Sucking insects, including thrips, damage fruit, vegetables, and ornamental crops. They also transmit plant viruses. The losses caused by these insects are significant, especially in high-value crops, and can even be total in some cases.
Green Protecta offers innovative, biological approaches to pest control in horticulture, agriculture and forestry, including a novel method for controlling early-stage thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis).
The company is developing the system, which involves attracting the pest, infecting it with an insecticidal micro-organism and allowing it to attract and contaminate other individuals from the same population in the field or greenhouse. With this novel concept, the targeted pest is used as the executioner of its congeners.
This is an attractive alternative to spraying with common insecticides and is more effective than other biological solutions on the market. The risks to the health of the farmer and consumers as well as to the environment are virtually eliminated. Other insect species, such as whiteflies, which are virus vectors, may also be subject to similar methods. A patent application is pending.