Carpoglyphus Lactis Adult
Boosting predatory mite establishment and improving biocontrol performance, Biobest has expanded its range of alternative food sources with Feedamite®. As a non-pollen alternative to Nutrimite™, it is particularly suitable for crops using overhead irrigation.
Based on the feeder mite Carpoglyphus lactis, this supplementary feed accelerates the development of predatory mites and helps sustain populations when prey or pollen are scarce. This supports consistent biological control when crops need it most.
How can you build predatory mite populations before pest pressure starts?
“Supporting preventative IPM strategies, Feedamite® promotes early establishment of predatory mite populations before pest pressure builds up, helping to create ‘standing armies’ of predators,” says Dominiek Vangansbeke, Teamleader predatory mites at Biobest. “This allows growers to build predator populations early and maintain effective biological control as the crop develops.”
Feedamite® is recommended for use alongside products including Swirskii-System, Californicus-System, Cucumeris-System, Andersoni-System and Montdorensis-System. Together these solutions help optimise IPM programmes in vegetable, soft fruit and ornamental crops.
Why use Carpoglyphus lactis as food for predatory mites?
“For 20 years, Carpoglyphus lactis has been bred as a factitious food source in the mass production of predatory mites,” says Dominiek. “To ensure product purity, the Carpoglyphus used in Feedamite® is produced in a separate rearing system, within a dedicated mite production facility.”
“Importantly, due to the structure of its mouthparts, this feeder mite cannot feed on plant material and therefore poses no risk of crop damage. However, it is an ideal food source, as predatory mites feed on all five Carpoglyphus life stages, from egg to adult. Under optimal conditions, each female feeder mite can lay more than 100 eggs, providing a continuous supply of food for predatory mites.”
How and when should feeding supplements be applied?
For best results, Feedamite® should be applied at the same time as, or shortly after, predatory mites are released in the crop. Weekly applications are recommended to maintain a steady food supply, supporting stable predator populations throughout the crop cycle.
Feedamite® can be applied manually or mechanically using the Entomatic™ family of applicators. This includes the efficient, portable handheld dispenser Entomatic™ HD, engineered for speed and accuracy. These flexible dispensers enable growers to easily integrate supplementary feeding into their biological control programmes.
Learn more about Feedamite® on the product page, or contact your Biobest advisor to strengthen your IPM programme and access detailed trial results.