USING INSECTS AS A NOVEL APPLICATION STRATEGY FOR THE DELIVERY OF MICROBIAL AGENTS FOR BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF ARTHROPOD PESTS IN GREENHOUSE CROPS

ABSTRACT. Microbial control agents are traditionally applied to crops for arthropod pest control using chemical spray technology. Over the last 10-15 years, pollinator bees have been investigated as vectors for microbial control agents (fungi, viruses and bacteria). This paper reviews the development of the Pollinator Biocontrol Vector Technology and how pollination of crops can be combined with arthropod pest management. This technology can potentially be used for simultaneous pest control and plant disease suppression and extrapolated for use with other insects. INTRODUCTION.Traditionally, microbial control agents have been applied to crops for pest control using standard chemical spray application technology (Chapple et al. 2007). For fungal control agents, it is important to use the right propagule, formulated in an appropriate manner and applied at the correct dosage and time. Fungal conidia, such as Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin (Hypocreales: Clavicipitacae) and Metarhizium anisopliae