Fully automated introduction of predatory mites into the crop is possible with the Entomatic. The system replaces a labor-intensive process and ensures a good distribution of the predatory mites in the crop. “With very low mortality,” says Gert-Jan Dillo of Biobest, which developed the device. Growers of strawberries and gerberas, among others, are enthusiastic about the Entomatic.

Like an octopus with its tentacles upright, the Entomatic moves along the crop. Through the dispensing points, the same amount of mites is distributed over every square meter of plants. “As a grower, you can set the dosage in advance via the display,” says Gert-Jan Dillo, team leader of Biobest Netherlands. The company started developing the Entomatic in 2020, in collaboration with Hortiworld. “We were looking for a device that could automatically and homogeneously introduce predatory mites and other beneficial insects into the crop. Saving labor was the main goal, as labor is scarce and expensive.”

A lot of manual work

The need for a simple and efficient way to introduce predatory mites into the crop is growing. Dillo: “Due to European policy, the availability of chemical crop protection products is decreasing, and the market is increasingly moving towards green solutions. The regular use of natural enemies will only increase further.” The success of this depends on proper implementation. “You want the insects to settle in the place where they need to do their work. This can be manual work, and people need to be trained for this.”