Biological Services

What Biological Services does

Biological Services (legally Manchil Altmann Pty Ltd) is Australia's largest Integrated Pest Management (IPM) company, founded in 1971 and headquartered in Loxton, South Australia. The company mass-rears and sells over 20 species of beneficial insects and predatory mites — including parasitic wasps, predatory mites, predatory bugs, and rove beetles — used by commercial growers to control agricultural pests as an alternative to chemical pesticides. Its portfolio includes Australian-first innovations such as the abamectin-resistant Orius-A strain (2020) and the commercially mass-reared predatory thrips Frankie (August 2024), developed in cooperation with its strategic shareholder Biobest Group NV (Belgium).

The company's business model combines two revenue streams: (1) product sales of beneficial insects in various formats (loose material, sachets, cups, vials) with quote-based pricing and minimum order quantities, and (2) expert IPM consulting services delivered by qualified entomologists, horticulturalists, and agronomists who provide on-site crop monitoring and tailored IPM program design. A subscription-style Regular Release Program offers better pricing for committed growers with monthly scheduled deliveries, while ad-hoc one-time orders are available at standard pricing. Distribution is direct-to-grower via a national IPM consultant network spanning all eight Australian states/territories, supported by specialized live-bug shipping partners and three production hubs (Loxton SA, Muchea WA, Virginia SA) plus the BioResources Queensland insectary.

Since 2014 the company has operated under the Manchil Altmann Pty Ltd corporate structure following the merger of Biological Services (founded by Ron and Beryl George in 1971, acquired by James Altmann in 1987) with Manchil IPM (founded by Lachlan Chilman in 2002). In 2021, Biobest Group NV took a strategic equity stake, connecting Biological Services to a global network of biological control subsidiaries in 20+ countries and establishing a dedicated IPM Product Specialist role to onboard international innovations into the Australian market. The company primarily serves Australian commercial growers across greenhouse vegetables, fruit trees, ornamentals, berries, and broadacre crops such as cotton and brassicas.

Name

Biological Services

Legal name

Manchil Altmann Pty Ltd

Website

https://biologicalservices.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Biological Services is Australia's largest Integrated Pest Management company, mass-rearing and selling beneficial insects and predatory mites to commercial growers across Australia. Founded in 1971 and now backed by global biological control leader Biobest Group, it combines product sales with expert on-site IPM consulting.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Integrated Pest Management / Biological Pest Control

NAICS

Support Activities for Crop Production (11511)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Programs & Monitoring (AFACAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Agriculture, Greenhouse & Nursery Commercial Pest Services (HSAMAKAO), Insect Control (Crawling/Flying Insects) for Farms & Ag Facilities (AFACAGAF)

Keywords

• Biological pest control
• Integrated pest management
• Beneficial insects production
• Agricultural biocontrol
• Commercial crop protection

Headquarters

HQ city

Loxton

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Beneficial Insect and Mite Sales: Sale of biological control agents including parasitic wasps, predatory mites, predatory bugs, and other beneficial insects. Products are sold in various forms (loose material, sachets, cups, vials) with pricing based on quantity and delivery format. Regular release programs offer better pricing for committed customers.
2. IPM Consulting Services: Expert IPM consulting services including on-site crop monitoring, IPM program design, and tailored advice from qualified entomologists, horticulturalists and agronomists. Part of the value proposition alongside product sales.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Biological Services is Australia's leading Integrated Pest Management (IPM) company, producing and supplying over 20 species of beneficial insects and predatory mites (parasitic wasps, predatory mites, predatory bugs, rove beetles) along with supporting IPM tools for commercial horticulture growers. The company pairs product sales with on-site IPM consulting from qualified entomologists, horticulturalists, and agronomists who design tailored release programs and crop monitoring for greenhouse, orchard, and field crops across Australia.

