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About Us

Our Story

Crop Capsules was born out of two agronomists’ desire to find a non-chemical solution for suppressing silverleaf whitefly in cotton. They started by introducing beneficial wasps into their own agronomy clients’ fields. As the efficacy of this method became evident, they recognized the need for a better distribution system. This led to the engineering of a capsule designed to protect beneficial wasps, promote their health and reproductive activity, and have a net-positive effect on agricultural ecosystems. And so, Crop Capsules was created! Today, we empower growers with the choice to use biocontrol methods to suppress insect pests in broadacre crops, thereby reducing, delaying or eliminating the need for chemical insecticides and supporting eco-friendly farming.

What We Do

We specialize in the targeted, mass distribution of beneficial wasps to suppress damaging insect pests in broadacre and horticultural crops. Our unique containment and rapid delivery system introduces breeding populations of wasps quickly and efficiently. Crop Capsules house a mix of immature and emerging wasps, allowing the development of robust populations of beneficial insects that suppress pest populations during critical crop development phases.

We minimise the time from insectary rearing to in-field releases by precision auto-filling capsules with beneficial insects, which are then distributed by light aircraft using a purpose-built precision applicator. This method evenly spreads capsules throughout the crop at the desired rate per hectare. Once released, beneficial insects hatch and emerge from the capsules, seeking out and parasitizing pest species. They lay their eggs inside the pests, completing their life cycle by feeding on the host’s internal tissues and organs, eventually killing the host and emerging to reproduce and parasitize more target pests.

Crop Capsules are:

  • Empowering broadacre farmers with preventative biocontrol solutions for enhanced crop protection.
  • Partnering with farmers to reduce reliance on insecticides and promote insect biodiversity.
  • Rapidly distributing beneficial insects with light aircraft within a protective capsule to maximise pest insect control.
  • Pioneering ongoing research into creative biocontrol strategies to combat crop-specific pests.
  • Australian designed and manufactured product.
  • An Australian owned small business.

Our Team

Adam Perkins

Adam Perkins

Team Manager at Crop Capsules

Adam has had a 20-plus year career in the food and agribusiness sector working locally and internationally. He’s passionate about the commercialisation of biological solutions to help improve the quality, sustainability and yield of farmers crops.

Olivia Bange

Olivia Bange

Biologist Agronomist

Olivia is a recent graduate from The University of Queensland. Working alongside agronomists, researchers and growers, she develops and implements practical ways to reduce the reliance on insecticides. Olivia has a keen interest in marketing, and the communication and extension of her research activities into beneficial insects.
Sophie Gulliver

Sophie Gulliver

Agricultural Scientist and Ecologist

Sophie’s passion for minimising the impact of modern agriculture on our natural environment has led her to a 10+ year career specialising in biological pest control solutions for local and international farmers. She is consistently endeavouring to reconcile ecological idealism with the realism of practical modern agriculture.

F.A.Q

How does parasitism work?
Insect parasitism is a biological control mechanism where a parasitic insect, known as a parasitoid, lives at the expense of another insect (the host), eventually killing it. Here’s how it works:

  • Host location: The adult female parasitoid locates a suitable host insect, often using chemical cues, visual signals, or vibrations.
  • Egg laying: The parasitoid lays its eggs either inside (endoparasitoids) or on the surface (ectoparasitoids) of the host. In some cases, the eggs might be injected into the host’s body using a specialized ovipositor.
  • Larval development: Once the eggs hatch, the larvae begin to feed on the host’s tissues. Initially, they consume non-essential parts to keep the host alive for as long as possible. This ensures a continuous food supply for the growing larvae.
  • Feeding and growth: As the larvae grow, they consume more of the host’s body, gradually weakening it. The larvae avoid vital organs until the later stages of their development.
  • Host Death: Eventually, the larvae reach a stage where they need to consume the vital organs or produce toxins that kill the host. This typically occurs when the larvae are ready to pupate.
  • Emergence: After the host dies, the parasitoid larvae emerge from the host’s body. Depending on the species, they may pupate either inside or outside the host’s remains. Once pupation is complete, they emerge as adult parasitoids, ready to continue the life cycle.

This process effectively reduces the population of the host insect, making parasitoids valuable agents in biological control programs to manage pest populations in agriculture and natural ecosystems.

