Researchers ID fungus as pesticide alternative

Researchers at Swansea University are using a fungus to target vine weevils and western flower thrips as a safe alternative to chemicals.

The university's School of Environment and Society is working with partners to develop commercial products.

Professor Tariq Butt said they had developed a fungal biological control agent called Metarhizium anisopliae which had shown highly successful results in horticultural tests.

“We concentrated our efforts on identifying a fungus that occurs naturally in soil, and that is a natural pathogen to the pests," he said. "The team discovered that a certain strain of the fungus, Metarhizium, is deadly to vine weevils and western flower thrips."

The fungus has shown excellent control of the vine weevil larvae and thrips pupae when applied either as a spray or premixed into growing medium such as peat or bark.

"The success of the project is great, and will potentially change the nature of vine weevil and western flower thrips pest control," he said. "The benefits are far reaching - not just for those with organic farms or nurseries but also for conventional growers."

Read more here.