Top 3 Mistakes Growers Make Right After Receiving Biocontrols (And How to Avoid Them)

You’ve done everything right: researched the best biocontrols, placed your order, and scheduled your team. But then, a delivery arrives late, your labour is not available, or a sudden issue pulls your attention elsewhere. Before you know it, those precious predatory mites and insects — your frontline defense against thrips, aphids, and spider mites — are at risk before they even reach your crop.

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Even the most experienced Growers across North America have faced these moments. The reality is, greenhouse operations are complex, and sometimes, things just don’t go as planned. But the good news? With a few practical adjustments, you can safeguard your biocontrol investment and set your program up for success, even when the unexpected happens.

What Growers & IPM Managers Want: Reliable Results, Not More Headaches

At the end of the day, you want your biocontrols to work — plain and simple. You want to see healthy crops, strong yields, and a pest management program you can trust. You want to avoid the frustration of wasted product, lost labour, and the stress of watching pest populations rebound. Most importantly, you want solutions that fit the real-world challenges of running a busy greenhouse.

Let’s look at the three most common mistakes that can undermine your biocontrol efforts right after delivery — and, more importantly, how you can avoid them, even when things don’t go perfectly.

Mistake #1: Skipping the Shipment Inspection

The Reality:

Deliveries don’t always arrive at the perfect time. Maybe the truck is late, or the boxes are left at the wrong door. It’s easy to assume everything is fine and move on to the next urgent task.

Why It Matters:

Biocontrols are living organisms. If they’ve been exposed to heat, cold, or rough handling during transit, their effectiveness can drop before you even open the box.
For example, if Amblyseius swirskii arrives overheated, you could lose a significant portion of your thrips-fighting force before they ever reach the crop.

What You Can Do:

Inspect as soon as possible: Even a quick check for temperature, box condition, and expiration dates can make a difference.
Document issues: If something looks off, take photos and contact your supplier right away. Most reputable companies want to help you succeed.
Empower your team: Make sure someone is always responsible for checking biocontrol deliveries, even if you’re pulled away.

Mistake #2: Delaying Application “Until Tomorrow”

The Reality:

Sometimes, the day gets away from you. Maybe a critical irrigation line bursts, or a last-minute audit pulls your team off the floor. It’s tempting to store the biocontrols “just for one night” and plan to apply them tomorrow.

Why It Matters:

Biocontrols don’t wait. Even a short delay in less-than-ideal conditions can reduce their survival and effectiveness.
For instance, storing Swirskii sachets in a warm office overnight can lead to high mortality, leaving you with fewer mites to control thrips — and a higher risk of crop damage and lost revenue.

What You Can Do:

Plan for immediate application: Whenever possible, schedule deliveries for days when you know you’ll have the staff and time to apply right away.
Have a backup plan: If delays are unavoidable, make sure you have a proper storage area ready (more on that below).
Communicate with your supplier: If you know you’ll be short-staffed, see if delivery can be adjusted.

Mistake #3: Ignoring Temperature & Relative Humidity Requirements

The Reality:

Greenhouses are busy places, and storage space is always at a premium. There may be dedicated storage coolers, but that's not always the case.

Why It Matters:

Predatory mites and insects are highly sensitive to temperature. Even a few hours at room temperature can dramatically reduce their survival.

What You Can Do:

Set up a dedicated storage area: A small, clearly labeled fridge with a thermometer can be a lifesaver.
Train your team: Make sure everyone knows where biocontrols should go, and why it matters.
Keep it simple: Post a quick-reference guide near the storage area so no one has to guess.
Relative humidity hack: Most storage coolers have controls to regulate temperature, but not relative humidity. To give your biocontrols optimum storage conditions, place a closed container with water, and a towel half-in, half-out in the storage cooler. This can quickly increase relative humidity levels to support your bios' functionality during storage.

When Things Go Wrong (and When They Go Right)

The Hard Truth is that even with the best intentions, things sometimes slip through the cracks. The cost? Wasted product, lost labour, and most painful of all: pest outbreaks that threaten your production targets and bottom line.

But when you get it right? You see healthier crops, stronger yields, and a team that feels confident in your IPM program. You protect your investment and your reputation, and you set your greenhouse up for long-term success.

Your Next Step: Get the Free Biocontrol Storage Conditions Magnet

At Crop Defenders, we know how challenging it can be to balance optimal biocontrol storage with other pressing daily tasks. That’s why we’ve created a free, easy-to-read magnet with the optimal storage conditions for the most common biocontrols, so you and your team always have the information you need, right at your fingertips.

Contact Us to claim your free magnet and take the guesswork out of biocontrol storage.