Commercial mass production and pricing of organisms for biological control of pests in Europe

In Europe, commercial use of biological control has seen a very fast development during the past 30 years. Currently, Europe has 26 companies which produce more than 80 species of natural enemies. The 29 most commonly sold natural enemies are discussed in this survey. The recommended release rate, the unit of sale, the target pest(s), and the number of companies producing a certain natural enemy are specified. Large differences in prices for biological control agents exist between Europe and the United States. Many more species of natural enemies are commercially available in Europe than in the United States, mainly as a result of the much larger greenhouse industry in Europe. (C) 1997 Academic Press.