Product overview

Biological Services is Australia's leading Integrated Pest Management company offering a comprehensive portfolio of biological control products and services. The core product portfolio consists of over 30 beneficial insects and mites (parasitic wasps, predatory mites, predatory bugs, and rove beetles) organized into two main categories: Biological Control Agents for pest control and IPM Tools for monitoring and application. Key biological control products include Anastatus, Aphelinus, Aphid Parasite Mix, Aphytis melinus, Californicus, Cucumeris, Dalotia, Diadegma, Encarsia, Eretmocerus hayati, Ervi, Frankie, Green Lacewing, Ladybirds, Montdorensis (Monty), Nesidiocoris, Orius, Persimilis, Thripobius, and Trichogramma. Supporting IPM Tools include Bioboxes for shipping, Hand Lenses for monitoring, Orius Banker Plants, and Sticky Traps. The company also provides expert IPM Consulting Services through qualified entomologists and agronomists located across Australia. Production facilities are located in Loxton (SA) and Muchea (WA), with additional production through BioResources in Queensland. The company is backed by global resources from Biobest Group NV following a strategic alliance in 2021.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Anastatus A parasitic wasp that controls Fruit Spotting Bug, Banana Fruit Spotting Bug, and Spined Citrus Bug by parasitizing their eggs; used in citrus, avocado, macadamia, lychee, and other tropical fruit crops.
• Aphytis melinus A parasitoid wasp for controlling armoured scale insects including Red Scale, Oriental Scale, and Oleander Scale in citrus and ornamental crops.
• Persimilis Phytoseiulus persimilis is a specialist predatory mite for controlling Two-Spotted Mite and Bean Red Spider Mite in strawberries, vegetables, and ornamental crops.
• Cucumeris Neoseiulus cucumeris is a predatory mite for controlling thrips including Western Flower Thrips and Onion Thrips in greenhouse crops, strawberries, and storage onions.
• Californicus Neoseiulus californicus is a predatory mite for controlling spider mites and other leaf-dwelling mites in vegetables, ornamentals, and fruit crops; active at high and low temperatures.
• Orius Orius tantillus is a pirate bug predator for controlling thrips including Western Flower Thrips and Onion Thrips in capsicum, strawberries, and eggplant.
• Orius-A Abamectin-resistant strain of Orius tantillus that allows growers to spray abamectin for Broad Mite control without harming Orius populations vital for thrips control in capsicums and strawberries.
• Frankie Franklinothrips vespiformis, a native Australian predatory thrips for controlling foliar thrips including Chilli Thrips, Western Flower Thrips, and Greenhouse Thrips.
• Lailae Typhlodromalus lailae is a native Australian predatory mite for controlling thrips, whiteflies, and eriophyid mites in cucumbers, capsicums, berries, and ornamentals.
• Monty (Montdorensis) Typhlodromips montdorensis is a subtropical predatory mite for controlling whitefly and thrips in greenhouse crops including capsicums, cucumbers, and ornamentals.
• Encarsia Encarsia formosa is a parasitic wasp for controlling Greenhouse Whitefly and Silverleaf Whitefly in vegetables and ornamental crops.
• Eretmocerus hayati A parasitic wasp for controlling Silverleaf Whitefly in vegetables, cotton, melons, and ornamental crops; has the highest reported biological control potential for Silverleaf Whitefly.
• Aphid Parasite Mix Combination of four aphid parasitic wasps (Aphidius colemani, Aphidius ervi, Aphelinus abdominalis, and Diaeretiella rapae) for controlling mixed aphid populations across brassicas, cereals, cotton, and vegetable crops.
• MacTrix Trichogramma cryptophlebiae is a parasitic wasp for controlling Macadamia Nutborer in macadamia, longan, and lychee crops; produced by BioResources subsidiary.
• Doreenae Typhlodromus doreenae is a native predatory mite for controlling Rust Mite, Bud Mite, Blister Mite, and Bunch Mites in grapevines, almonds, and pome fruit.
• Aphelinus Aphelinus abdominalis is a parasitoid wasp that attacks over 200 species of aphids including Foxglove aphid, Potato Aphid, and Green Peach Aphid; used in vegetables, ornamentals, nurseries, cannabis, and herbs.
• Colemani Aphidius colemani is a parasitic wasp for controlling Green Peach Aphid and Cotton/Melon Aphid in greenhouse and field crops.
• Ervi Aphidius ervi is a parasitic wasp for controlling larger aphid species including Foxglove Aphid, Potato Aphid, and Pea Aphids in greenhouse and field crops.
• Diaeretiella Diaeretiella rapae is a primary parasite of key aphid pests in brassicas including Cabbage Aphid, Turnip Aphid, and Green Peach Aphid.
• Diadegma Diadegma semiclausum is a parasitoid wasp for controlling Diamondback Moth/Cabbage Moth in brassica crops including broccoli, cauliflower, and canola.
• Dalotia Dalotia coriaria (rove beetle) for controlling soil-dwelling pests including Fungus Gnats, Shore Flies, and thrips pupae in greenhouse vegetables and propagation areas.
• Hypoaspis A (Killer Mites) Hypoaspis aculeifer is a soil-dwelling mite for controlling thrips pupae, bulb mites, springtails, and fungus gnats; consumes 5 times more thrips pupae than other soil-dwelling mites.
• Hypoaspis M Hypoaspis miles is a soil-dwelling mite for preventing Fungus Gnats and controlling thrips pupae in greenhouse crops.
• Hypo Mix Combination of Hypoaspis miles and Hypoaspis aculeifer for controlling Fungus Gnats and thrips pupae in soil; used in nurseries, vegetables, and ornamentals.
• Green Lacewing Mallada signata is a generalist predator for controlling aphids, thrips, mites, whiteflies, and moth eggs in orchards and outdoor nurseries.
• Ladybirds Hippodamia variegata (Variegated Ladybird) for controlling aphids, mites, scale insects, and moth eggs in cotton, brassicas, melons, and ornamental crops.
• Nesidiocoris Nesidiocoris tenuis is a predatory bug for controlling Greenhouse Whitefly and Silverleaf Whitefly in tomato and eggplant crops.
