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 parasitization: Introduce minimum 0,15 Aphidius colemani/m² per week to maintain the balance.
• Remark:
  • Start with the first introduction at the first bloom.
  • 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 by frequent use of 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 neighboorhood 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 the Attract^® pheromone lures minimum 50 m from each other to prevent a mixture of the pheromones.
  • Replace the pheromone lures regularly (every 4 weeks).

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

• Preventive: Introduce 1,5 Encarsia formosa/m² during min. 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%).

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

• As from February introduce during minimum 4 weeks min. 2/m² until a sufficient number of whiteflies are parasitized (80-90%).

• Preventive:
  • As from February release in 2 introductions minimum 0,5 Macrolophus/m²
  • Use Nutrimac for alternative food.
• Curative:
  • Introduce in 2 to 4 introductions minimum 0,5-1 Macrolophus/m²
  • Introduce in whitefly hot spots 5 to 10 Macrolophus/m²
• Remark:
  • Introduce Macrolophus always in the crop, use a Bio-Box for the introduction.
  • Per packaging maximum 5-10 introduction points.

• Alternative food for predatory bugs
• Introduce weekly during 2 to 4 weeks a dose of 10-20 gram/ha.
• Introduce Nutrimac always in the crop on a protected spot on the leaf.

• 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.

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, 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%.

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.
• Remark: Introduce Amblyseius californicus when there is sufficient bloom.

• 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 a 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 of sulpher 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 sachets)

• Introduce minimum 4.000 Amblyseius-Breeding-System/ha.  (In total minimum 1 million Amblyseius cucumeris/ha)
• Starting from the first bloom.
• 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 a 5L bucket)

• Amblyseius cucumeris can be introduced before the bloom as breeding material on the pot.
• Disperse on each pot minimum 2,5 cc. Introduce minimum 750.000 Amblyseius/ha.
• If necessary, repeat after 4 weeks if there is still no bloom.
• 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 1L - sprinkler tube)

• If no breeding material is 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.
• Apply only when there is sufficient bloom and a sufficient high relative humidity.
• 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.

• Preferably in combination with Amblyseius cucumeris and Orius.
• Introduce minimum 2.500 Degenerans-System/ha. You can only introduce where there is sufficient bloom present.
• Remark: Per bottle maximum 100 introductions points.

• Preventive: Introduce Orius from week 6 to 8. For late planting: from the first bloom.
• Curative: Before week 6! Introduce Orius from the moment that thrips (larvae or adult) is observed in the crop.
• Release in 4 introductions minimum 1 Orius/m².
• When the thrips infestation increases: introduce Orius in and around the thrips hot spots. (minimum 5-10 Orius/m²)
• Remark: Per packaging maximum 5-10 introduction points.