An antimicrobial peptide has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, except that i) the 1st and the 14th amino acids are deleted, ii) the 4th and the 8th amino acids are substituted with lysine (K), iii) the 7th amino acid is substituted with leucine (L), iv) the 9th amino acid is optionally substituted with lysine (K), and v) the 12th amino acid is optionally substituted with lysine (K). A method for antimicrobial treatment in a subject including administering a pharmaceutically effective amount of the antimicrobial peptide to a subject.

A method and apparatus for distributing beneficial arthropods to plants. The method and apparatus include a temperature control system for maintaining the beneficial arthropods at an optimal temperature prior to dispersal and a pneumatic system for conveying the beneficial arthropods.

A method and apparatus for distributing beneficial arthropods to plants. The method and apparatus include a temperature control system for maintaining the beneficial arthropods at an optimal temperature prior to dispersal and a pneumatic system for conveying the beneficial arthropods.

The present invention relates to a biological control composition comprising at least arthropod biological control agents and astigmatid mite eggs. The invention also relates to the use of astigmatid mite eggs as a nutrient source for arthropod biological control agents. The invention also relates to a biological control composition comprising at least one population of arthropod biological control agents, a nutrient source comprising astigmatid mite eggs, and optionally, a support and/or dissemination substrate. Finally, the present invention further relates to a method for rearing arthropods from astigmatid mite eggs as a nutrient source.

The present invention discloses a rearing composition comprising: predatory mite population comprising at least one mite species of the genus Phytoseiulus, and a prey mite population comprising at least one species from the order Astigmata or from the family Phytoseiidae. A method for rearing the same is also disclosed.

The present invention discloses a rearing composition comprising: predatory mite population comprising at least one mite species of the genus Phytoseiulus, and a prey mite population comprising at least one species from the order Astigmata or from the family Phytoseiidae. A method for rearing the same is also disclosed.

Compositions and methods for controlling pests are provided. The methods involve transforming organisms with a nucleic acid sequence encoding an insecticidal protein. In particular, the nucleic acid sequences are useful for preparing plants and microorganisms that possess insecticidal activity. Thus, transformed bacteria, plants, plant cells, plant tissues and seeds are provided. Compositions are insecticidal nucleic acids and proteins of bacterial species. The sequences find use in the construction of expression vectors for subsequent transformation into organisms of interest including plants, as probes for the isolation of other homologous (or partially homologous) genes. The pesticidal proteins find use in controlling, inhibiting growth or killing Lepidopteran, Coleopteran, Dipteran, fungal, Hemipteran and nematode pest populations and for producing compositions with insecticidal activity.

Compositions and methods for controlling pests are provided. The methods involve transforming organisms with a nucleic acid sequence encoding an insecticidal protein. In particular, the nucleic acid sequences are useful for preparing plants and microorganisms that possess insecticidal activity. Thus, transformed bacteria, plants, plant cells, plant tissues and seeds are provided. Compositions are insecticidal nucleic acids and proteins of bacterial species. The sequences find use in the construction of expression vectors for subsequent transformation into organisms of interest including plants, as probes for the isolation of other homologous (or partially homologous) genes. The pesticidal proteins find use in controlling, inhibiting growth or killing Lepidopteran, Coleopteran, Dipteran, fungal, Hemipteran and nematode pest populations and for producing compositions with insecticidal activity.

The present invention relates to a mite composition, the rearing thereof and to the use of the composition for controlling crop pests. The invention provides a mite composition comprising: a rearing population of a phytoseiid predatory mite species, a population of at least one species from the order Astigmata, andoptionally a carrier, wherein the population of the species from the order Astigmata is not alive. In particular the population of the species from the order Astigmata is in fast frozen fom1. The composition is used for controlling crop pests, such as thrip species. The crops may be greenhouse grown crops and open field crops.

The present invention relates to a mite composition, the rearing thereof and to the use of the composition for controlling crop pests. The invention provides a mite composition comprising: a rearing population of a phytoseiid predatory mite species, a population of at least one species from the order Astigmata, andoptionally a carrier, wherein the population of the species from the order Astigmata is not alive. In particular the population of the species from the order Astigmata is in fast frozen fom1. The composition is used for controlling crop pests, such as thrip species. The crops may be greenhouse grown crops and open field crops.