• Occidentalis Typhlodromus occidentalis is a predatory mite for controlling spider mites in tree crops, apples, and stone fruit; tolerates hot dry conditions and organophosphate insecticides.
• Thripobius Thripobius javae is a native Australian parasitic wasp for controlling Greenhouse Thrips in greenhouse plants and tropical crops.
• Trichogramma Trichogramma pretiosum is an egg parasitoid for controlling Helicoverpa (Heliothis) moths in cotton and sweetcorn crops.
• Eretmocerus warrae A parasitic wasp for controlling Greenhouse Whitefly in vegetables and ornamentals; tolerant of hot conditions and some pesticides.
• Bioboxes Specialized packaging containers for shipping and releasing beneficial insects; designed to maintain optimal conditions for beneficials during transit.
• Aphid Banker Plants System using cereal plants infested with Grain Aphids to breed Aphidius colemani parasites for controlling Green Peach Aphid and Cotton/Melon Aphid in greenhouse crops.
• Orius Banker Plants Banker plant system for maintaining Orius populations in crops where natural pollen sources are inadequate for Orius survival.
• Sticky Traps and Rolls Monitoring and mass-trapping tools for detecting and controlling flying insect pests including thrips and winged aphids.
• Hand Lenses Magnifying tools for crop monitoring and pest identification in the field.
• IPM Consulting Services Expert on-site IPM advice from qualified entomologists, horticulturalists, and agronomists, including crop monitoring, IPM program design, and tailored pest management recommendations for commercial growers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Aphytis melinus established in all Southern citrus growing districts by mid-1970s, achieving increased control of Red Scale compared to spraying alone
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• BioResourcescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2021BioResources joined forces with Biological Services in December 2021 after years of collaboration. BioResources produces Trichogrammatoidea cryptophlebiae (MacTrix) for Macadamia nutborer control and Anastatus for Fruit Spotting Bug control. The partnership complements Biological Services' IPM approach and consolidates Biological Services' position as the largest producer of biological control agents in Australia. Richard Llewellyn remains as BioResources director.
• Biobest Group NVflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Strategic alliance formed in 2021 with Biobest Group NV, a global leader in biological control and pollination headquartered in Belgium. Biobest became a shareholder of Biological Services, connecting the company to a global network of production subsidiaries spanning more than 20 countries. The alliance enables sharing of knowledge, experience, and resources, with James and Lachlan remaining as managing directors. Australian growers benefit from access to global innovations and the latest IPM developments.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Koppert Biological Systems: Dutch global leader in biological crop protection and natural pollination, producing beneficial insects, mites, and bumblebees. Directly comparable as a mass-rearer and supplier of biocontrol agents with global distribution, competing head-to-head with Biological Services and its Biobest alliance.
• Biobest Group NV: Belgian global leader in biological control and pollination that became a strategic shareholder of Biological Services in 2021. Operates production subsidiaries in 20+ countries and is a direct peer as a biocontrol producer; also functions as the parent/strategic ally for Biological Services.
• Bioline AgroSciences: France-based producer of biological control agents (predatory mites, parasitic wasps, nematodes) distributed globally. Comparable as a mass-rearer and supplier of macro-biologicals for IPM programs in protected and outdoor crops.
• Andermatt Biocontrol: Swiss producer of biological control products including baculoviruses, beneficial insects, and nematodes. Comparable as a specialist biocontrol manufacturer with proprietary products and international distribution serving fruit, vegetable, and field crop growers.
• BioBee Biological Systems: Israel-based producer of beneficial insects and mites (predatory mites, parasitic wasps, bumblebees) for IPM in protected crops. Comparable as a specialist mass-rearer of macro-biologicals serving greenhouse and open-field growers worldwide.
• ARBICO Organics: US-based supplier of beneficial insects, predatory mites, and biological control products for agriculture and greenhouse operations. Comparable as a macro-biological supplier with focus on small-to-mid growers across North America.

Broad incumbents

• Syngenta Biologicals: Global ag-input incumbent that has expanded into biocontrol through acquisitions and partnerships, offering macro-biologicals alongside its seed and chemical portfolio. Overlaps with Biological Services in biocontrol but competes from a much broader product set.
• Certis Biologicals: Established biological crop protection company (formerly part of Mitsui & Co.) offering microbial and macrobial products globally. Overlaps with Biological Services in IPM solutions but addresses a broader portfolio of pest control modes.
• BASF Agricultural Solutions: Global agrochemical and seed giant that has expanded into biological solutions through R&D and acquisitions. Overlaps with Biological Services in crop protection but competes primarily through chemistry and seeds rather than macro-biologicals.

Regional players

• AgBiTech: Australia-based producer of baculovirus-based biological insecticides (e.g., for Helicoverpa) used in Australian and international cropping systems. Comparable as a domestic Australian biocontrol producer with regional rather than global distribution.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Biological Services