When is the best time to apply Crop Capsules?
Crop Capsules are most effective when used preemptively. Release them as soon as the target pest is detected, before populations reach economically damaging levels. This allows parasitoids time to locate and attack the pests, lay eggs, develop and grow, emerge, reproduce and build subsequent generations.

The best time to release parasitoids in a crop is when pest populations are low but beginning to establish, typically early in the pest’s life cycle. Here are some key considerations for timing parasitoid releases:

  1. Early in the season: Release parasitoids early in the growing season when pest populations are just starting to develop. This allows the parasitoids to establish and build their own populations as the pest population grows, providing effective long-term pest suppression.
  2. Before pest thresholds are reached: Introduce parasitoids before pest populations reach economic thresholds. intervention prevents pests from causing substantial harm.
  3. Environmental conditions: Consider environmental factors such as temperature and humidity. Favourable conditions for parasitoids ensure higher survival and efficacy rates. Avoid releases during extremely hot or cold weather conditions that could harm or reduce reproductive activity of the parasitoids. We work closely with our partner aerial operators to ensure capsules are released in optimum conditions.
  4. Multiple releases: In some cases, multiple releases may be necessary throughout the growing season to maintain adequate suppression, especially if pest populations are persistent or if there are multiple generations or reinfestations of the pest.
How are Crop Capsules applied?
Crop Capsules are released across fields using a light aircraft equipped with a purpose-built hopper, enabling quick and even distribution through precision placement technology.
How do I know it’s working?

Take a look! Most forms of pest insect parasitism are visible. In cotton the presence of the beneficial parasitoid, E. hayati in silverleaf whitefly nymphs can be seen on the underside of leaves usually lower down in the canopy. Industry has developed a set of useful guides including a smart phone app and a Decision Support Tool to assess whether the extent of parasitism will hold a silverleaf whitefly population in check.

In canola, parasitised aphids are visible as bronze coloured “mummies” on stalks and racemes. The GRDC and CESAR offer advice on current and estimated % parasitism levels through the crop cycle. Recent research by Dr Samantha Ward and CESAR colleagues showed that although rates of parasitism in green peach aphid can be quite high (up to 14%), the true rates of parasitism (calculated by hatch rates in the lab) can be two to four times the rates calculated from mummy counts, meaning the actual impact of parasitoids is likely to be higher than what you are able to observe in the field.

Are the capsules bad for the environment?

No. Crop Capsules are made entirely from renewable material. They do not contain any hydrocarbon based plastic compounds. When capsules start to breakdown, they do not generate damaging, long-lasting microplastics. Crop Capsules has worked closely with one of the world’s largest producers of agricultural bioplastics, Novamont to develop a biodegradable and compostable material that meets or exceeds European standard UNI EN 13432. For more information go to novamont.com

How do you fit 500 wasps in a capsule?
Special technology adapted from the food and pharmaceutical sectors allows us to gently convey, fill and count individual insect pupae in a delicate yet highly efficient manufacturing environment.
Are the insects in Crop Capsules a biosecurity threat?
No. Beneficial parasitic wasps used by Crop Capsules have been extensively researched and tested by local and international authorities. They are highly specific wasps with a very limited host range. As with all insect species introduced into Australia for the purpose of biocontrol, our beneficials are subject to ongoing monitoring to ensure they do not have unintended impacts on non-target species or ecosystems. We take great care to ensure that insects housed within our capsules are free of disease and are fit, healthy and fertile.
Can Crop Capsules wasps bite or sting humans?
No. Adult wasps that emerge from our capsules are typically smaller than a grain of sand and require a magnifying glass to see properly. Newly emerged wasps focus exclusively on breeding, feeding and parasitising target pest populations.
Could this be another “Cane Toad” incident waiting to happen?
No. Wasps used in the capsules have been exhaustively studied for any adverse effects on native fauna and flora as well as their near-exclusive selectivity for a damaging host pest species. All of the insect species we use are considered by ecologists to be naturalised and can be found “naturally” in agricultural landscapes after establishing themselves decades ago.
Are the capsules bad for the environment?
Fact Sheet

Our capsules are compostable

Designed and manufactured in Australia

Applied using light aircraft