Registered in Brazil 1st macrobiological that fights up to seven insects

Grupo Vittia announced the registration in Brazil of the macrobiological insecticide Criso-Vit, with the differential that it can control up to seven different pests. 

The biopesticide is composed by the larvae of the chrysopid (Chrysoperla externa), an important natural predator in many agricultural and horticultural cropping systems. It has been the object of research in different universities for several years.

Criso-Vit is the first predator to be registered in Brazil for the control of whitefly (Bemisia tabaci biotype B), Green aphid (Myzus persicae), Cereal green aphid (Schizaphis graminum), Green aphid nightshade (Macrosiphum euphorbiaceae), rose aphid (Macrosiphum rosae); Rosewood aphid (Rhodobium porosum) and Cotton aphid (Aphis gossypii).

“The larvae feed on the pest's eggs and nymphs and thus gain strength to continue their reproduction in the field. This is the main advantage of predatory or parasitoid macrobiologicals: after the insects are released in the area, they continue to multiply naturally,” explained the Director of JB Biotechnology, Bianca Vique Narde.

Aphids are common pests on crops. These insects feed on the sap of plants, injecting toxins, which impairs their growth and causes, for example, yellowing and browning of the leaves.

Aphids live in colonies, can reach several crops with the help of the wind and, without some control, their population can increase up to 10 times a week and cause 20 to 30% losses for farmers.

The whitefly also sucks the sap of plants, causing changes in their vegetative and reproductive development, weakening them and reducing productivity and fruit quality. According to the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa), up to 50% of production may be lost in cases of high population densities.

Available to the producer in protected sheets, Criso-Vit must be applied in the plantation, respecting a distance of 20 metres; or it can be introduced into the field using a drone, which guarantees application with higher yields throughout the area.

Tolerant to different climatic conditions, it is resistant to some insecticides and can be used with other management forms – be it a chemical or biological product. One can apply for curative control when there is already an infestation by pests, or preservative to prevent pests from entering the crop.

“The use of biological techniques is a global trend and the Vittia Group, which has a commitment to sustainability as one of its values, invests millions in research and development to bring more and more innovations to rural producers, with more productivity and profitability in your business,” Bianca said in conclusion.

(Editing by Leonardo Gottems, reporter for AgroPages)