Integrated Pest Management (Maria)

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is the "dynamic" or "living" pest control strategy for Project: Maria.

Due to the closed-loop aquaponics system (which is highly sensitive to toxins) and the server room (where airborne chemicals are a risk), traditional chemical pesticides are forbidden.

Instead, IPM focuses on creating a stable, balanced ecosystem by using biological controls.

Key Strategies

• Beneficial Insects: A permanent "immune system" of beneficial insects will be introduced and maintained in the greenhouse and biowall.

   * **Predatory Mites** (e.g., Phytoseiulus persimilis): To hunt and eat "bad" spider mites.
   * **Ladybugs:** To control aphids.

• Microbial Controls:

   * **Beneficial Nematodes** (e.g., Steinernema feltiae): Microscopic organisms added to the water/soil to hunt and kill fungus gnat larvae.