Mass Production of Beneficial Organisms: Invertebrates and Entomopathogens

Mass Production of Beneficial Organisms: Invertebrates and Entomopathogens is an essential reference and teaching tool for researchers in developed and developing countries working to produce "natural enemies" in biological control and integrated pest management programs.

As we become aware of the negative impact of pesticides in human health and on the environment, interest is rapidly increasing in developing biological pest control alternatives. Tremendous advances have been made in beneficial organism technology, such as insect predators and parasitoids, mite predators, entomopathogenic nematodes, fungi, bacteria, and viruses. However, developing techniques to mass produce these biological control agents is not enough if the cost of commercialization is prohibitive. Advancing mass production to the level of economic feasibility is critical, so these new technologies can compete in the open market.

This book educates academic and industry researchers, and enables further development of mass production so new technologies can compete in the open market. It is also an excellent resource for those researching beneficial arthropod mass production and technologies for other uses, including for study and application in biotechnology and biomedical research.

Dr. Morales’ main expertise is in mass production of arthropods, insect nutritional ecology and the

development of rearing methods and mechanization of rearing processes for beneficial arthropods.

Between 1992 and 1998, he developed mass propagation technology for the boll weevil parasitoid

Catolaccus grandis. This research earned him the USDA-ARS scientist of the year award in 2002.

During 1998 and 2004 he developed termite and ant baiting systems. This research earned him the

USDA-ARS technology transfer award and the Federal Laboratory Consortium regional excellence in

technology transfer award in 2004. Since 2004, he has developed novel rearing methods for

predatory mites and other beneficial arthropods. This included new technology for separation of

mealworm sizes for infection with entomopathogenic nematodes, novel methods for mass producing

Tenebrio molitor, mechanized methods to pack T. molitor cadavers infected with nematodes, and

mechanized methods for infecting T. molitor larvae with entomopathogenic nematodes. The work on

the in-vivo production of entomopathogenic nematodes using T. molitor earn him the National

Federal laboratory Consortium award of excellence in technology transfer in 2013. Dr. Morales-

Ramos has produced a total of 104 publications and 12 patents; his is currently the project leader of

the project titled “Mass Production of Biological Control Agents”. Dr. Morales-Ramos recently edited

the book titled “Mass production of Beneficial Organisms” published in January 2014 by Elsevier.

Dr. Rojas’ main expertise is in insect nutrition, nutritional ecology and the development of artificial

diets for biological control agents and bait matrixes to control termites and ants. Between 1993 to

1998 she developed an artificial diet for the boll weevil parasitoid Catolaccus grandis. Between 1998

and 2004, she developed bait matrices for control of the Formosan subterranean termite and

household ants, both of which were successfully commercialized by Ensystex and FMC, and still are

sold world-wide. This work earned her the USDA-ARS technology transfer award and the Federal

Laboratory Consortium regional excellence in technology transfer award in 2004. Since 2004, she has

developed artificial diets for predatory mites and other insect predators and improved susceptibility

of Tenebrio molitor to entomopathogenic nematodes. The work on the in-vivo production of

entomopathogenic nematodes using T. molitor earned her the National Federal laboratory Consortium award of excellence in technology transfer in 2013. Dr. Rojas has produced a total of 99 publications and holds 12 patents, her current responsibilities include principal scientist on 3 different research agreements with 3 different companies including Syngenta Bioline, Kopert, and Monsanto. ”. Dr. Rojas recently co-edited the book titled “Mass production of Beneficial Organisms” published in January 2014 by Elsevier.