What is biological control ?

Biological control can be defined as the use of living organisms to control and eradicate pests. This method was first initiate in USA in 19 century against mealybug in citrus crop with the help of a ladybug species.

Afterwards biological control was replaced by the massive use of chemicalvery resistant to chemical and industrial agriculture after the Second World War. In 1970 the method is back to eradicate pest species which have tuned very resistant to chemical.

Biological control was not only used to control pests on plants. Indeed the method was used in animal breeding as well with the help of small wasp to control the srewworm in cows cattle in USA. In Europe same method is used to control the house fly in breeding building.

APPI is offering a new product named TAURRUS® based on the biological control method.
This is the first time when biological control product is developed for reptile lovers.

What are the real effects of chemical treatment?

Most of the chemicals used to control snake mites belong to a family of pesticides named neonicotinoide. Those pesticides target cholinergic receptor of insect and arthropod’s nervous system inhibiting their reactions which make locomotion, breath and digestion impossible.

Those products could have the same effect on snake and mammal with higher concentration and dosage. This is a serious issue since we have very little knowledge on side effects when chemical exposure is repeated over time or mixed with other molecules.