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.

• Preventive: 0.1 -0.5 adults/m²
• Hot spots: Dose rate may be increased 5-fold 
• Repeat the distribution of adults daily for 2-4 days until most adults have emerged from the mixture.

• Preventive: Introduce 0,1 Aphidius colemani/m² weekly.
• Curative: introduce 0,5 Aphidius colemani/m²/week during 3 weeks and until a sufficient number is parasitized .
• Parasitized mummies can cause contamination. Aphids can be controlled chemically by means of soft aphid insecticides. For anti resistance strategies it is better to also introduce beneficials.

• Preventive: Introduce 0,1 Aphidoletes/m²
• Curative: Introduce 1 Aphidoletes/m²/week.
• Disperse Aphidoletes on a moist substratum or in buckets.
• Remark: The gall midges have an excellent ability to search, but they can become disorientated by frequent use of a sulphur steamer.

• Introduce Aphidius ervi if potato aphid (Macrosiphum euphorbiae) or glasshouse potato aphid (Aulacorthum solani) are occuring.
• Introduce 2 Aphidius ervi/m² in and around hot spots.

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

• Preventive: Introduce 1 Encarsia formosa/m² during minimum 3 weeks. Discuss further steps with your advisor.
• Curative: After detection of whiteflies, introduce during min. 4 weeks mimimum 3-4 Encarsia formosa/m² until a sufficient number of whiteflies are parasitized (80-90%).
   

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.

• Introduce 0,5-1 Diglyphus isaea/m²
• Remark: Samples of the leaf should be tested regularly to determine the percentage of parasitized leafminers. To have a sufficient control, the percentage must be 80-90%.

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 spider mite hot spots and along the paths, facades and heating pipes, the spider mite control is supplemented by the introduction of 2 to 3 predatory mites per m².
• These predatory mites are introduced at the same time as the other predators of spider mites.
   

• In spider mite hot spots and along the paths, facades and heating pipes, the spider mite control is supplemented by the introduction of 2 to 3 predatory mites per m².
• These predatory mites are introduced at the same time as the other predators of spider mites.
   

• Introduce minimum 10 to 20 Phytoseiulus/m² two to three weeks after planting depending on the crop size.
• The dose depends on the severeness of the spider mite damage.
• Introduce the predatory mites 5 days after spraying with Vertimec and/or products against aphids (e.g. Calypso).

Adult thrips are small, elongated insects with typical fringed wings. They measure about 1 mm, and have a greyish or yellow to brown colour. The two most common harmful species are the onion thrips (Thrips tabaci) and the western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis).

• Before or just after the plantation disperse 100-250 Hypoaspis/m².
• Do not introduce immediately after the disinfection or steaming (not enough nourishment).
• Eventually treat rows next to the gangway.

Introduce minimum 2.500 predatory bugs/ha.

Spray Steinernema-System with an interval of 5 to 7 days, small infestations: 125.000 nematodes/m², serious infestations: 250.000 nematodes/m².