The population growth of aphids can be sometimes very fast, leading to great damage in several crops. It is therefore very important to locate the aphids and take necessary measures. Biobest offers a whole series of parasitoids and predators against aphids.

• Introduce Aphidoletes as soon as aphids are detected.
• Introduce 0,5-1 Aphidoletes/m²/week.
• In and around aphid hot spots: 5-10 Aphidoletes/m² per introduction.
• Open the bottle and put it under the aphid hot spot, or disperse Aphidoletes, in heaps, on a moist substrate or in a bucket with moist sand.
• Remark: The gall midges have an excellent ability to search, but they can become disorientated by frequent use of a sulphur steamer.

• Preventive: Introduce weekly 0,05 to 0,1 Aphidius ervi/m².
• Curative: Introduce 0,5 Aphidius ervi/m²/week in hot spots.
• Introduce the parasitic wasps under the crop, preferably in the neighbourhood of aphid hot spots.
• If an infestation is detected over the whole greenhouse, adjust if necessary after consultation with your advisor.

Voracious on several crops
Caterpillar damage usually occurs in late summer and early autumn, but recently some caterpillars have been causing problems throughout the growing season. There are several biological control methods of caterpillar control.

• For detection of the first moths in the greenhouse.
• Hang minimum 2 Attract^® pheromone lures per ha.
  • Hang the Attract^® pheromone lures minimum 50 m from each other to prevent a mixture of the pheromones.
  • Replace the pheromone capsules regularly (every 4 weeks)

The greenhouse whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum) is a typical greenhouse pest that affects many crops.

• Available as sprinkling material or on cards with 50 or 100 Encarsia formosa/card.
• Hang during the heating of the greenhouse yellow sticky traps 50 pieces/ha to detect the first whitefly.
• Preventive: Introduce 1 Encarsia formosa/m² during min. 3 weeks. Afterwards discuss further steps with your advisor.
• Curative: When whiteflies are detected, introduce during min. 4 weeks minimum 3 Encarsia formosa/m² until a sufficient number of whiteflies are parasitized (80-90%).
• Remarks:
  • As from the moment that whitefly is detected, introduce higher numbers of Encarsia formosa.
  • If necessary, introduce for a longer time.

• Only in combination with Encarsia formosa.
• As from the beginning of April introduce during minimum 5 weeks 1/m².
• Introduce especially in whitefly hot spots.

Leafminers cause a lot of visual damage in different crops because the larvae eat mines in the leaves. Especially in ornamental plant cultivation crops a little infestation can cause already a lot of damage because then the product is not saleable anymore.

• When the leafminer infestation increases or from March 1st onwards, introduce Diglyphus at a dose of minimum 0,1 Diglyphus/m²/week during minimum 3 weeks or until a sufficient number of leafminers are parasitized.
• Remark:
  • Samples of the leaf should be tested regularly to determine the percentage of parasitized leafminers. To have a satisfying control, the percentage must be 80-90%.
  • Diglyphus is effective against Liriomyza bryoniae (tomato leafminer), Liriomyza trifolii (serpentine leafminer) and Liriomyza huidobrensis (pea leafminer).

A population of spider mites can grow very rapidly, especially under dry and warm conditions. Fast action is recommended to keep the spider mite densities as low as possible.

• In combination with Phytoseiulus at spider mite hot spots.
• Introduce locally 1 pot (250 pupae) during 4-6 weeks in hot spots.
• Introduction in the whole greenhouse: 8 pots/ha during 4-6 weeks.
• Remark: The gall midges have an excellent ability to search, but they can become disorientated by frequent use of a sulphur steamer.

• This strain is especially bred for the application on tomato plants.
• As soon as the first spider mite hot spots are detected, introduce as soon as possible minimum 5 predatory mites/plant in and around the spot.
• Repeat after at least 1 week.
• Control the spider mite hot spots weekly and introduce more Phytoseiulus if necessary.