New biological control agents added to PM 6/3(5) in 2022
In 2022, the following four species were added to the EPPO Standard PM 6/3(5) Biological control agents safely used in the EPPO region, Appendix 1 – commercially or officially used biological control agents.
Exochomus quadripustulatus (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)
Exochomus quadripustulatus, in both the adult and larval stage, is an important polyphagous predator of aphids and scale insects. The species is indigenous and widespread in the EPPO region and there are no previous reports of adverse effects.
Micromus angulatus (Neuroptera: Hemerobiidae)
Micromus angulatus is utilised as a Biological Control Agent of species of aphids (Aphidoidea) in the main crops of medicinal cannabis, berries (strawberry, raspberry), vegetable crops (such as sweet pepper) and ornamentals such as roses. The species is indigenous and widespread in the EPPO region and there are no previous reports of adverse effects.
Pronematus ubiquitus (Acarida: Tydeidae)
Pronematus ubiquitus is a predator of mite species and the main target pests include Aculops lycopersici, Tetranychus urticae, Acalitus essigi and Aculops cannibicola. The species is indigenous and widespread in the EPPO region and there are no previous reports of adverse effects. P. ubiquitus has been utilised as a biological control agent in the EPPO region since the 1980s and more recently it has become commercially available in the United Kingdom and Germany.
Trissolcus basalis (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae)
Trissolcus basalis is used to control the southern green stink bug Nezara viridula. In Brazil, it has also been mass-produced for inoculation to manage Piezodorus guildinii and Euschistus heros. Within the EPPO region, its presence is reported in at least the following countries: Cyprus, France, Georgia, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Montenegro, Morocco, Portugal, Spain and Turkey. More recently T. basalis has been recorded for the first time in Germany and Belgium.
Sources
EPPO PM 6/3(5) 2022 version. Biological control agents safely used in the EPPO region. Available at: https://gd.eppo.int/standards/PM6/