11 Commercial Availability of Biological

Control Agents

J.C. van Lenteren

Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University, PO Box 8031, 6700 EH

Wageningen, The Netherlands

Introduction

Although the biological control of pests has
been applied since around 1870, the large-
scale commercial use of natural enemies of
pests spans a period of less than 40 years. In
some areas of agriculture, such as apple
orchards, maize, cotton, sugarcane, soybean,
vineyards and greenhouses, it has been a very
successful, environmentally and economically
sound, alternative for chemical pest control
(van Lenteren et al., 1992; van Lenteren, 2000).
Inundative and seasonal inoculative releases
of natural enemies are commercially applied
primarily in annual field crops and green-
house cultures and have increased consider-
ably over the last 25 years (van Lenteren,

2000). Success of biological control in these

crops is primarily dependent on the quality of

the natural enemies, which are produced by

commercial mass-rearing companies.

Today, more than 125 natural-enemy

species are on the market for biological pest

control (Table 11.1). Worldwide, there are

about 85 commercial producers of natural

enemies for augmentative forms of biological

control with a turnover of about US$50 mil-

lion in 2000 and an annual growth of 15–20%

(Bolckmans, 1999; K. Bolckmans, Berkel and

Rodenrijs, The Netherlands, personal com-

munication). In addition there are hundreds

of state- or farmer-funded production units

that may sell natural enemies (Chapter 1;

van Lenteren, 2000).

© CAB International 2003. Quality Control and Production of Biological Control Agents:
Theory and Testing Procedures (ed. J.C. van Lenteren) 167

Abstract

The commercial use of biological control has seen a very fast development during the past 30 years.
Currently, about 85 companies worldwide produce more than 125 species of natural enemies. The largest
variety of commercially produced species of natural enemies is available in Europe, mainly as a result of
a much larger greenhouse industry in Europe, although many species are also available in North
America. Emerging markets are Latin America, Asia and (South) Africa. The most commonly sold nat-
ural enemies are discussed in this chapter. The recommended release rates, the unit of sale and the target
pest(s) are specified. In addition, a list of the commercially available biocontrol agents is provided,
together with the target pests and the year of first use.