Virginia, SA

Soil Wealth ICP team members Dr Doris Blaesing and Camilla Humphries (RMCG) are working with integrated pest management (IPM) specialist contractor Jessica Bamford to set up and monitor an IPM insectary site.

The focus is to attract predators of specific, difficult-to-control pests using a perennial, native insectarium at a protected cropping farm. The aim is to provide hosts for predatory and beneficial insects to reduce pest pressure.

Braham Produce is working with the team to assess the feasibility and benefits of providing host/banker plants (e.g. alyssum) in greenhouse capsicum production to support the reproduction and population growth of beneficials such as Orius or lacewings. This approach can enhance their ability to control pest populations without requiring repeated releases of beneficials.

Alyssum was chosen for its long flowering period with consistent pollen availability. It is expected to act as an additional food source for Orius to help maintain a high population throughout the production season, and potentially act as a ‘trap’ plant to attract pests that come into the greenhouse before moving onto the crop.