Marrone Bio Says California Okays Zequanox For Invasive Mussel Control

(RTTNews) - Marrone Bio Innovations Inc. (MBII), a provider of bio-based pest management products for agriculture and water, said Thursday that the state of California has approved Zequanox to control invasive zebra and quagga mussels (Dreissena species) in pipe systems and infrastructure.

Under a Certificate of Pesticide Registration that California issued to Marrone, Zequanox can now be used as an effective, environmentally responsible alternative to toxic, broad-spectrum chemicals (such as chlorine) to treat irrigation lines and water conveyance structures, as well as cooling and process water systems of industrial and power generation facilities.

Zequanox is the industry's only EPA-approved, biological molluscicide for controlling zebra and quagga mussels. It is composed of dead cells from a ubiquitous soil microbe.

Zequanox is currently registered in 26 states. Additional state registrations are pending.

Invasive quagga mussels were first discovered in California in 2007. They entered the state via aqueducts that transport water from the Colorado River to Southern California for agriculture irrigation and drinking water. In 2008 zebra mussels—the cousin of the quagga—were identified in San Justo Reservoir in San Benito County.