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 Adalia-larvae purposefully in the immediate neighbourhood of aphid hot spots.
• The quantity that has to be introduced strongly depends on the infestations pressure and the area of the crop. In an aphid population which is spread over a few plants, it is recommended to introduce 200 to 300 larvae. Control daily and repaet if necessary.
• Remark: Introduce the larvae as soon as possible. If necessary, the material can be stored for a short time at ± 6°C.

• Preventive: Introduce minimum 0,15 Aphidius colemani/m² per week.
• Curative: As soon as aphids are detected: introduce minimum 0,5 Aphidius colemani/m² per week, until an equilibrium is reached.
• When there is enough parasitizing: introduce minimum 0,15 Aphidius colemani/m² per week to maintain the balance.
• Remark: When hyperparasitizing occurs, Aphidius colemani can be replaced by Aphidoletes aphidimyza.

• Preventive: Introduce 0,1-0,2 Aphidoletes/m²/week
• Curative: When aphids are detected in the crop, introduce 0,5-1 Aphidoletes/m²/week
• Open the bottle and put it under the aphid hot spot, or disperse Aphidoletes, in heaps, on a moist substrate.
• Remark: The gall midges have an excellent ability to search, but they can become disorientated through frequent use of a sulphur steamer.

• When the first aphids are detected in the crop, introduce 0,1-0,25 Aphidius ervi/m²/week until an equilibrium is reached.
• Introduce the parasitic wasps at the bottom of the plant, preferably in the neighbourhood of aphid hot spots.

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 the detection of the first moths in the greenhouse.
• Hang minimum 2 Attract^® pheromone lures per ha.
  • Hang minimum 2 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.

• Preventive: Introduce 1 Encarsia formosa/m² during min. 3 weeks. Discuss further steps with your advisor.
• Curative: After detection of whiteflies, introduce during min. 4 weeks minimum 3 Encarsia formosa/m² until a sufficient number of whiteflies are parasitized (80-90%).
• Remark: You always have to reckon with the possible side effect and the advised waiting period of the used crop protection products before you start with the introduction of Encarsia formosa.

• A mix of Ertemocerus eremicus + Encarsia formosa (50/50) for the control of the greenhouse whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum)
• Curative: As from February introduce during min. 4 weeks minimum 3 Eretmocerus eremicus + Encarsia formosa/m² until a sufficient number of whiteflies are parasitized (80-90%). 

The application method of PreFeRal® WG depends on the crop and the number of whiteflies present.

• Spraying:
  PreFeRal^® WG should be applied with conventional spraying equipment. PreFeRal^® WG works as a contact insecticide. In order to obtain an efficient insect control, the undersides of the leaves should be properly covered. It is recommendable to use sufficient quantities of water. The volume of water needed depends on crop development. Usually, selection of high spray volume will provide the best results. It is recommended to apply 2.000 - 3.000 l/ha on full-grown and 1.000 l/ha on small or young crops.
  The optimal pH of the water should be between pH 4 and pH 7.
• Integrated Pest Management Programme:
  PreFeRal® WG can be used in combination with beneficials such as Encarsia formosa, Eretmocerus californicus or Macrolophus caliginosus. This makes PreFeRal^® WG an outstanding correction agent when biological control needs some extra help with whitefly control. This is called "Integrated Pest Management" (IPM).
• Integrated Resistence Management Programme:
  PreFeRal® WG can be applied in combination with selective whitefly insecticides as a part of an Integrated Resistence Management Programme (IRM).

• Preventively disperse 20 pieces/m² on the leaves. As soon as the first preys are detected, spread 100 pieces/m² where whitefly or thrips were located.

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.

• Introduce Amblyseius californicus preventive on places where spider mites are early expected, minimum 4 Amblyseius californicus/m².
• Introduce Amblyseius californicus preventive in the whole greenhouse minimum 2 mites /m².

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

• Introduce minimum 6 Phytoseiulus/m² as soon as the first spider mites are detected.
• The exact amount of Phytoseiulus depends on the severeness of the spider mite damage. Introduce in and around the spider mite hot spots minimum 20 Phytoseiulus/m².
• Remark:
  • Introduce Phytoseiulus on a leaf, ± 15-20 cm under the top of the plant.
  • Reckon with the use sulphur steamers till min. 5 days after introduction.

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).

Amblyseius-Breeding-System (ABS) (Predatory mite - Amblyseius cucumeris in breeding sachets)

• Introduce before the plant reaches the suspension wire (± 3 weeks after the plantation or sooner)
• Introduce minimum 4.000 sachets/ha (in total minimum 1 million Amblyseius cucumeris/ha)
• 1st cultivation : Introduce minimum 1 sachet per 5 plants when no thrips are detected in the crop. When thrips are detected in the crop, introduce minimum 1 sachet per 3 plants.
• 2nd and 3rd cultivation: Introduce minimum 1 sachet per 3 plants.
• Remarks:
  • Disperse in and around thrips hot spots extra Amblyseius cucumeris as sprinkling material.
  • The crop must be 100% free of harmful residues. If you have doubt about the side effects of chemical products, contact you advisor.
• Warning:
  Amblyseius-Breeding-System (ABS), which contains the predatory mite Amblyseius cucumeris delivered in breeding sachets, also contains Mold mites (Tyrophagus putrescentiae) and bran. Under certain circumstances such as a moist greenhouse climate or when using large quantities of breeding sachets, Mold mite population can increase to the point of causing damages in some crops (e.g. cucumbers). When planning to use these products in crops where they have never been used before, we recommend to first perform a small-scale trial or to discuss this with your Biobest advisor or supplier.

Amblyseius-System (Predatory mite - Amblyseius cucumeris in 1 L bucket - sprinkler tube)

• If ABS is not used, Amblyseius cucumeris can be introduced as sprinkling material (50.000 Amblyseius cucumeris per liter).
• Introduce minimum 2 x 500.000 Amblyseius/ha on the crop, with an interval of 1 to 2 weeks.
• Warning:
  Amblyseius-Breeding-System (ABS), which contains the predatory mite Amblyseius cucumeris delivered in breeding sachets, also contains Mold mites (Tyrophagus putrescentiae) and bran. Under certain circumstances such as a moist greenhouse climate or when using large quantities of breeding sachets, Mold mite population can increase to the point of causing damages in some crops (e.g. cucumbers). When planning to use these products in crops where they have never been used before, we recommend to first perform a small-scale trial or to discuss this with your Biobest advisor or supplier.

Amblyseius-Breeding-System (ABS) (Predatory mite - Amblyseius cucumeris in 5 L - sprinkler tube)

• Amblyseius cucumeris can be introduced as breeding material on the pot.
• Disperse on each pot minimum 2,5 cc. Introduce minimum 750.000 Amblyseius/ha.
• Warning:
  Amblyseius-Breeding-System (ABS), which contains the predatory mite Amblyseius cucumeris delivered in breeding sachets, also contains Mold mites (Tyrophagus putrescentiae) and bran. Under certain circumstances such as a moist greenhouse climate or when using large quantities of breeding sachets, Mold mite population can increase to the point of causing damages in some crops (e.g. cucumbers). When planning to use these products in crops where they have never been used before, we recommend to first perform a small-scale trial or to discuss this with your Biobest advisor or supplier.

• When thrips damage increases: introduce Orius in and around the thrips hot spots. (minimum 10-25 Orius/m²)
• Remark: Per packaging maximum 5-10 introduction points.