Associates Insectary

Associates Insectary is a grower-owned agricultural cooperative based in Santa Paula, California. The company employs 12 people and generates $5.9 million in annual revenue. The business provides pest control services and products to its members, focusing on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies. Associates Insectary specializes in raising and supplying beneficial organisms, including "Mealybug Destroyer" beetles, Californicus predatory mites, and Aphytis melinus parasites. These beneficial insects are used to control pests in agricultural settings, primarily within California citrus groves, but are also sold to distributors and growers across North America. Associates Insectary prides itself on its long history and expertise in integrated pest management, having pioneered this approach in the 1920s. The company continuously expands its production capacity, rearing approximately 500 to 800 million beneficial organisms annually. Their facilities, some dating back to the company's founding in 1928, are dedicated to raising various beneficial insect species, including Cryptolaemus, Neoseiulus californicus, and Aphytis melinus, all crucial for sustainable pest control. For more information, please visit their website at associatesinsectary.com.