production efficiency. Unfortunately, some economic problems, limited government
contracts and the lack of a specific long-term plan for some producers have created
conditions where the producer uses the previous system of mass rearing and looks
for short-term economic benefits. Establishing a large production unit for host egg
production is one of the solutions to overcome these problems (Dadpour Moghanlou
2002; Attaran and Dadpour Moghanloo 2011).
17.2.1.1.3 Trichocards, Storage, and QC
The current Trichocards, with minor changes, are the same as those introduced at the
beginning of the development of mass rearing and releases plan of the
Trichogramma. Recently sporadic efforts has been made to change this method.
This present method affords to advantages ease of release, wasps protection from
adverse conditions and natural enemies at a low cost. The predation of ants on the
wasp within the cards is a challenge that needs to be considered and resolved
(Attaran and Dadpour Moghanloo 2011).
An important issue for mass rearing and use of the Trichogramma which usually
is underestimated, despite its importance, is storage. The storage method available in
production units that directly transfer the Trichogramma to the refrigerator on days
five and six post- parasitism has many disadvantages and imposes high loss and
high-quality reduction of the Trichogramma efficacy. Recently, there is an increasing trend for using the cold storage of pupae in the mass rearing of the wasp in
insectaries.
The QC considered the major concerns facing BC in the country. The QC is a
process that runs from the beginning to produce the final product and ends with the
evaluation of the product’s efficiency. Monitoring this process requires technical or
necessary information and a comprehensive system. The system has not yet been
launched and seems to be the main part of BC implementation in Iran. The quality of
the product is of great importance for its acceptance and use by end users. Among the
factors predicted in the QC guidelines during the last two decades, the target pest egg
acceptance and the life span of the Trichogramma have not been evaluated, and the
selection of criteria due to the lack of evaluation of these factors may be indicative of
low quality of Trichogrammatid wasps. The postproduction guidelines approved by
the International Organization for Biological Control (IOBC) contain main criteria
for measuring the wasp traits (van Lenteren et al. 2018).
17.2.2 Predators
Long time, predators have been considered as the most prominent biocontrol agents.
45 years after the emblematic case of classic BC by Rodolia cardinalis, this predator
imported to Iran and substantially reduced the cottony cushion scale population in
Northern provinces. After this great achievement, a promising prospect seemed for
610
J. Karimi et al.
contracts and the lack of a specific long-term plan for some producers have created
conditions where the producer uses the previous system of mass rearing and looks
for short-term economic benefits. Establishing a large production unit for host egg
production is one of the solutions to overcome these problems (Dadpour Moghanlou
2002; Attaran and Dadpour Moghanloo 2011).
17.2.1.1.3 Trichocards, Storage, and QC
The current Trichocards, with minor changes, are the same as those introduced at the
beginning of the development of mass rearing and releases plan of the
Trichogramma. Recently sporadic efforts has been made to change this method.
This present method affords to advantages ease of release, wasps protection from
adverse conditions and natural enemies at a low cost. The predation of ants on the
wasp within the cards is a challenge that needs to be considered and resolved
(Attaran and Dadpour Moghanloo 2011).
An important issue for mass rearing and use of the Trichogramma which usually
is underestimated, despite its importance, is storage. The storage method available in
production units that directly transfer the Trichogramma to the refrigerator on days
five and six post- parasitism has many disadvantages and imposes high loss and
high-quality reduction of the Trichogramma efficacy. Recently, there is an increasing trend for using the cold storage of pupae in the mass rearing of the wasp in
insectaries.
The QC considered the major concerns facing BC in the country. The QC is a
process that runs from the beginning to produce the final product and ends with the
evaluation of the product’s efficiency. Monitoring this process requires technical or
necessary information and a comprehensive system. The system has not yet been
launched and seems to be the main part of BC implementation in Iran. The quality of
the product is of great importance for its acceptance and use by end users. Among the
factors predicted in the QC guidelines during the last two decades, the target pest egg
acceptance and the life span of the Trichogramma have not been evaluated, and the
selection of criteria due to the lack of evaluation of these factors may be indicative of
low quality of Trichogrammatid wasps. The postproduction guidelines approved by
the International Organization for Biological Control (IOBC) contain main criteria
for measuring the wasp traits (van Lenteren et al. 2018).
17.2.2 Predators
Long time, predators have been considered as the most prominent biocontrol agents.
45 years after the emblematic case of classic BC by Rodolia cardinalis, this predator
imported to Iran and substantially reduced the cottony cushion scale population in
Northern provinces. After this great achievement, a promising prospect seemed for
610
J. Karimi et al.