New biological control agents added to PM 6/3(5) in 2025
In 2025, three new biological control agents were added to the EPPO Standard PM 6/3(5).
Addition to Appendix 1: Commercially or officially used biological control agents
Aeolothrips intermedius (Thysanoptera: Aeolothripidae) is an augmentative biological control agent indigenous to the EPPO region. It is a biological control agent of around forty different thrips species (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) including Frankliniella spp., Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis, Odontothrips confusus, Thrips tabaci. A. intermedius is commercially available in the EPPO region. There are no reports of adverse effects.
Nephus includens (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) is an augmentative biological control agent of various mealybug species (Maconellicoccus hirsutus, Phenacoccus solenopsis, Planococcus citri, Pl. ficus, Pseudococcus longispinus) and it is indigenous to the EPPO region. It is commercially available in the EPPO region. There are no reports of adverse effects.
Addition to Appendix 2: Classical biological control agents successfully established in the EPPO region
Torymus sinensis (Hymenoptera: Torymidae) is a natural enemy of Dryocosmus kuriphilus (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae, EPPO A2 List) and is native to China. T. sinensis is a classical biological control agent and is established in the EPPO region for at least five years. In the EPPO region there are no reports of adverse effects.
Sources
EPPO (2021) PM 6/3 Biological control agents safely used in the EPPO region. EPPO Bulletin, 51 452-454.