Biological Control Success Stories
F.A.R. has played an integral role in helping large scale agencies (California Department of Food and Agriculture, Citrus Research Board, and UC-Riverside) successfully develop mass rearing procedures for production of beneficial insects. Here are a few of our success stories.
Vine Mealybug
In 1998, Dr. Dan Gonzalez and a group of Coachella valley grape growers approached F.A.R. about the vine mealybug infestation of table grapes. Dr. Gonzalez identified two parasites that he believed could control the pest. He needed the two insects, Anagyrus pseudococci and Leptomastidea abnormis, mass produced to continue his research. F.A.R. developed a mass rearing process that greatly reduced the possibility of contamination.
California Red Scale
The commercial success of Aphytis melinus for control of the California Red Scale is due in large part F.A.R.'s work with the University of California Riverside on the Crown Butte Project (1989-1994). This project established a proven IPM program for citrus in the San Joaquin Valley. F.A.R. produced the aphytis for this five-year project, which was funded by the Citrus Research Board. Dr. Robert Luck, Dr. Joseph Morse and Phil Haney were the key players along with F.A.R. in the empiral and quantitative evaluation and publication of this project
Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter
In early 2000, F.A.R. successfully mass reared glassy-winged sharpshooter egg masses. These egg masses were needed to produce the parasites that would be released and evaluated for biological control of the sharpshooter. This research was done in collaboration with the California Department of Food and Agriculture
Asian Citrus Psyllid
F.A.R. is currently working in collaboration with APHIS to mass rear Tamarixia radiata for control of the Asian Citrus Psyllid.