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The production of beneficials at Associates Insectary is a continuous process, producing up to two million insects and mites each and every day. These beneficials are liberated regularly on over 10,000 acres of orchards owned by our grower-members.
Our Insectary was originally established to raise a ladybird Beetle: Cryptolaemus montrouzieri, which feeds voraciously on citrus mealybugs. In addition to raising Cryptolaemus beetles, we also raise the Rumina decollata, a predacious snail that feeds on its own cousin, the brown garden snail. To help avocado growers control the Persea mite, Neoseiulus californicus predatory mites are reared at Associates Insectary. We help farmers tackle California red scales with beneficial wasps, Aphytis melinus. In 2010 we started producing Anagyrus pseudococci, the preferred parasitoid for Vine Mealybug. |