Pest prevention: stay ahead of the biological cycle to protect your crops without residues
Pest prevention starts long before the first visible symptoms appear. Understanding how pests evolve in each season—and how they respond to their environment—makes it possible to design more effective, sustainable, and crop-friendly strategies. Anticipating the biological cycle is an opportunity to safeguard yield without compromising natural balance. From cold months to peak activity periods, each stage is key to moving toward a more resilient agricultural system..
Pest prevention in cold seasons: act before the risk appears
One of the most common mistakes in integrated pest management (IPM) is assuming that pests should only be treated when the first visible symptoms appear. But many species, such as aphids, psyllids, or whiteflies, survive the cold seasons as eggs or overwintering adults, hidden in plant structures or in the soil.
This period of apparent inactivity represents a strategic window for pest prevention. Applying a cleaning treatment at this stage can significantly reduce the population that may become active again in spring, thereby preventing infestations that are harder to control later on.
“Anticipating means protecting. And protecting ensures the health of the crop,” says Naîma Chahoua, Product Manager at Altinco. “The earlier we act, the lower the pressure during the season and the easier it will be to manage it with sustainable solutions.”
This preventive approach aligns with the principles of integrated pest management, which promotes rational interventions and a reduction in the use of conventional products, fostering a more balanced and resilient agricultural environment.
How the biological cycle of pests accelerates during warm seasons
Rising temperatures play a key role in accelerating the biological cycle of many pests. In the case of aphids, once temperatures consistently exceed 12 °C, the eggs hatch and the first viviparous females appear, capable of reproducing without mating. This phase marks a critical point in the development of the pest.
“When heat units start to accumulate—what we call degree days—the aphid’s cycle reactivates and speeds up,” explains Naîma.
A small population can expand rapidly, weakening young shoots, affecting flowering, and reducing yield if not detected early. That’s why constant crop monitoring is crucial. Signs like curled leaves, honeydew, or colonies on the underside of the leaf indicate the ideal moment to apply low-impact solutions, without waiting for severe infestation levels.
Treatments during the vegetative period: act when the pest begins its cycle
During the crop’s active growth phases, understanding the biological cycle of pests is key to making strategic decisions. As temperatures rise and degree days accumulate, species like aphids or psyllids reactivate their cycles: eggs hatch, and the first viviparous females or nymphs emerge.
Acting at this early stage is a decisive technical opportunity. It’s important not to wait for the infestation to spread: intervening at the first hotspots helps stop the pest’s advance without disturbing the crop’s natural balance.
In this context, Altinco Grinward® offers a fast-acting solution, designed to respond quickly during initial phases. Its formulation, composed of 20% paraffin oil, works by contact, effectively eliminating visible colonies without leaving residues and while respecting beneficial fauna.
Thanks to its triple mode of action:
- It blocks the insect’s mobility, causing death by anoxia.
- It damages the exoskeleton’s cuticle, leading to dehydration.
- It forms a physical barrier that hinders egg-laying.
This combination makes Altinco Altinco Grinward® an ideal tool to intervene at the right moment and protect the crop when it needs it most. Its application is designed to integrate into integrated pest management (IPM) strategies, prioritizing localized, effective treatments with low environmental impact.
It is part of the Plant Guards range and, like all our formulations, it is developed under Altinco Exact Nature® technology, which ensures precision, sustainability, and visible results in the field.
Protecting crops year-round begins with a preventive strategy
Designing a pest prevention strategy doesn’t mean acting only when symptoms appear, but taking preventive action instead, understanding the biological rhythm of the species affecting the crop. Cold and warm seasons are not opposites, but complementary phases of a single cycle that farmers can leverage to protect their crops more effectively.
At Altinco, we’ve been working alongside distributors and farmers for over 30 years to offer natural, residue-free formulations that allow for early action and help keep production under control without compromising sustainability. When approached in advance, pest prevention becomes a key tool for building a more resilient, balanced, and future-ready agriculture.
