Naturally effective pest management for protected crops (BASF)

The recent approval (EPA) and registration of Velifer a Biological Insecticide in New Zealand will be another (very) welcome tool for growers struggling with insect pests, in particular Whitefly.    My advice before using Velifer,  if you are using, Bumble bees for pollination or Integrated Pest Management, (IPM) is to discuss compatibility with your beneficial provider and your New Zealand supplier of Velifer when it becomes commercially available.  All Information and downloadable resources are available on the BASF website – see link below. 

Active ingredient(s): Beauveria bassiana strain PPRI 5339 (>8 x 10⁹ colony forming units per ml)
Formulation: Biological beneficial organism

Velifer^® Biological Insecticide adds a new dimension to the management of a wide range of key insect pests within protected cropping structures. Velifer will help manage populations already controlled by conventional knockdown pesticides and complements the use of beneficial insects. Velifer is effective against populations that have developed resistance to conventional insecticides and can be used frequently right up to harvest.

Key Benefits:

• Protect against a wide range of insects
• Kills insects in 24-48 hours
• Effective against resistant populations

How It Works:

The active ingredient in Velifer^® is Beauveria bassiana strain PPRI 5339, a naturally occurring fungus that doesn’t damage crop plants or affect beneficial insects, but colonises and kills insect pests that come into contact with it.

Each millilitre of Velifer contains about 8 billion fungal spores. On contact with the target insect, the spores germinate within 6–12 hours. As they germinate, they secrete enzymes that weaken the insect cuticle. The fungus then invades the host and continues to grow, with the fungal blastospores weakening the insect’s immune system. The weakened immune system, along with dehydration through the punctured holes, leads to insect death in 24–48 hours.

To read more on the EPA decision click here https://crop-solutions.basf.com.au/products/veliferhttps://www.epa.govt.nz/assets/FileAPI/hsno-ar/APP204676/APP204676-Decision.pdf

To read more form the BASF website on Velifer click here https://crop-solutions.basf.com.au/products/velifer

Click on the Video Link to learn more about Velifer.