LALGUARD M52 GR bioinsecticide gains organic certification

LALGUARD M52 GR, the highly efficacious Metarhizium-based bioinsecticide for the management of black vine weevil larvae, has gained organic certification.

“Organic soft fruit producers and organic ornamental growers can now incorporate LALGUARD M52 GR into their vine weevil control programmes,” explains Sam Rivers, ICL technical manager for controls.  “As you would expect, LALGUARD M52 GR has been shown to have minimal impact on applicators, beneficial insects and the surrounding environment.

“Easy to use, this granular formulation can be growing media incorporated and is highly compatible with existing biological products including beneficial nematodes – as well as with some crop protection chemicals used in conventional production systems.”

Based on spores of the soil-inhabiting insect pathogenic fungus Metarhizum brunneum strain Ma43, LALGUARD M52 infects on contact and does not need to be ingested. At 15-30°C, infected immature black vine weevil larvae can be killed within three days.  Meanwhile, the egg and pupal stages also show some susceptibility – adding to the overall effectiveness of control.

“While not a silver bullet in the control of this potentially devastating pest, as part of a planned organic, or indeed IPM approach, LALGUARD M52 GR can play an important role helping combat vine weevil on nurseries in the UK and Ireland,” says Sam.