respond more favor- 

 ably to smaller infestations, are 

 often best used just prior to the 

 expected onset of a pest popula- 

 tion. In other words, the are 

 used preventively and during pe- 

 riods of very light infestation (or 

 to supplement any predators on 

 the site). They should not be 

 used to (or expected to) turn 

 around high pest numbers. Their 

 "too late" comes much sooner 

 than that of predators." 



The Green Spot, Ltd., would 

 like to extend an invitation to 

 readers of this column to submit 

 their questions about biocontrol 

 and IPM. All questions submit- 

 ted for publication must be ad- 



dressed as follows: 

 The Green Spot, Ltd., Published 

 Q&A, 93 Priest Road, Notting- 

 ham, NH 03190-6x04 



Or you may wish to submit 

 your query by email. If so, please 

 put "Published Q&A" on the 

 subject line of your transmission. 

 Address to: Info@GreenMethods.com 



All questions will be an- 

 swered. If not in the column, 

 The Green Spot, Ltd., will call 

 you, so please be sure to put 

 your name, company name, and 

 phone number on the submis- 

 sion. (Written consultation for 

 purposes other than this column 

 is a billable service.) And con- 

 tinue to call 603-941-8915 for 

 regular consultation, which is 

 free by telephone. Call for details. 



Mike Cheritn is president of The 

 Green Spot, Ltd. 



1028 Horseneck Road, Westport, MA, 02790 



508-636-4573 508-636-3397 FAX 



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