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 50-100 Adalia-larvae/m² in the immediate nieiighbourhood 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, not later than 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 theu van become disorientated by 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 the Attract^® pheromone lures minimum 50 m from each other to prevent a mixture of pheromones.
  • Replace the pheromone capsules regularly (every 4 weeks).

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

• Hang during the heating of the greenhouse minimum 20 yellow sticky traps per ha to observe the first whitefly.
• Curative: After detection of whiteflies, introduce during min. 4 weeks minimum 3-4 Encarsia formosa/m² until a satisfying number of whiteflies are parasitized (80-90%).
• Remark: Encarsia formosa parasitizes preferably the greenhouse whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum).

• A mix of Eretmocerus eremicus + Encarsia formosa (50/50) fot 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%).

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 ad 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.

• 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 Amblyseius californicus preventive on places where spider mites are early expected, minimum 4 Amblyseius californicus/m².
• Introduce Amblyseius californicus preventive over the whole greenhouse, minimum 2 mites/m².
• Remark: Introduce Amblyseius californicus when there is enough bloom in the crop.

• In combination with Phytoseiulus at spider mite hor 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 10-20 Phytoseiulus/m² two to three weeks after planting depending on the crop size.
• The exact amount of Phytoseiulus depends on the severness of the spider mite infestation. Introduce in and around the spider mote hot spots minimum 20 Phytoseiulus/m².
• Remark:
  • Introduce the predatory mites five days after spraying with Vertimec or a product for aphid control (e.g. Calypso).
  • Reckon with the use of 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 (A.B.S.) (predatory mite Amblyseius cucumeris in breeding sachets)

• Introduce minimum 4.000 sachets/ha (in total minimum 1 million Amblyseius cucumeris/ha).
• Starting: at first bloom (but it is possible to start earlier).

• Introduce 0,5 to 1 Amblyseius per m², depending on the crop's sensitivity to thrips damages, from the moment that the plants touch each other.

Amblyseius-Breeding-System (A.B.S.) (predatory mite Amblyseius cucumeris in breeding sachets)

• Introduce minimum 4.000 sachets/ha (in total minimum 1 million Amblyseius cucumeris/ha).
• Starting: at first bloom (but it is possible to start earlier).

• Introduce 0,5 to 1 Amblyseius per m², depending on the crop's sensitivity to thrips damages, from the moment that the plants touch each other.

• Preventive: Introduce Orius at first bloom.
• Curative: Introduce Orius as from the moment that thrips (larvae or adults) are detected in the crop.
• Introduce in 2 introductions minimum 1 Orius/m².
• At inccreasing thrips infestation: introduce Orius in and around the thrips hot spots. (minimum 5-10 Orius/m²).
• Remark:
  • Per packaging maximum 5-10 introduction points.
  • Orius is useful if the cultivation period is long.